2024/2025 Around the League

Balthazar

I haven't talked to the trainers yet
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Apr 25, 2006
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STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, what is more likely? A 26 year old top pick regains their form, or a soon-to-be 32 year old remains elite until he's 35?
Statistically speaking it was very unlikely that a player like EP would fall off a cliff at age 24. Yet, here we are. I mean his physical abilities aren't the same, it's not just mental.

IMO it's a coin toss. I think Miller will provide stability for the next 2-3 years. EP either becomes the 1C that he was supposed to become or finishes his contract on LTIR or becomes one of the worst contract in the NHL.

I honestly don't know what the Canucks are going to do. It's also in the realm of possibility that Miller asked for a trade and it's why he left for 10 days.
 

McMetal

Writer of Wrongs
Sep 29, 2015
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Statistically speaking it was very unlikely that a player like EP would fall off a cliff at age 24. Yet, here we are. I mean his physical abilities aren't the same, it's not just mental.

IMO it's a coin toss. I think Miller will provide stability for the next 2-3 years. EP either becomes the 1C that he was supposed to become or finishes his contract on LTIR or becomes one of the worst contract in the NHL.

I honestly don't know what the Canucks are going to do. It's also in the realm of possibility that Miller asked for a trade and it's why he left for 10 days.
I think there is way more risk in that sentence than you realize. Is it so inconceivable that the march of time will start to diminish Miller's game much sooner than 2-3 years? It happens to lots of players as they go past age 30, even good ones. Why do you think he will be exempt?

You're assuming the best of JT Miller, and assuming the absolute worst about Pettersson. I just don't think you're looking at this objectively.
 

RoyIsALegend

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I actually like Anaheim’s young core more than San Jose’s, but they don’t have a Celebrini who is a total game changing player.

Both teams have stud young goalies, though. Important pieces to have.
 

Balthazar

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I actually like Anaheim’s young core more than San Jose’s, but they don’t have a Celebrini who is a total game changing player.

Both teams have stud young goalies, though. Important pieces to have.
Ducks are deeper into their rebuild so they had time to collect more high end pieces.

However the Sharks IMO have the best prospects at C, G and D with Celebrini, Askarov and Dickinson.
 

McMetal

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Celebrini has been really impressive so far. What sticks out to me is that he isn't afraid to get his nose dirty along the walls and in front of the net at all. Lots of 1OA guys tend to try to get by on their skill alone when they're rookies, because it's worked for them their entire lives up to that point. They have to learn that there's not always going to be somebody else to do the dirty work for them. But Celebrini is immediately diving headlong into the trenches, and that combined with his considerable raw talent is going to make him an absolute monster soon once he gets stronger and more experienced.
 
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RoyIsALegend

Gross Misconduct
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Celebrini has been really impressive so far. What sticks out to me is that he isn't afraid to get his nose dirty along the walls and in front of the net at all. Lots of 1OA guys tend to try to get by on their skill alone when they're rookies, because it's worked for them their entire lives up to that point. They have to learn that there's not always going to be somebody else to do the dirty work for them. But Celebrini is immediately diving headlong into the trenches, and that combined with his considerable raw talent is going to make him an absolute monster soon once he gets stronger and more experienced.

It’s the biggest difference between him and Bedard.

Bedard stays to the perimeter like J.Hughes.

Celebrini is constantly engaging the high traffic areas, dropping shoulders, initiating contact. He wins tons of battles and then uses his explosive speed to generate chances. I saw some stat that he is like 6th in the league in rush chances.
 

Foppberg

Registered User
Nov 20, 2016
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Sharks went from looking like it'll be a lengthy rebuild to a pretty good one. They've already added the pieces you want and need while getting rid of the old contracts, Grier has done a very nice job all things considered thus far.

Plus those jerseys help.
 
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Balthazar

I haven't talked to the trainers yet
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Apr 25, 2006
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Sharks went from looking like it'll be a lengthy rebuild to a pretty good one. They've already added the pieces you want and need while getting rid of the old contracts, Grier has done a very nice job all things considered thus far.

Plus those jerseys help.
They did a fantastic job at getting rid of the contracts IMO...and they got VERY lucky in the last year:

1- Won the Celebrini lottery
2- Someone was willing to trade them a 20 yo franchise goalie
3- Dickinson, who projected to go top 5 in the draft, somehow fell on their lap at 11th

All that in one offseason, what a frickin' haul. This has a legit chance to beat the Stars incredible 2017 offseason of Oettinger/Heiskanen/Robertson.
 

McMetal

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Sep 29, 2015
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Sharks went from looking like it'll be a lengthy rebuild to a pretty good one. They've already added the pieces you want and need while getting rid of the old contracts, Grier has done a very nice job all things considered thus far.

Plus those jerseys help.
I think they're still going to need at add another defenseman to that young core. Dickinson looks really sexy right now but you really can't have enough talent in your D corps. It's a lot harder to add another young top 4 damn when you need one than it is to find another scoring forward to supplement your offense.
 

Pokecheque

I’ve been told it’s spelled “Pokecheck”
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But that'd be implying that there's equal risk. It's not the case. You're not betting on Miller, you know what you're getting. You're betting that EP will go back to the player he was 3 seasons ago.
You act as if Miller was this great player his whole career when in fact he didn’t truly break out until last season. Before that he was a good, but uneven scoring forward with huge defensive issues. The Rangers and Bolts both said no to committing to him long-term.
 
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dahrougem2

Registered User
Dec 9, 2011
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Edmonton, Alberta
I LOVE Celebrini, I think he's the next big superstar in this league. His play reminds me so much of Crosby. Obviously, that's a career he can't live up to but the Sharks found themselves a good one.

Now, it's the other prized forward on their team I'm not as sold on... I don't think Will Smith has looked all that good this season and he doesn't exactly show many top end qualities in the times I've seen him play - which admittedly is only about 6/7 times but in every game he's played I've come away wondering why the hell this guy got picked so high?

Doesn't have high-end speed, doesn't have an elite shot, doesn't seem to be a high-end playmaker. Not a big guy. I don't really see it.
 
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LOFIN

Registered User
Sep 16, 2011
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Rants. You think Rants wants JTM yelling at him to move his feet more?
Rants would just yell back, like he did to Georgiev. He ain't taking any shit.

I LOVE Celebrini, I think he's the next big superstar in this league.
I also don't mind one bit he plays for the Sharks. The most interesting of the California franchises, but still irrelevant enough.
 

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