Injury Report: 2024-25 Sharks/Barracuda health

[coooldude]

I am with everyone saying they want to give folks to Smith to play with / off of. However -- I don't think it's time to try him with Celebrini or Wennberg.

• Wennberg is not a natural winger even if he's played it in the past, he moves smoothly and defensively positions himself well in open ice, but he's not exactly mucking it up winning along the boards, in contrast to e.g. an Eklund who despite his size has gotten pretty damn good along the wall... also, Wenny's not the guy if we're looking for a finisher / high offensive hockey IQ guy for Smith, and if all we're looking for is defensive help, well, he has that with Kunin and Goodrow.
• Celebrini is about to start his 2nd pro hockey game ever. No matter how amazing he's going to be, I think it would be risky, foolish to play the two rookies together
• Moreover any lineup that pushes Smith to Wing, I think, is premature. Already our system seems to be pretty fluid with forwards in the DZ where the first F back (F3) takes up the center role for a bit until the zone play stabilizes, but in the OZ Smith is often off the wall looking for space (see his first goal) and if we put Celly with him, are we asking our center to now play F1 / play along the wall? Why?
• Anything where we put Smith with one of Eklund, Toffoli, Granlund makes a lot of sense to me.

I also don't think it's the worst thing for him to still stick with Kunin and Goodrow for a little bit. It's not ideal, of course. But he's playing more and more responsible hockey, and once he has the basics down of this, we can try to build in the offensive dynamism and creativity that we know he brings. I'd advocate for reuniting the Kunin-Wennberg-Goodrow line and put Smith with Granlund or Eklund on his LW and Zetterlund on the right, but I don't think it's the end of the world for him to be with the grinders for now, UNLESS, it lasts all year.

 

[SjMilhouse]

Sheng just said Celebrini is playing tomorrow. WE'RE BACK BABY LETS GOOO

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

WE ARE SO BACK!

 

[Tw1ster]

Sheng just said Celebrini is playing tomorrow. WE'RE BACK BABY LETS GOOO

 

[gaucholoco3]

With both Celebrini and Dellandrea back that would imply both Gushchin and Cardwell are sent down since Kostin and G Smith haven’t been put on waivers today.

 

[coooldude]

With both Celebrini and Dellandrea back that would imply both Gushchin and Cardwell are sent down since Kostin and G Smith haven’t been put on waivers today.

Makes sense. I'd guess Grier isn't going to waive G Smith - he'll just sit in the pressbox for most of the year until/unless we need meat, and goes UFA at the end of season (or traded for nothing at the TDL). And hunch is that he'll try to move Kostin for some low draft pick, seeing as Cardwell looks to be a better lineup option already, despite not having the offensive ceiling, because he plays a consistent responsible game. If he can't move Kostin, then I doubt he gets qualified.

 

[Hobocop]

With both Celebrini and Dellandrea back that would imply both Gushchin and Cardwell are sent down since Kostin and G Smith haven’t been put on waivers today.

Thompson's another option. Could go to 15F-6D again.

That said, it's not like this is a major decision. If you're scratching any of those three next game, sending them down for it just makes sense, it's consequence-free. Can always make another roster move (waivers, trade, etc) after tomorrow's game.

 

[weastern bias]

I'm making NSFW noises right now

 

[LadyStanley]

With both Celebrini and Dellandrea back that would imply both Gushchin and Cardwell are sent down since Kostin and G Smith haven’t been put on waivers today.

They can be put on waivers tomorrow. With Cuda off this week, that would be one more day at NHL rate (if on two way deal).

 

[OrrNumber4]

Cardwell going down makes sense. I thought Gushchin had earned some rope with the coaching staff, at least over Dellandrea.

But I suppose that no one has really stood out, negativity or positively, amongst that Dellandrea/Grundstrom/Gushchin group.

 

[Star Platinum]

With both Celebrini and Dellandrea back that would imply both Gushchin and Cardwell are sent down since Kostin and G Smith haven’t been put on waivers today.

What is the point of having Givani on the roster if we play recent callups over him?

 

[dmcccdmn]

Sheng just said Celebrini is playing tomorrow. WE'RE BACK BABY LETS GOOO

So we're going on another win streak? Playoffs this year? Grier wins executive of the year?

 

[one2gamble]

What is the point of having Givani on the roster?

nobody knows

 

[Hobocop]

They can be put on waivers tomorrow. With Cuda off this week, that would be one more day at NHL rate (if on two way deal).

He's talking specifically about the Sharks game tomorrow night, though. Don't players that have been put on waivers remain on the 23-man roster until they've cleared the following day?

 

[Friday]

So relieved he's coming back. I know its dramatic but when the Sharks say "week to week" it could literally mean infinity haha

Speaking of such things, is 44 okay?

 

[timorous me]

Sheng just said Celebrini is playing tomorrow. WE'RE BACK BABY LETS GOOO

Nice job announcing this a day early. A clear message to Sharks fans: Please buy tickets for this Tuesday night game, on election night, against a bad team from the Eastern Conference!!!!

 

[TheBigDrunkPanda]

I am with everyone saying they want to give folks to Smith to play with / off of. However -- I don't think it's time to try him with Celebrini or Wennberg.

• Wennberg is not a natural winger even if he's played it in the past, he moves smoothly and defensively positions himself well in open ice, but he's not exactly mucking it up winning along the boards, in contrast to e.g. an Eklund who despite his size has gotten pretty damn good along the wall... also, Wenny's not the guy if we're looking for a finisher / high offensive hockey IQ guy for Smith, and if all we're looking for is defensive help, well, he has that with Kunin and Goodrow.
• Celebrini is about to start his 2nd pro hockey game ever. No matter how amazing he's going to be, I think it would be risky, foolish to play the two rookies together
• Moreover any lineup that pushes Smith to Wing, I think, is premature. Already our system seems to be pretty fluid with forwards in the DZ where the first F back (F3) takes up the center role for a bit until the zone play stabilizes, but in the OZ Smith is often off the wall looking for space (see his first goal) and if we put Celly with him, are we asking our center to now play F1 / play along the wall? Why?
• Anything where we put Smith with one of Eklund, Toffoli, Granlund makes a lot of sense to me.

I also don't think it's the worst thing for him to still stick with Kunin and Goodrow for a little bit. It's not ideal, of course. But he's playing more and more responsible hockey, and once he has the basics down of this, we can try to build in the offensive dynamism and creativity that we know he brings. I'd advocate for reuniting the Kunin-Wennberg-Goodrow line and put Smith with Granlund or Eklund on his LW and Zetterlund on the right, but I don't think it's the end of the world for him to be with the grinders for now, UNLESS, it lasts all year.

Honestly Smith is pretty much been reduced to a winger on that line so what difference does it make

 

[YUPPY 2 7 10 11]

So relieved he's coming back. I know its dramatic but when the Sharks say "week to week" it could literally mean infinity haha

Speaking of such things, is 44 okay?

What about #39. Is he retiring or playing this year?

 

[Munnyro]

What about #39. Is he retiring or playing this year?

I think most of us assume LTIRetired.

 

[Alaskanice]

I really hope he returns. I’d like for him to be a part of this turn around with these kids.

 

[DG93]

As much as I'd love to see Logan play again, it seems very unlikely unfortunately

 

[Pavelski2112]

Logan hasn't even skated since the last game he played in, which was almost a year ago iirc. I hate to say it, but he's done.

 

[Skeksis25]

I'd love for Couture to return and see him on the ice, however unrealistic that is. Vlasic, however, I would be perfectly fine never seeing him play for the Sharks again. Its weird with him. You would think a lifelong almost 2 decade player with your team only would be beloved, but the way he just became so disinterested after getting his big deal has soured me so much on him. Maybe after he retires and its been a few years, I can feel the nostalgia for him again.

 

[LadyStanley]

He's talking specifically about the Sharks game tomorrow night, though. Don't players that have been put on waivers remain on the 23-man roster until they've cleared the following day?

No.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853547949038731671

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853557591034720391

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853559237680755035

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853565467362996718

 

[coooldude]

Honestly Smith is pretty much been reduced to a winger on that line so what difference does it make

Not how I see it at all. He's still mostly playing a C role in the OZ, looking for space and plays, and not digging pucks off the wall. Celebrini does everything, but I wouldn't want to force two rookies to try to find professional hockey offense when one of them (Smith) is best finding soft ice / open ice, forcing Celebrini to do less of that (which he is also good at) to only try to work possession on the walls. Wennberg basically same except that he's not offensively gifted enough to give Smith anything useful either on the wall or to play off of in space.

In the DZ, Smith often stabilizes as a "winger" point man type role, but he has at times played the C role when he's the first man back before stabilizing into the structure. My general point being, he absolutely has not been "reduced" to a winger role and asking him to play that role explicitly I think would be a mistake at this point in his career, plus, per link above, sounds like they're trying to keep him at center anyway.