GDT: Game 17: Sharks @ Flyers 4pm

[sampler]

I'd add that I'm thrilled with the D development this year. Thompson sure looks like a legit NHLer to me at 22 years old. Cagnoni is getting closer at 19 years old. Dick is destroying the OHL leading london by a ton at 18 years old. Pohlcamp is tops on Denver in D scoring (T-3rd overall) and +/- at the top rated NCAA program in the country. And that doesnt include Mukh who was the top D prospect going into the summer. And doesnt include Landen and LSW who are doing pretty well. The future of the D looks really bright, and should all be coming to SJ within 1-2 years.

The O is still questionable. Bordeleau looks done. Gush and Cards are borderline. Graf will get another look so well see there. Bystedt and haltunnen are both injured and Musty had a terrible start sitting out. Cherny of course is still surgery recovering and Smith doesnt quite yet look NHL level. Really, the forwards have disappointed a little bit here, but still tons of potential. I suppose one more star forward would be a nice add in 2025.

Of course, Askarov is crushing it, so we know hes the future of the net.

it feels to me like the only thing missing is cultural. We need a winning culture. A hard working, cosnistently professional culture. A culture where losing or sucking is not OK. Slowly, it feels like that culture is being built, to Warsofsky's credit.

I wonder, if when walman returns and if Smith finds his NHL game, could the sharks go on a run here and enter the conversation? They are on a 5-2-1 run. Celly is back. Walman should be back soon. The kids like thompson and smith are gaining experience. Maybe, it's not too late to write off this season? Maybe the Martone/Hagens conversation is premature?

p.s.: Anyone know when Cherny is suppose to start playing again?

 

[Celly4Celebrini]

Those 22 points in 7 games at his D-1 u18 WJC was just Schmuck stats, eh? The 15 in 7 Macklin dropped the year prior were just vastly more impressive or the quality of competition changed that much in 1 year?

Get real. using D-1 comparisons when for all purposes except the NHL draft, theyre the same age. They played in all the same age groups growing up, and would have been drafted the same year except players need to be 18 by a certain september date.

Thats data manipulation 101 to fit a narrative

 

[DG93]

For the bold an italics section, I guess you think James Hagens is just some plug consolation prize?

Those 22 points in 7 games at his D-1 u18 WJC was just Schmuck stats, eh? The 15 in 7 Macklin dropped the year prior were just vastly more impressive or the quality of competition changed that much in 1 year?

In regards to all of the bold, this is a pretty good season to be bad and take a forward. It is early, but I would say I have a solid top 9 forwards I think have some degree of star potentiaI so far, 2 I would say I'm higher than 65% on becoming stars. Hagens is the king and Martone is in the kings court.

Oddly, I personally am really high on William Eklund's brother Viktor too. I doubt that opinion is as universally shared, but so far I love the way he plays so currently he is 3rd for me, but I doubt he is drafted there.

The players I rank 4&5 are probably 3&4. Fourth is Misa and he probably goes 3, a true sniper, I'm not sold on his play making. McQueen requires more film, the skillset should be a lock for top 3, but I need to see more from him. I think both have really great star potential.

Desnoyer. I really like his game so far. Good IQ from what I've seen, I think his biggest draw back is speed, but I need to see a few more games before I rank him any higher.

Frondell - Big, Physical, center. I think he goes high, I am not sure I like him that high, but there is a chance he ends up a variation of Landeskog

Ryabkin - Really wish Russia was at international play so I could see him on that stage. He could fall, but he is very talented.

Spence - kid has wheels. That doesn't mean he will be star, but I do think he will be a solid NHL player

I have 5 guys tied for 10 and I think it would take a few more games of each to properly rank them.

Yep, compared to Macklin Celebrini, Hagens is a consolation prize.

 

[Cas]

Around this time last year, people were saying that it was a bad year to tank because there wasn't a Bedard-level prospect at the top of the draft.

 

[Hodge]

Around this time last year, people were saying that it was a bad year to tank because there wasn't a Bedard-level prospect at the top of the draft.

Nobody was saying that.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Around this time last year, people were saying that it was a bad year to tank because there wasn't a Bedard-level prospect at the top of the draft.

Uh no I was already Slackin for Macklin at that point

 

[coooldude]

Nobody was saying that.

Absolutely people were calling last year a below average draft class well into January, because Celebrini was still in the Bedard shadow and scouts hated the depth of the class below the top 13-17. It was all about the top 6 D. Then as the winter went on in January, Celebrini started looking stronger, but the D warts started showing, but also people started obsessing over Catton, Lindstrom, Demidov, Sennecke, and Iginla, among others. We ended up at what seems like an average to above average first round draft class with an above average 1OA.

Martone and Misa shot out of the gate, Hagens is starting just fine but against top competition, and Schaefer got mono. There's plenty of time for the class to develop or stagnate in people's eyes. It does feel like having a top 5 (better top 4) pick is critical this year so far but we'll see.

 

[mogambomoroo]

There was a conversation about faceoffs, all I'm going to say is that I could see a scenario where next season Celebrini has finessed that skill because of his work ethic and is one of the best at it starting 25-26 season. He is just that player. It's crazy how good he has looked already and this is his first level, just think about what he can bring when he matures more in 2-3 years.

 

[Hodge]

Absolutely people were calling last year a below average draft class well into January, because Celebrini was still in the Bedard shadow and scouts hated the depth of the class below the top 13-17. It was all about the top 6 D. Then as the winter went on in January, Celebrini started looking stronger, but the D warts started showing, but also people started obsessing over Catton, Lindstrom, Demidov, Sennecke, and Iginla, among others. We ended up at what seems like an average to above average first round draft class with an above average 1OA.

Martone and Misa shot out of the gate, Hagens is starting just fine but against top competition, and Schaefer got mono. There's plenty of time for the class to develop or stagnate in people's eyes. It does feel like having a top 5 (better top 4) pick is critical this year so far but we'll see.

If anyone from this class ends up being a Celebrini-level prospect I would put my money on Schaefer.

 

[coooldude]

If anyone from this class ends up being a Celebrini-level prospect I would put my money on Schaefer.

Very possible. He's extremely young - almost a 2026. He's my current hope as the lottery balls fall.

Hagens could still explode in the second half, but it'll be a bit hard to separate him out from the embarrassment of riches at BC. I think if Martone gets a bit more consistent, he'll likely push for 1/2 - but are you getting a Tkachuk or a Slafkofsky?

 

[tahoesharksfan]

Count me as another who is liking Thompson’s game. Great energy with a skill set that seems to mostly need more time on the ice!