Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[TheBeard]

Think y'all are missing the real value of Blake being out. Does this mean Gavrikov makes it to free agency?

A level headed GM would probably acknowledge re-signing a nearly 30 year old d-man on an aging team who can’t get out of the first round would be a bad move.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

A level headed GM would probably acknowledge re-signing a nearly 30 year old d-man on an aging team who can’t get out of the first round would be a bad move.

I'd be surprised if Gavrikov didn't get 7 years on the open market. Do we really want to commit 7x9 or 7x10 it would likely take to convince him to sign here? I don't think the team is ready for that yet.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Think y'all are missing the real value of Blake being out. Does this mean Gavrikov makes it to free agency?

A strong point, to be honest, that I didn't even think about because I was so busy hating the Kings.

I wonder if they make big changes this summer. I have to imagine something breaks, they can't just go back with the same squad for a fifth time.

 

[Sendhelplease]

I would love to add Gavrikov, even if it means overpaying him long term. He can play RD for us and is one of the best defensive defensemen in hockey. I think having him would be huge for the development of Schaefer/Dickinson and Askarov.

 

[matt trick]

I'd be surprised if Gavrikov didn't get 7 years on the open market. Do we really want to commit 7x9 or 7x10 it would likely take to convince him to sign here? I don't think the team is ready for that yet.

If we have the #1 pick (and draft Schaefer)? I think so. I might prefer Ekblad, but I'm somewhat making a bet on the reduced mileage on Gavrikov means he may last a bit longer. Also, he hasn't won a cup, so it's possible he'll be a bit more hungrier. He'll provide the Tofolli-esque air cover Schaefer, Dickinson, and Muk will need, but should probably be a very good second pairing defensive pairing d-man for all but the last year or two of his contract. Those two years could be tricky, but I think the value you get for better development of the young d-men is worthwhile.

Assuming you send Schaefer back to the OHL, I also think years 2-4 of Gavrikov's contract, you'll have a good first pair for $10M combined. Years 5-7 would likely be a bit leaner as key players get big boy contract, but if we have Celebrini, Smith, Schaefer, Askarov, Dickinson, Eklund, and Cherny as well paid stars and Gavrikov as a declining but still solid vet, we'd live. You could even add a high-value young player like McKenna on large contract and still have sufficient cap to have quality depth. Maybe you're short a 3C or 4th top 6 wing- if we're in the enviable position of too many good players- but the upside of having a few good defenseman now, is well worth it.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

If we have the #1 pick (and draft Schaefer)? I think so. I might prefer Ekblad, but I'm somewhat making a bet on the reduced mileage on Gavrikov means he may last a bit longer. Also, he hasn't won a cup, so it's possible he'll be a bit more hungrier. He'll provide the Tofolli-esque air cover Schaefer, Dickinson, and Muk will need, but should probably be a very good second pairing defensive pairing d-man for all but the last year or two of his contract. Those two years could be tricky, but I think the value you get for better development of the young d-men is worthwhile.

Assuming you send Schaefer back to the OHL, I also think years 2-4 of Gavrikov's contract, you'll have a good first pair for $10M combined. Years 5-7 would likely be a bit leaner as key players get big boy contract, but if we have Celebrini, Smith, Schaefer, Askarov, Dickinson, Eklund, and Cherny as well paid stars and Gavrikov as a declining but still solid vet, we'd live. You could even add a high-value young player like McKenna on large contract and still have sufficient cap to have quality depth. Maybe you're short a 3C or 4th top 6 wing- if we're in the enviable position of too many good players- but the upside of having a few good defenseman now, is well worth it.

He may but it seems like long odds to convince a top tier free agent to sign with the worst team in the league even with an overpay in tow and the top draft picks in consecutive drafts. The rest of the blue line is still not competitive and partly being set up to develop. I think the team can get a suitable partner with Askarov to be competitive in net and I think they get depth forwards to fill out their holes up front but they'd want at least one top line caliber player to help make them better at the top end of the lineup and push guys like Eklund or Toffoli into more advantageous 2nd line-ish matchups. And it's hard not to look at a lineup even with some rosy acquisitions in our favor and see it's going to have consistency issues for a few years while the younger players figure things out.

We'll see. If you land a big fish like Gavrikov, I would want Grier to really get super aggressive with getting rid of dead weight and bringing in useful depth. That's one of the parts I'm not sure the team is ready for from a rebuild perspective. Grier is already pretty open about being hesitant with handing out term still. If he holds true to not doling out term, I'd rather they stay patient and continue to develop their young talent.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I think @Juxtaposer mentioned a while ago that the only 3 players she would sign to 7 year deals are Marner, Ekblad, and Gavrikov. I agree and I would be happy to overpay all 3 to get them in teal. If drafting Schaefer my 1st priority would be Ekblad. I think he would be a perfect partner and mentor as a previous 1st overall pick that played in the NHL in his D+1 year.

 

[OrrNumber4]

I wouldn't mind giving a huge money and term to Gavrikov. For other players, one or the other

 

[Sharkz4Fun]

I think @Juxtaposer mentioned a while ago that the only 3 players she would sign to 7 year deals are Marner, Ekblad, and Gavrikov. I agree and I would be happy to overpay all 3 to get them in teal. If drafting Schaefer my 1st priority would be Ekblad. I think he would be a perfect partner and mentor as a previous 1st overall pick that played in the NHL in his D+1 year.

Good thing she is nowhere near the team. Gavrikov would be a good add though.

 

[TheBeard]

I don't specifically know what Fresh's "Stuff" is meant to represent here

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Star Platinum]

Chainmail wristguards near the top of the list

 

[matt trick]

I don't specifically know what Fresh's "Stuff" is meant to represent here

I don't specifically know what Fresh's "Stuff" is meant to represent here

It’s basically a collection of all usable stats (or at least those included in this image). Note: this is from a follow up on ‘cardio merchants’ guys who skate around but accomplish little.

Some takeaways:
*Hitting machine Kieffer Sherwood is #1 among all forwards, so as I anticipated stuff is largely blocks, shots, and hits.
*Celebrini is like 5th in the league in stuff (thus, we’re contractually obligated not to throw it out). This is likely because he engages in board battles and transition plays (exits, entrances are included), where Celebrini is a menace.
*Goodrow is not bottom 20 in the league.
*Smith is our least stuff forward (no board battles, physical play, blocks, and shots/shot assists don’t seem to get more credit than other stuff). Smith is great at the most important part of hockey- creating/finishing, but he’s currently poor at everything else. Give me that over Sherwood’s hitting!
*Ferraro is pretty good, but again that’s likely because we’re getting shelled and he’s hitting and blocking a lot in his per 60.

 

[sampler]

Im wondering if the strategy this summer is still one of pure future asset acquisition and drafting?

1. Use all your picks to either trade up and draft, or just draft in those slots.
2. Sign as many 1-2 yr vet UFAs as possible. intend to trade many/all of them at the TDL next year or after.
3. Accumulate as many picks as you can trading away vets, so that the '26 summer is set up with tons of picks in the first two rounds, and one of them being top 4 to ensure a big prize.
4. Give lots of chances to the kids including full time for Dick and Mukh and maybe even Cagnoni, along with Graf and Askarov. Also, bring up Lund, Musty, and Cherny if they earn it from the Cuda. The team will be super young, and so will lose lots of games, but the year experience will be invaluable, just as it was for Smith this year. And, at the end of the year, Pohlkamp and LSW can go pro as well and get a little NHL taste just as Lund got this year.

Seems, if grier doesnt mind one more year of stink, he should be able to capture at least two 1st rounders equivalent at the '26 TDL, just as he did this year for Granny and Walman. Wennberg, Liljgren, Ferraro, Desharnais, and two higher end vets like patrick kane or kreider ought to bring in a nice return from teams chasing the cup, and we do have a retention slot as needed.

If grier has FOUR 1st round picks and two second round picks going into next year's draft, he will be set up to be extremely aggressive in summer trading and UFA signing with potentially 70M+ in cap space. He might be ready and willing to revolutionize the roster in one summer.

he will have jettisoned all the extras (ferraro, liljgren, wennberg, dyllandrea, grundstrom... all gone). He'll have likely: Celly, Misa, EK, Smith, graf, cherny, Musty as at least 7 of the top 9 forwards and maybe bystedt, lund, ostapchuk in there too. On D, he'll see what he has in mukh, dick, cagnoni. He'll also know that the top '26 pick will fit in somewhere. And he'll know what hes got in Asky. In short, the holes will be much better known going into summer '26, and he'll have both the cap space and draft fodder to add 4-5 major impact players, including some $$$ and term...

One. more. year....

 

[Sleeper Shark]

Im wondering if the strategy this summer is still one of pure future asset acquisition and drafting?

1. Use all your picks to either trade up and draft, or just draft in those slots.
2. Sign as many 1-2 yr vet UFAs as possible. intend to trade many/all of them at the TDL next year or after.
3. Accumulate as many picks as you can trading away vets, so that the '26 summer is set up with tons of picks in the first two rounds, and one of them being top 4 to ensure a big prize.
4. Give lots of chances to the kids including full time for Dick and Mukh and maybe even Cagnoni, along with Graf and Askarov. Also, bring up Lund, Musty, and Cherny if they earn it from the Cuda. The team will be super young, and so will lose lots of games, but the year experience will be invaluable, just as it was for Smith this year. And, at the end of the year, Pohlkamp and LSW can go pro as well and get a little NHL taste just as Lund got this year.

Seems, if grier doesnt mind one more year of stink, he should be able to capture at least two 1st rounders equivalent at the '26 TDL, just as he did this year for Granny and Walman. Wennberg, Liljgren, Ferraro, Desharnais, and two higher end vets like patrick kane or kreider ought to bring in a nice return from teams chasing the cup, and we do have a retention slot as needed.

If grier has FOUR 1st round picks and two second round picks going into next year's draft, he will be set up to be extremely aggressive in summer trading and UFA signing with potentially 70M+ in cap space. He might be ready and willing to revolutionize the roster in one summer.

he will have jettisoned all the extras (ferraro, liljgren, wennberg, dyllandrea, grundstrom... all gone). He'll have likely: Celly, Misa, EK, Smith, graf, cherny, Musty as at least 7 of the top 9 forwards and maybe bystedt, lund, ostapchuk in there too. On D, he'll see what he has in mukh, dick, cagnoni. He'll also know that the top '26 pick will fit in somewhere. And he'll know what hes got in Asky. In short, the holes will be much better known going into summer '26, and he'll have both the cap space and draft fodder to add 4-5 major impact players, including some $$$ and term...

One. more. year....

This is great perspective, especially with regard to coinciding draft capital and cap space. I wouldn't hate MG getting a little jump on a revamped d-core by signing someone like Gavrikov (per above comments), but I think next year is the year it all coalesces. Hoping to see real time given to young players and to see some chemistry develop on line 2 with Misa and Cherny (and Graf perhaps?).

It does seem that 2026 does have a juicy free agent class along with a somewhat improved top 10 in the draft. Bodes well for the Sharks on both counts.

 

[hockfan1991]

Im wondering if the strategy this summer is still one of pure future asset acquisition and drafting?

1. Use all your picks to either trade up and draft, or just draft in those slots.
2. Sign as many 1-2 yr vet UFAs as possible. intend to trade many/all of them at the TDL next year or after.
3. Accumulate as many picks as you can trading away vets, so that the '26 summer is set up with tons of picks in the first two rounds, and one of them being top 4 to ensure a big prize.
4. Give lots of chances to the kids including full time for Dick and Mukh and maybe even Cagnoni, along with Graf and Askarov. Also, bring up Lund, Musty, and Cherny if they earn it from the Cuda. The team will be super young, and so will lose lots of games, but the year experience will be invaluable, just as it was for Smith this year. And, at the end of the year, Pohlkamp and LSW can go pro as well and get a little NHL taste just as Lund got this year.

Seems, if grier doesnt mind one more year of stink, he should be able to capture at least two 1st rounders equivalent at the '26 TDL, just as he did this year for Granny and Walman. Wennberg, Liljgren, Ferraro, Desharnais, and two higher end vets like patrick kane or kreider ought to bring in a nice return from teams chasing the cup, and we do have a retention slot as needed.

If grier has FOUR 1st round picks and two second round picks going into next year's draft, he will be set up to be extremely aggressive in summer trading and UFA signing with potentially 70M+ in cap space. He might be ready and willing to revolutionize the roster in one summer.

he will have jettisoned all the extras (ferraro, liljgren, wennberg, dyllandrea, grundstrom... all gone). He'll have likely: Celly, Misa, EK, Smith, graf, cherny, Musty as at least 7 of the top 9 forwards and maybe bystedt, lund, ostapchuk in there too. On D, he'll see what he has in mukh, dick, cagnoni. He'll also know that the top '26 pick will fit in somewhere. And he'll know what hes got in Asky. In short, the holes will be much better known going into summer '26, and he'll have both the cap space and draft fodder to add 4-5 major impact players, including some $$$ and term...

One. more. year....

The 2 biggest disappointments for me this offseason are still on the board.

1.) Even worse than picking third, is reaching at #2. To me, the 2nd pick is the easiest place to pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, teams are still indifferent about #1, and 3 opens a whole other can of whoop ass.
Dont be cute whoever is there at 2, just pick them.

2.) I dont think the Sharks should draft with the Dallas pick, im hoping they have this in mind too.
Although there is value another Cherny, etc is likely not to drop. You can have enough Sub A prospects at some point. We are already getting log jammed and i think it is inevitable that a couple wont make it as is. We dont need more players 3-4 years out. We need impact now. So i would really like to see them comine the Dallas Pick to either A.) move up to acquire a player that drops that we have talked about with nauseum. B.) Package the Dallas 1st, one of our seconds and a prospect and get a young impact player now. To me this makes the most sense, whoever we take the next xouple years with all these late firsts/seconds are likely not to impact our team anytime soon. we sure as hell dont need 4 second rounders in our system that wont asee the light of day. Quality over quantity is what we need. We have the pieces to make this happen. Lets hope Mikey G can make it happen.

my 3 cents, Keep it crunchy

 

[Jargon]

The 2 biggest disappointments for me this offseason are still on the board.

1.) Even worse than picking third, is reaching at #2. To me, the 2nd pick is the easiest place to pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, teams are still indifferent about #1, and 3 opens a whole other can of whoop ass.
Dont be cute whoever is there at 2, just pick them.

2.) I dont think the Sharks should draft with the Dallas pick, im hoping they have this in mind too.
Although there is value another Cherny, etc is likely not to drop. You can have enough Sub A prospects at some point. We are already getting log jammed and i think it is inevitable that a couple wont make it as is. We dont need more players 3-4 years out. We need impact now. So i would really like to see them comine the Dallas Pick to either A.) move up to acquire a player that drops that we have talked about with nauseum. B.) Package the Dallas 1st, one of our seconds and a prospect and get a young impact player now. To me this makes the most sense, whoever we take the next xouple years with all these late firsts/seconds are likely not to impact our team anytime soon. we sure as hell dont need 4 second rounders in our system that wont asee the light of day. Quality over quantity is what we need. We have the pieces to make this happen. Lets hope Mikey G can make it happen.

my 3 cents, Keep it crunchy

The way Grier has talked about the Dallas pick really sounds like he has full intention to trade it. Obviously, there needs to be a trade available but I think he’s definitely using it as ammo.

I have a weird feeling he’s going to shock us with an Askarov-like trade this summer.

 

[Powinkle]

Do we have any interest in Duchene if he goes to market?

 

[sampler]

Do we have any interest in Duchene if he goes to market?

Sure, if he'll take a 1-2 yr deal. I think grier is gunna sign a small group of overpaid vets to short term. It actually makes alot of sense for him to stay flexible. Sucks a bit for the fan base to watch another bottom feeder season, but again vets on 1-2 year deals allows the kids time to marinate while letting grier trade them easily for picks, particualrly if any overachieve (like granny and walman did). If he added a Duchene for 2 years 6-7M per, that would be a very moveable contract. I'm not sure he will sign for under 4 years though.

Realistic targets for 1-2 yr deals (though not guaranteed) include:

Granlund, Kane, nelson, Krieder (thru trade with NYR), Giroux, Benn, Palmieri, Dadanov, R. Smith, JVR, marcus Johansson, Dumoulin....

Some of these will be available for Wennberg-like deals. 1-2 years, overpriced AAV. Extremely movable (with salary retention if needed) for high picks. It would be nice to get 3-4 of these, and just flip them at the deadline. In fact, signing with SJ for 1 yr can give them big $$$, guarantee top 6 playing time, and an assurance that they will play for the cup when traded at the deadline.

If the sharks load up on temps, and have a massssssive firesale at the deadline, they should get a king's bounty, and be set to ramp up for '26-27.

 

[tiburon12]

Do we have any interest in Duchene if he goes to market?

I don't think SJ is on his radar. Doesn't fit his lifestyle at all

 

[tahoesharksfan]

Bro, if the Kings were in such an enviable situation, then there's no way Blake would have turned down a contract extension with them. You can't preach "Blake is toooooo good for the Kings" and also "the Kings are extremely well-positioned now and in the futurrrrre!!!1" in the same breath, seriously pick a struggle.

If you want to spam inflammatory opinions to rile everyone up, then you have to eat the flaming shit headed your way when you're dead wrong.

Jux, seriously, why don't you have this poster blocked?

 

[OrrNumber4]

He also drafted Brock Faber (and acquired a 25yo first line winger for him when it became clear he wasn't gonna sign with the Kings out of college), Danault was one of the best UFA signings in recent history, acquired 3+ years of Gavrikov's prime for a late 1st, re-signed Kempe and Anderson to two of the best value contracts in the league, re-signed Byfield to a contract with a lower AAV than Matt freakin Coronato. The list goes on.

That is a pathetic list of accomplishments.

 

[Zarzh]

Although there is value another Cherny, etc is likely not to drop. You can have enough Sub A prospects at some point. We are already getting log jammed and i think it is inevitable that a couple wont make it as is. We dont need more players 3-4 years out. We need impact now. So i would really like to see them comine the Dallas Pick to either A.) move up to acquire a player that drops that we have talked about with nauseum. B.) Package the Dallas 1st, one of our seconds and a prospect and get a young impact player now. To me this makes the most sense, whoever we take the next xouple years with all these late firsts/seconds are likely not to impact our team anytime soon. we sure as hell dont need 4 second rounders in our system that wont asee the light of day. Quality over quantity is what we need. We have the pieces to make this happen. Lets hope Mikey G can make it happen.

The ideal move is to move up to pick a Martin, Desnoyers too but his value has probably risen too high for that. Aitcheson might be a more realistic target even if he's not the best value but will be difficult to play against.

 

[Hodge]

That is a pathetic list of accomplishments.

The accomplishment was taking a team that finished 30th, 28th and 25th in overall league standings to 14th, 10th, 12th and 6th without mortgaging the future or signing any bad contracts.

 

[tiburon12]

The accomplishment was taking a team that finished 30th, 28th and 25th in overall league standings to 14th, 10th, 12th and 6th without mortgaging the future or signing any bad contracts.

That Faber trade was not mortgaging the future? a First + top D prospect for a scoring winger who was traded right after having his best season, a season he's never topped despite still being in his prime? All while considering the Kings D core is fleeting and they're going into next season depending on an aging Doughty and Mikey Anderson as options to be #1, or Clarke, who you think stinks.

Sure looks like they could have used Faber and the 1st (yes i know there's more as to why to the Faber trade happened, but still)

He also certainly mortgaged the future with the initial PLD trade and then again on the 2nd trade