tiburon12
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- Jul 18, 2009
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Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion
- Thread starter WTFetus
- Start date
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
In all seriousness, it's Will Smith. And that's including his awful first 20 games.
If you make the range January 20th until now, guess where he lands?
MackAttack71
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- Mar 20, 2025
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In the AHL by some opinions
matt trick
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- Jun 12, 2007
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6th after Crosby, McDavid, Necas, Kaprizov, and Thomas?
timorous me
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- Apr 14, 2010
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Kaprizov has only played four games during that span! (And only has three assists.)
matt trick
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Duh, lol. Was thinking Smiths numbers vs full year, not full year vs full year. I is dum. D-U-M dum
one2gamble
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- Dec 24, 2007
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I'm really curious how Smith shows next year. Feels like he can really pop off or regress again. I think Macklin has been good for him.
The key for smith going forward will be the defensive/battle side of the game. He has shown undeniable offensive skill since the USNDP, and obviously at BC too. The key for him to reach true stardom is to get a bit bigger and stronger and play well in his own end. That's also the way he can go back to where the sharks really need him: Center.
It's in this area where he has improved so much. If he continues to get stronger, he could be a legit Point per game or better top two center on a cup contending team.
He was -17 in the first 40 games. +7 in the next 30. It's not just the points, its the defensive size of the game that has changed so much. Thats where his ceiling lies.
The other area is whether he can actually drive a line himself. Mack is the driving force on his line. Whoever is on the wing is more complimentary as mack has the puck alot and carries it up the ice alot. Can Smith be the driver or does he need a Mack-like guy to make him effective.
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
2nd. Only Pastrnak (who leads the league in even strength scoring) is ahead. Thomas right behind.
Jargon
Registered User
That’s actually insane, go Will.
I haven’t seen a passer this good on the Sharks since Thornton (and maybe Karlsson?) and he’s still a baby. We’ve all discussed it, but the amount of elite-level passes he accomplishes per game as if they were commonplace is wild.
Agreed. His vision, and the balls to try it, are amazing. Earlier in the year, those passes were being picked off and ended up breakaways against. Now, hes figuring out when and where to use his gifts. Fun to watch!
Hes a different kind of passes from jumbo. Jumbo would use his fat butt to protect the puck and then wait for just the right time to dish to a streaker, a late guy, or someone with a little space in front. Will is a slasher passer, who dishes on the rush and while circling and cycling.
I can imagine that he could be truly great matched with a finisher with size who can win physical battles away from the puck to get a little space for will to hit him. Celly actually did just that wednesday. Wonder if a guy like Cherny or Musty could fill that role. Smith and Musty sure looked gooooood in the prospect games...
p.s.: I felt smith belonged in the AHL.... Ummm..... yeah.... Oopsies
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Totally. Obviously he has a long way to go to get to that level of player overall, if he even ever does, but I do believe that his pure vision/passing is on the Thornton/Karlsson level and those two are the clear-cut best playmakers in franchise history.
Jargon
Registered User
Yeah, lots of layers to add for Will, for sure. But I’ll just catch myself seeing him complete a third cross ice pass through 2 defenders right onto someone’s tape all in the same shift and be like, wait, that’s not actually normal.
Smok3d
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- Dec 13, 2007
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You also thought Sharks had a chance at the playoffs and over 65 points.Agreed. His vision, and the balls to try it, are amazing. Earlier in the year, those passes were being picked off and ended up breakaways against. Now, hes figuring out when and where to use his gifts. Fun to watch!
Hes a different kind of passes from jumbo. Jumbo would use his fat butt to protect the puck and then wait for just the right time to dish to a streaker, a late guy, or someone with a little space in front. Will is a slasher passer, who dishes on the rush and while circling and cycling.
I can imagine that he could be truly great matched with a finisher with size who can win physical battles away from the puck to get a little space for will to hit him. Celly actually did just that wednesday. Wonder if a guy like Cherny or Musty could fill that role. Smith and Musty sure looked gooooood in the prospect games...
p.s.: I felt smith belonged in the AHL.... Ummm..... yeah.... Oopsies
Jargon
Registered User
Will is tied in points with 2nd year Leo Carlsson, but in 3 fewer games. He’s 4 points back of Fantilli with 8 fewer games…..
hohosaregood
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- Sep 1, 2011
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Smith might already be a more creative passer than Thornton a la Henrik Sedin. Thornton was more a very precise and efficient playmaker
Curtis confirming Mario has a broken ankle, which isn't the end of the world really. Bones heal.
Yep, lost $340 on that one, though it was worth the long shot. I'd make the same bet for next year if the lines are the same.
Celly being out the first 10 games or so hurt a lot. They actually played a while of respectable hockey and they also set an NHL record for ineptitude when leading or tied in the 3rd. They comfortably led the NHL with 14 blown 3rd period leads. The wild and leafs had 2. Col, TBL, wpg,Car, Wsh had 3, and those teams had more opportunities to blow too. If the sharks play just league average in those situations they might have 12-15 more points.
They were SO close in so many games. From 10/28-1/4, they were just about .500 in over 30 games. This season coulda gone differently with just a little better late game play. Until they got Fourgiev, they were actually on pace pretty close to that number. Of course, once they dealt Blackwood, Ceci, and Granlund, the wheels came off.
I guessed wrong, but it coulda been different. I hope to get the same betting lines next year
Mr Fahrenheit
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- Oct 9, 2009
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Yep, lost $340 on that one, though it was worth the long shot. I'd make the same bet for next year if the lines are the same.
Celly being out the first 10 games or so hurt a lot. They actually played a while of respectable hockey and they also set an NHL record for ineptitude when leading or tied in the 3rd. They comfortably led the NHL with 14 blown 3rd period leads. The wild and leafs had 2. Col, TBL, wpg,Car, Wsh had 3, and those teams had more opportunities to blow too. If the sharks play just league average in those situations they might have 12-15 more points.
They were SO close in so many games. From 10/28-1/4, they were just about .500 in over 30 games. This season coulda gone differently with just a little better late game play. Until they got Fourgiev, they were actually on pace pretty close to that number. Of course, once they dealt Blackwood, Ceci, and Granlund, the wheels came off.
I guessed wrong, but it coulda been different. I hope to get the same betting lines next year
Sharking acquiring, and starting, Georgiev should void the slip
weastern bias
worst team in the league
I'm sure if Celebrini hadn't missed 12 games the team would have made up the 40+ points they would have needed to make the playoffs, how unlucky
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
I feel like you need someone on the line who's speedy and does the puck-retrieval dirty work. Plus all those guys are playmakers-first even though they're all great shooters too.
Yeah I think the retrieval part of both Musty and Chernyshov’s games is what will separate them from 2nd liner to top liner. Chernyshov at least has more of a motor so there is more optimism he could develop it.
One things that is lacking from the big toolsy wings the Sharks have been drafting is that Retrieval F1 style. Eklund can be the F1 with Celebrini but it would be nice if Chernyshov can develop into the F1 for Smith.
