GDT: Game 60: Sharks @ Canadiens 4:00pm NBCSCA

[Chinaski89]

I think that's a good thing. Celebrini will get his, but when he might have an off night, who will pick up the slack? This is why I wanted to see Smith do well coming out of the break. Show that depth that we will all enjoy for years to come. Who will be the Joe Pavelski to Celebrini's Marleau?

Is Barclay Goodrow … Joe Thornton in this scenario?

 

[coooldude]

Name me one defender on this current roster that you want to play higher than third pairing

Walman

 

[Star Platinum]

Walman

I just can't with him anymore. Makes too many boneheaded defensive mistakes and he's nothing special as a passer. His whole value is skating with the puck and shooting it and that's just not enough. We need dependable defenders.

 

[Lebanezer]

I just can't with him anymore. Makes too many boneheaded defensive mistakes and he's nothing special as a passer. His whole value is skating with the puck and shooting it and that's just not enough. We need dependable defenders.

I was trying to think of some kind of joke to use with Walman, but the situation is so depressing that even comedy has died on the back end of this team.

 

[hohosaregood]

that might've been one of mario's best games for the sharks. really responsible defending and a lot of patience in his game right now, especially on the breakout.

 

[Shark Finn]

I was trying to think of some kind of joke to use with Walman, but the situation is so depressing that even comedy has died on the back end of this team.

It seems that we as a fanbase have collectively hit the Walman.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

Is Barclay Goodrow … Joe Thornton in this scenario?

I was thinking maybe Eklund, but the fact that you asked that question made me a little queasy.

 

[Lebanezer]

It seems that we as a fanbase have collectively hit the Walman.

 

[CHALUPA]

Dogshit officiating

 

[karltonian]

ah so thrun left the game early and the team dominated after that?

 

[The Nemesis]

It's so massively disappointing what Vlasic has become both as a player on the ice and off. Ferraro is unquestionably our leader on the blue line and the kids seem to love being around him.

I bet that some of it has to do with all his personal issues with his divorce and whatnot, but he's always been kinda salty and weird for years. It just didn't stand out so much that had big personalities and leaders who had seniority on him like Jumbo, Burns, Pavelski, and Marleau. It's likely he was never really destined for any sort of mentoring or leadership role and it only stands out now that he's the guy on this roster who obviously should be in that gig but isn't.

My guess is that to start the season, two of Cagnoni, Mukhamadullin, Schaefer, and Dickinson will be in the lineup. If anyone (probably only Schaefer) takes to the NHL very well, then you might have someone else come up. The injuries to Mukhamadullin were unfortunate; I think the hope was he'd be a solid, reliable bottom-pairing guy by the end of this season, and then next season you could try moving him up a little.

I think Mukhamadullin has mostly been fine. He's not and never has been a top shelf defensive prospect so some growing pains and bumpy roads were always likely to be there on his path to NHL regular.

I think that Mukhamadullin inherits the Rutta spot full time. Cagnoni probably starts as a sheltered 3rd pairing/PPQB type with either Vlasic or Thompson across from him. Schaefer gets a long, hard look if the Sharks pick top 2 and get him and probably makes it too. I just don't see Dickinson catching on unless he comes into camp and dominates. Especially if Schaefer were in the mix. We're kind of jammed up for LHD and I wouldn't want the kids playing on their off sides if at all possible.

Assuming the likely outcome of no Schaefer and without considering UFA additions:

Ferraro - Walman
Mukhamadullin - Liljegren
Cagnoni - Vlasic

With Schaefer the math becomes tougher since he's a LHD and that pushes Mukh or Cagnoni out when both need/deserve proper auditions for full-time roles.

The UFA market isn't great for RD either. Maybe you throw big money at Ekblad to be the anchor/leader. Maybe you try for a Ceci reunion. There's always Fabbro, but the Sharks didn't go for him on waivers so who knows what that means. Or maybe you take a shot at a less heralded guy like Kovacevic or Perbix or lower tier options like Hakkanpaa, Bortuzzo, or Tyson Barrie.

Name me one defender on this current roster that you want to play higher than third pairing

I'm fine with Walman on the second pair if they give him someone to offset his swashbuckling tendencies. Not in an ideal world, obviously, but in the world where the Sharks don't really have 4 top 4 d-men he's an acceptable option if you can manage the risk. The thing right now is that as a guy who can play on the right side and who actually does possess something that resembles offensive ability, he's kind of hardwired into a top pairing spot since we have no better options.

ah so thrun left the game early and the team dominated after that?

Warsofsky: "We lost Thrun and then we lost the game. It's not a coincidence."

 

[STL Shark]

I've come around on Ferraro since his terrible skid earlier in the year.

If some panicky playoff team wants to toss a stupid good return at Grier because they need a depth defensive d-man, I wouldn't automatically say no, but I think going into next year with Ferraro, Walman, Liljegren, Mukhamadullin, 2 spots to fill (ideally two top 4, more realistically 1x top 4 and 1x 3rd pair) and I guess Vlasic as the 7th D wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

If nothing else Ferraro feels like a guy to inherit more of a leadership role once the team pulls the chute on keeping the C on Couture and hands it off to Celebrini.

Think it depends what the offer is. Not going to just blindly accept a 2nd rounder, because that offer is going to be on the table at the 2026 TDL almost assuredly.

Deal would need to be either a 1st rounder or a 2nd + prospect type. I think the 2nd + prospect type of deal is more likely unless someone is just in love with Ferraro. Minnesota is a team I'm keeping an eye on simply because their PK is so bad and that's a spot where Ferraro excels with his skating and shot blocking. 2nd rounder + Liam Ohgren or something would fit the "big package" that would get Grier to move imo.

That said, not sure that package is out there. Maybe add a Sturm/Kunin and consolidate the return a little and you can get something done.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I wouldn't be mad if we got value for Walman this summer, but I don't think that happens. I'd rather just hang on to him until the 2026 deadline. I know he's been bad lately, but have you noticed who is partner is? How can you expect a guy to play well with that iron ball attached to him.

I guess it depends on what you feel is value for Walman. I'm not expecting anything more than a 2nd round pick out of him and that's not enough to pull the trigger without contingency plans in place. And if the contingency plan is largely seeing what you got from Dickinson and/or Schaefer, it makes sense to keep him if we're not finding someone on defense that could help run the power play. If we do find someone to do that on the regular, I think Walman loses his value to the Sharks specifically. While I get that Thrun is a bad partner for anyone, the mistakes Walman is making is largely controllable for him and not just Thrun putting him in bad spots. He was struggling even when Ceci was still here and granted Ceci isn't a real top four guy either.

Georgiev is as good as gone. There is no value to keeping him given how he's played like ass and the rumors of locker room strife in Colorado probably make him a risk to poison things if he sticks around.

Cap Wages' list of pending UFA goalies is:

Adin Hill
Charlie Lindgren
Karel Vejmelka
Jake Allen
Frederik Andersen
Ilya Samsonov
Alex Lyon
Dan Vladar
Jon Quick
David Rittich
Anton Forsberg
Jonas Johansson
Vanacek

I've omitted Georgiev and guys that likely wouldn't attract any attention (Fleury, who's retiring, guys who suck and would be out of the league and various low-end depth goalies of no consequence)

I'm not going to say there's an outstanding, really sexy name in that group. But all the team needs is a 1B/backup guy to be a safety net for Askarov. Samsonov, Lyon, Vladar, or Rittich could be interesting names.

And honestly if Vanecek is the fallback/plan B, that's not the end of the world. He's had a weird season because of the injury and his D is doing him no favors. I would not be surprised if a better team in front of him leads to better results in a less strenuous role.

I'm not picky when it comes to goalies. The volatility that comes with the position gives you a lot of leeway on choosing what fits a team. Personally, I'd want to explore moving Goodrow to a team like Boston, Columbus, Pittsburgh, or Seattle for one of their overpriced goalies before looking at free agency. But if that has no legs, you can pick pretty much anyone and I'd be fine with it since it's Askarov that needs to perform more than anything else in this context.