Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[Grinner]

I'm probably wrong, but I think he does have the kit, he just hasn't unboxed it yet. It's a risk that he'll figure it all out, but if he does he'd be elite

Perhaps. I try to get a reading on the player by the tone of their fans posts.

 

[tiburon12]

Perhaps. I try to get a reading on the player by the tone of their fans posts.

Yea im from Ranger's territory so most of my close friends are rags guys. They are frustrated that Miller hasnt busted out yet more than they think he stinks (even if sentiments manifest as the latter).

I also definitely subscribe to the "don't judge a defenseman on a bad team" narrative

Still a risk tho

 

[Star Platinum]

I also definitely subscribe to the "don't judge a defenseman on a bad team" narrative

I have some judgments on some defensemen on a particular bad team...

 

[Barrie22]

2-3 years at 1.8 is my guess.

 

[Le Rosbeef]

I think people's personal narratives with Mario sways their ability to have a more objective perspective of what he brings at a more than reasonable cap hit.

Nail. Head.

But then it's what so many are good at!

 

[Hodge]

Well there goes Willander.

 

[TheBeard]

Well there goes Willander.

I honestly didn’t think there was a chance in hell they weren’t gonna sign him considering they’re on the cusp of losing Quinn.

 

[OrrNumber4]

2-3 years at 1.8 is my guess.

At that money, you'd guess less term, no?

 

[SJS1991]

I honestly didn’t think there was a chance in hell they weren’t gonna sign him considering they’re on the cusp of losing Quinn.

What?!?!? They just signed Foote though for him!

 

[one2gamble]

2-3 years at 1.8 is my guess.

im guessing 2 years at 2.2

 

[SJS1991]

…. So safe to say Mitch Marner is going to be available? Haha

 

[Hodge]

…. So safe to say Mitch Marner is going to be available? Haha

I'd still sign him if he's willing to play here, especially if we fluke into landing Schaefer. Trade Eklund for a big physical RHD.

 

[Pavelski2112]

I'd still sign him if he's willing to play here, especially if we fluke into landing Schaefer. Trade Eklund for a big physical RHD.

It's not like we have to worry about the playoffs anytime soon so why not

 

[Jargon]

I'd still sign him if he's willing to play here, especially if we fluke into landing Schaefer. Trade Eklund for a big physical RHD.

I agree.

I also wonder if he might do better playing behind the leadership of a Celebrini than a Matthews…

 

[The McMafia]

I'd still sign him if he's willing to play here, especially if we fluke into landing Schaefer. Trade Eklund for a big physical RHD.

He could follow the Kessel career route where he ends up being a key depth cog on a Stanley Cup winner. Who knows.

Watch the Sharks sign him for $10M and then the Sharks make a conference final before the Leafs do.

 

[tiburon12]

He could follow the Kessel career route where he ends up being a key depth cog on a Stanley Cup winner. Who knows.

Watch the Sharks sign him for $10M and then the Sharks make a conference final before the Leafs do.

This would mean Marner doesn't get a raise, which i'm actually wondering if it's a possibility that he doesn't on his next deal. How could anyone pay more than Pasta makes?

 

[The McMafia]

This would mean Marner doesn't get a raise, which i'm actually wondering if it's a possibility that he doesn't on his next deal. How could anyone pay more than Pasta makes?

I think the best place for him to go is Columbus. On the way up, have a solid core of players already, and they have $$ to spend.

 

[Jts4thgoal]

Pay all that money to Marner just to watch him implode every year in the playoffs would be classic San Jose hockey.

 

[Tw1ster]

Pay all that money to Marner just to watch him implode every year in the playoffs would be classic San Jose hockey.

 

[SJS1991]

I think the best place for him to go is Columbus. On the way up, have a solid core of players already, and they have $$ to spend.

I know he wouldn’t wave for Carolina… but I wonder as a FA if that’s not a great spot for him. Very low key market, which I’m sure he is interested in… and the structure there really just takes over for everything.

So he can be unassuming in the playoffs.

 

[sampler]

I think, rather than targeting marner, Grier should target tavares. We actually came extremely close to signing him 7 years ago. DW was chasing him and when he elected to go to Toronto, then Wilson swing the EK65 deal.

I would be all for Grier giving Tavares 2 year, 9-10M per year deal. I know the C position is not our big need, but I think Tavares would be exactly the kind of vet that would fit nicely here. Extremely tradeable at any TDL, espcially with 50% retention, but also very similar to toffoli in his veteran presence, and can put in 30 offenseively. it would take alot of the pressure off of mack too and allow him to slot in as a #2C if needed. Remember, mack is not even 19 yet, and he looks tired and overmatched at the end of the year. I think until Smtih is a clear C, mack could use a little veteran help. I get that he might prefer to sign with a more winning team, but since the sharks can promise to move him at the TDL to a cup contender and can overpay dramatically, he might come?

Id love Tavares-Celebrini-Smith-Wennberg down the middle. Smith can move to wing as needed, as can wennberg.

Crazy?

 

[sampler]

I would add that as long as the term is 2 years or less, then it fits perfectly in our salary structure as that deal comes off the books in the year in which smith and celly have their ELCs expire. Salary structure wise, grier is wise to keep all new deals to 1-2 years, so a tavares, 2 yr, 20M deal actually works perfectly in that structure.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

My target acquisitions need to know who we're drafting. If we end up with Misa, I'm alright with him starting in the NHL on the 3rd line and building around a Celebrini-Smith-Misa center arrangement. In a lot of different scenarios, Brock Nelson is an ideal acquisition as he could be a solid compliment to any of those three depending on what clicks.

 

[sampler]

The other guy id like is rielly smith. he's another aging vet, cup winner who can play wing, and add that quality presence. I'm not sure hes gunna get a lot of good offers, so the sharks might be able to grab him on a 1 yr, 5M deal (or 2 yrs 4M per).

I kinda feel like these mid 30's year olds are just what the sharks need right now, especially ones with cup winning experience. They will all sign short term (1-2 years), all looking for one last payday. They wont be in huge demand from contending teams who might be a bit more cap strapped, so the sharks can win any bidding war easily. However, they are often in high demand around the deadline for teams looking to add a little veteran jolt to their lineup, but without having to pay the full year cap hit. They are perfect veteran stop gaps to provide mentorship and take the pressure off the kids for a year.

Tavares, Smith, Duchene, Granlund, kane, nelson, marchand, giroux, benn, Palmieri, Dadanov, Dumoulin, Nate Schmidt...

If the sharks were able to get 3-5 of those on just 1 yr deals (say kane 1 yr 6M, Smith 1 yr 6M, Benn 1 yr 6M, Dumoulin 1 yr 5M), that would be perfect. adds 24M to the roster bringing us above the cap floor. Add in wennberg and ferraro as other to-be-ufas and Grier could allow most of the 1st year pro kids to boslter the Cuda, and then get the call up for the last 20 games after the deadline, and then be sent down again for a cuda PO run?

Celebrini-toffoli-Eklund
W Smith-Benn-Kane
Wennberg-R Smith -Graf
Cardwell-Goodrow-Grundstrom
Dyll.

Then, at the deadline, trade away (or try to trade) all of Dyll, Grund, Smith, Kane, Benn, Wennberg, Ferraro, Liljgren, Desharnais, Dumoulin. Retain salary on one of them. get as many '26 picks as possible.

Then call up Lund, Cherny, and Musty to take the spots of Kane, benn, and Smith on the wings, and call up Bystedt/Osty to pick up the 3C spot vacated by Wennberg for the final stretch of the season. Also call up cagnoni, and give more time to dick, and possibly sign Pohlkamp and bring him in (depending on how far Denver goes). See if LSW or Havelid might be ready for an NHL peak, since they just signed both of 'em to ELCs.

This is not that different from this year trading granny, kunin, sturm, blackwood, vanecek, walman, ceci... and then giving a look to cagnoni, lund, graf, osty, giles, Mukh, Thompson, etc.

 

[sampler]

My target acquisitions need to know who we're drafting. If we end up with Misa, I'm alright with him starting in the NHL on the 3rd line and building around a Celebrini-Smith-Misa center arrangement. In a lot of different scenarios, Brock Nelson is an ideal acquisition as he could be a solid compliment to any of those three depending on what clicks.

There is a weird part of me that doesnt really care who we sign, as long as they are 1 yr deals. If Nelson would come at 1 yr 7M, go for it.

It feels as if this year remains a fully developmental year, rather than a PO competitive year. if that's true, then the best thing grier can do is fill the roster with quality vets who will have high trade values at the deadline. This does not mean guys like kunin, who is next to worthless, but instead quality guys that will have a market in March for their serices.

to-be-UFAs: R Smith got Brisson and a 3rd rounder. Nelson got basically 2 1st rounders (a 1st and Richie). marchand got a 2nd. Dumoulin got a 2nd.

If the sharks can get anywhere near those kind of returns at the TDL next year, it's a huge win. At this point, it feels like cap space for quality placeholders and picks remains the potentially best strategy, but keeping full flexibility going into summer '26 is a priority as I can imagine that we will know what we have in house with cherny, musty, dick, '25 pick (misa or schaefer), etc and we'll know what holes we need to fill too, all while owning half the '26 draft, and being able to project well the '26 top pick target.

One more year of pick accumulation.