Confirmed with Link: [FLA/SJS] Nico Sturm and 2027 7th round pick for 2026 4th round pick

[TheBeard]

And if that turns out to be the case, we can go out and pay Sturm to come back. While I don't think that they'll get anyone like Marner, I think they can get someone like Duchene or Bennett or Nelson.

Maybe, I don't want Bennett because at 28 he's going to be looking for max term, Nelson may also be looking for long term at 33. Duchene is nearly done but still productive. Doubt he'd want more than 1 or 2 years.

 

[STL Shark]

We have about 4 or 5 forwards that don’t even bring that.

I’m also concerned that our sudden future Center depth at the beginning of the year isn’t what it is. Edstrom and Bysted were fighting out for 3C and Smith was pencilled in as 2C. Now we’re almost at Wennberg there by default. Not like Nico would have changed that but now I’m concerned.

There is a full draft and UFA window out there to go through before we start worrying about the 2025-26 center depth.

With as much cap space as we have, should be no issue finding center depth while also allowing the youngsters to grow.

 

[TheBeard]

There is a full draft and UFA window out there to go through before we start worrying about the 2025-26 center depth.

With as much cap space as we have, should be no issue finding center depth while also allowing the youngsters to grow.

The NHL draft isn't gonna solve our Center woes for the immediate future and we're not the only team with cap space. The teams with the second and third most space are Winnipeg and Carolina and there's gonna be no less than 14 teams with 25 million in space heading into the new season.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Maybe, I don't want Bennett because at 28 he's going to be looking for max term, Nelson may also be looking for long term at 33. Duchene is nearly done but still productive. Doubt he'd want more than 1 or 2 years.

Kind of like Duchene did on the contract he was bought out from but I'd be accepting of either option personally. I'm not sure what Nelson is looking for but if it's a Toffoli-like term deal, I'd be okay with that too.

 

[Jargon]

The NHL draft isn't gonna solve our Center woes for the immediate future and we're not the only team with cap space. The teams with the second and third most space are Winnipeg and Carolina and there's gonna be no less than 14 teams with 25 million in space heading into the new season.

My hope is they can find a good, defensively responsible winger for Smith and he can play 2C with Wennberg taking 3C duties. I think a winger might be easier/cheaper to find than a 2C.

 

[TheBeard]

My hope is they can find a good, defensively responsible winger for Smith and he can play 2C with Wennberg taking 3C duties. I think a winger might be easier/cheaper to find than a 2C.

When do you think they'll start on the Will Smith at Center experiment again? I assume now's as good a time as any.

Kind of like Duchene did on the contract he was bought out from but I'd be accepting of either option personally. I'm not sure what Nelson is looking for but if it's a Toffoli-like term deal, I'd be okay with that too.

This is ultimately what Grier is going to be judged on. How and when he's ready to focus on putting together a real team. Selling off is easy. The Askarov trade was easy. It's what he's willing to do in the foreseeable future to make the club a real contender again that's going to define his legacy as GM here

 

[STL Shark]

The NHL draft isn't gonna solve our Center woes for the immediate future and we're not the only team with cap space. The teams with the second and third most space are Winnipeg and Carolina and there's gonna be no less than 14 teams with 25 million in space heading into the new season.

If you wind up with Misa, that fills a top 9 center slot.

Look at last year how Grier targeted and brought in Wennberg. There will be guys like that out there again that can be had simply for the guarantee of playing time in a top 9 role. And regardless, outside of keeping Granlund nothing was going to affect the top 9.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

This is ultimately what Grier is going to be judged on. How and when he's ready to focus on putting together a real team. Selling off is easy. The Askarov trade was easy. It's what he's willing to do in the foreseeable future to make the club a real contender again that's going to define his legacy as GM here

Eventually, yes but the club's real contendership status is dependent on the kids being the group that drags the team to that point. You can put players around them here and there but it's typically the guys you draft high that are your core group when enough of them are ready to carry a team.

 

[gaucholoco3]

When do you think they'll start on the Will Smith at Center experiment again? I assume now's as good a time as any.

I think they will just let him focus on wing the rest of the season so he doesn’t have any more adjustments to make the rest of the season.

I also would like to get a top 6 wing that can be responsible allowing Smith to play 2C and Wenberg to be the 3C.

 

[TheBeard]

Eventually, yes but the club's real contendership status is dependent on the kids being the group that drags the team to that point. You can put players around them here and there but it's typically the guys you draft high that are your core group when enough of them are ready to carry a team.

It’s a combination of high drafted players, hidden gems in the draft and shrewd free agent signings/low risk trades.

The Tampa dynasty is a prime example of this.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Star Platinum]

I think it's imperative they bring in a legit 2C if and until Smith has shown he can be that guy. I would severely overpay for Matt Duschene because that would probably be the only way to get him on board. Hopefully Dallas wins the cup so he's no longer chasing a ring. I would also explore the rumors of Byfield being available

In the meantime they need to evaluate Bystedt on the big club.

I would actually argue that this is the reason why they should move Smith back to C now so they can evaluate whether they need to sign a center or a wing for next year.

I'm utterly ambivalent as to whether they evaluate Bystedt on the big club in March or not.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

It’s a combination of high drafted players, hidden gems in the draft and shrewd free agent signings/low risk trades.

The Tampa dynasty is a prime example of this.

Yes but the first two tend to be the driving force behind competitive teams less so than the external acquisitions and Tampa is a good example of that also.

 

[TheBeard]

Yes but the first two tend to be the driving force behind competitive teams less so than the external acquisitions and Tampa is a good example of that also.

Well sure, but you gotta be able to hit on those late firsts and mid round picks. We simply haven’t. Never have except for the occasional dart.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Well sure, but you gotta be able to hit on those late firsts and mid round picks. We simply haven’t. Never have except for the occasional dart.

Yeah but those also take time to materialize in most cases. Lots of the late 1st to midround picks that pan out for teams don't do so for three years on the early side. Grier's first draft is just now approaching that early part of the window and we all know the issues that came with hiring a new GM for that like a week before it happened.

 

[Hobocop]

I'm utterly ambivalent as to whether they evaluate Bystedt on the big club in March or not.

Bystedt's hurt right now anyway, but I don't think there's any need to rush him up to the Sharks once he's back either. He just needs to be working on improving simple things like his decisions with the puck right now.

 

[TheBeard]

Yeah but those also take time to materialize in most cases. Lots of the late 1st to midround picks that pan out for teams don't do so for three years on the early side. Grier's first draft is just now approaching that early part of the window and we all know the issues that came with hiring a new GM for that like a week before it happened.

We shall see I guess but if the team can’t capitalize on later picks and can’t bring in marquee free agents then there’s only so much 71 and 2 can do.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

We shall see I guess but if the team can’t capitalize on later picks and can’t bring in marquee free agents then there’s only so much 71 and 2 can do.

That's probably why these first couple years of their career might be a little difficult. There's still quite a few players that need to get NHL experience and develop to really fill out this team to a competitive status. We can't take shortcuts with the guys we draft and part of that is opening up opportunities for them.

 

[TheBeard]

Ye

That's probably why these first couple years of their career might be a little difficult. There's still quite a few players that need to get NHL experience and develop to really fill out this team to a competitive status. We can't take shortcuts with the guys we draft and part of that is opening up opportunities for them.

Yep. That’s why I like guys like Nico to come in and play center, so guys like Will aren’t pressured to figure out how to spearhead his own line while still in his teens. Not saying Nico was ever gonna play on the second line, but having those kinds of vets taking the pressure off lets the kids learn at their own pace.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Ye

Yep. That’s why I like guys like Nico to come in and play center, so guys like Will aren’t pressured to figure out how to spearhead his own line while still in his teens. Not saying Nico was ever gonna play on the second line, but having those kinds of vets taking the pressure off lets the kids learn at their own pace.

And I suspect they will replace him with someone similar in the offseason. They have the need and the space to do another Wennberg-like contract for someone who can probably do a little more than Sturm can at this stage. At least I would hope so. It would be a sad state of affairs if Grier doesn't have better options than Sturm available come draft or free agent time.

 

[TheBeard]

The way he’s trading players, I’m not sure Mike even wants to go on that direction lol.

And I suspect they will replace him with someone similar in the offseason. They have the need and the space to do another Wennberg-like contract for someone who can probably do a little more than Sturm can at this stage. At least I would hope so. It would be a sad state of affairs if Grier doesn't have better options than Sturm available come draft or free agent time.