Confirmed with Link: Granlund + Ceci to Dallas for 2025 1st and 2025 conditional 4th (WPG)

[rekrul]

Grier has indeed taken on the worst GM situation possible , terrible aging team cap strapped with not a single good prospect in the system. They now have one of the best, if not THE best prospect group in the NHL. And the cap is now in their favor. I really want them to use all that smarts to buy some defense, either trade or UFA. Heck I would welcome a RFA offer sheet. This team has plenty of picks, and prospects- and more 7 game losing streaks ahead of them with a rookie coach yelling at them to compete.

Getting this team to even be near a playoff position seems now even a longer leap, are they really going to be another shitty team again next year? Yet this team is bad and going repeat last years worst ever teams in NHL History. Just think how much losing Eklund/Zetterlund is going to experience and now Celebrini/Askarov/Smith. Their entire core knows nothing but long losing streaks and now probably more blowout loses.

I can't believe how many fans here root for tanking, its got to be the laziest way to build a hockey team.

Grier has proven he is pretty sharp in many of the moves but the hard part comes now. Some spend money like Nashville and it never gels. Or you can be agressive and spend like Vegas and not worry about defense for the next 3-5 seasons. No cheap youth there, and no losing either.

The Blackwood trade was a win on paper but the team has been under water since, I am not sure another "trade for the future" win here gets them any closer to contending next year. And its a bad environment for the High draft talent to develop in, and I am not sure another UFA like Toffoli will come here, no matter what money Grier throws him.

 

[The Nemesis]

The most notable thing about this trade is this pretty much solidifies the tank and guarantees us a last place finish this season. It'd take a miracle to even win 10 of our remaining games with Granlund and Ceci no longer in the fold.

Chicago are still right there and has played 2 less games. I think the Sharks are guaranteed bottom 2 unless things turn super weird, but I don't think last place is sewn up.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Grier has indeed taken on the worst GM situation possible , terrible aging team cap strapped with not a single good prospect in the system. They now have one of the best, if not THE best prospect group in the NHL. And the cap is now in their favor. I really want them to use all that smarts to buy some defense, either trade or UFA. Heck I would welcome a RFA offer sheet. This team has plenty of picks, and prospects- and more 7 game losing streaks ahead of them with a rookie coach yelling at them to compete.

Getting this team to even be near a playoff position seems now even a longer leap, are they really going to be another shitty team again next year? Yet this team is bad and going repeat last years worst ever teams in NHL History. Just think how much losing Eklund/Zetterlund is going to experience and now Celebrini/Askarov/Smith. Their entire core knows nothing but long losing streaks and now probably more blowout loses.

I can't believe how many fans here root for tanking, its got to be the laziest way to build a hockey team.

Grier has proven he is pretty sharp in many of the moves but the hard part comes now. Some spend money like Nashville and it never gels. Or you can be agressive and spend like Vegas and not worry about defense for the next 3-5 seasons. No cheap youth there, and no losing either.

The Blackwood trade was a win on paper but the team has been under water since, I am not sure another "trade for the future" win here gets them any closer to contending next year. And its a bad environment for the High draft talent to develop in, and I am not sure another UFA like Toffoli will come here, no matter what money Grier throws him.

Do you think we would be better off without Celebrini? Because we got him by tanking.

 

[OrrNumber4]

The Blackwood trade was a win on paper but the team has been under water since, I am not sure another "trade for the future" win here gets them any closer to contending next year. And its a bad environment for the High draft talent to develop in, and I am not sure another UFA like Toffoli will come here, no matter what money Grier throws him.

Counter-point...a team where you are relying on your goaltender to bail you out also isn't a great environment. How many of Labanc/Simek's bad habits were hidden and solidified playing on an incredibly deep Sharks's team?

 

[rekrul]

Do you think we would be better off without Celebrini? Because we got him by tanking.

Last year was different, the prize was Celebrini and the tear down had to be done by Grier. they also got hecka lucky winning 1OA as it had only a 25% shot.

The sharks got the best prospect they have ever drafted, and this year was supposed to be a trajectory upward. Instead they regressed, you just can't keep losing and drafting high picks and just expect winning to come.

 

[DG93]

Grier has indeed taken on the worst GM situation possible , terrible aging team cap strapped with not a single good prospect in the system. They now have one of the best, if not THE best prospect group in the NHL. And the cap is now in their favor. I really want them to use all that smarts to buy some defense, either trade or UFA. Heck I would welcome a RFA offer sheet. This team has plenty of picks, and prospects- and more 7 game losing streaks ahead of them with a rookie coach yelling at them to compete.

Getting this team to even be near a playoff position seems now even a longer leap, are they really going to be another shitty team again next year? Yet this team is bad and going repeat last years worst ever teams in NHL History. Just think how much losing Eklund/Zetterlund is going to experience and now Celebrini/Askarov/Smith. Their entire core knows nothing but long losing streaks and now probably more blowout loses.

I can't believe how many fans here root for tanking, its got to be the laziest way to build a hockey team.

Grier has proven he is pretty sharp in many of the moves but the hard part comes now. Some spend money like Nashville and it never gels. Or you can be agressive and spend like Vegas and not worry about defense for the next 3-5 seasons. No cheap youth there, and no losing either.

The Blackwood trade was a win on paper but the team has been under water since, I am not sure another "trade for the future" win here gets them any closer to contending next year. And its a bad environment for the High draft talent to develop in, and I am not sure another UFA like Toffoli will come here, no matter what money Grier throws him.

And yet that is how the majority of cup winners were built, so Grier is being patient and doing things the right way. It's important to tank for a couple years to acquire core pieces that are not attainable otherwise (hello Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Matt Schaefer) while making shrewd moves in the meantime (hello Askarov trade, Ceci and Granlund flips, and Liljegren acquisition) and selling high on pieces that you don't need for the future (Meier, Hertl, and Karlsson trades). After you bottom out for 3 years, then you want to see progress year-to-year followed by pushing for the playoffs. This team isn't going to be a true playoff contender the next few years, but they should start making moves to get out of the basement. Keeping 31-32 year-old Granlund and Ceci when playoffs aren't likely to happen for another 2-3 years is not good asset management.

 

[karltonian]

Last year was different, the prize was Celebrini and the tear down had to be done by Grier. they also got hecka lucky winning 1OA as it had only a 25% shot.

The sharks got the best prospect they have ever drafted, and this year was supposed to be a trajectory upward. Instead they regressed, you just can't keep losing and drafting high picks and just expect winning to come.

they did not regress this year, what are you talking about? last years team was historically bad.

that said, we absolutely need some legit veteran top 6 talent for next year and I'm not sure who is going to be available this offseason.

 

[YUPPY 2 7 10 11]

Grier has indeed taken on the worst GM situation possible , terrible aging team cap strapped with not a single good prospect in the system. They now have one of the best, if not THE best prospect group in the NHL. And the cap is now in their favor. I really want them to use all that smarts to buy some defense, either trade or UFA. Heck I would welcome a RFA offer sheet. This team has plenty of picks, and prospects- and more 7 game losing streaks ahead of them with a rookie coach yelling at them to compete.

Getting this team to even be near a playoff position seems now even a longer leap, are they really going to be another shitty team again next year? Yet this team is bad and going repeat last years worst ever teams in NHL History. Just think how much losing Eklund/Zetterlund is going to experience and now Celebrini/Askarov/Smith. Their entire core knows nothing but long losing streaks and now probably more blowout loses.

I can't believe how many fans here root for tanking, its got to be the laziest way to build a hockey team.

Grier has proven he is pretty sharp in many of the moves but the hard part comes now. Some spend money like Nashville and it never gels. Or you can be agressive and spend like Vegas and not worry about defense for the next 3-5 seasons. No cheap youth there, and no losing either.

The Blackwood trade was a win on paper but the team has been under water since, I am not sure another "trade for the future" win here gets them any closer to contending next year. And its a bad environment for the High draft talent to develop in, and I am not sure another UFA like Toffoli will come here, no matter what money Grier throws him.

I get where you're coming from. It’s tough when your team is in a rebuilding phase, and sometimes it feels like losing is the necessary step to getting better in the long run. The draft is the big prize, and securing high picks could bring in some fresh talent to turn things around.

Even Sydney Crosby has seen that firsthand, so it’s not a bad perspective to have while you’re waiting for that next wave of talent to come in.

That Aerosmith line is pretty spot-on too—sometimes losing is part of the process.

 

[rekrul]

And yet that is how the majority of cup winners were built, so Grier is being patient and doing things the right way. It's important to tank for a couple years to acquire core pieces that are not attainable otherwise (hello Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Matt Schaefer) while making shrewd moves in the meantime (hello Askarov trade, Ceci and Granlund flips, and Liljegren acquisition) and selling high on pieces that you don't need for the future (Meier, Hertl, and Karlsson trades). After you bottom out for 3 years, then you want to see progress year-to-year followed by pushing for the playoffs. This team isn't going to be a true playoff contender the next few years, but they should start making moves to get out of the basement. Keeping 31-32 year-old Granlund and Ceci when playoffs aren't likely to happen for another 2-3 years is not good asset management.

what cup winner intentionally lost to accumulate early 1st rd picks for many seasons? Vegas, Florida, Colorado, TB?

Washington, Chicago and Pittsburgh might have decided to flat out cut talent and lose to draft high, but they started winning after getting 1OA.

I would say only Edmonton bought into the tank every year and it took a while for them to be contenders

 

[Star Platinum]

I can't believe how many fans here root for tanking, its got to be the laziest way to build a hockey team.

Given the team we were going to have this year, getting a high pick is the smart move. If we can manage to attract some better talent to the squad for next year, by all means win more games. But there's nothing we can do to speed up how fast the young guys are going to develop and if you try to trade youth for vets because you're tired of finishing in last, the best you're gonna end up with is a team that's always fighting to barely get a wild card slot. I'm in it to win a Cup, not to just be a mediocre team.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Last year was different, the prize was Celebrini and the tear down had to be done by Grier. they also got hecka lucky winning 1OA as it had only a 25% shot.

The sharks got the best prospect they have ever drafted, and this year was supposed to be a trajectory upward. Instead they regressed, you just can't keep losing and drafting high picks and just expect winning to come.

Grier clearly tried to improve the team this offseason. He clearly did not enter the season trying to lose on purpose. He recently stated that he hoped/expected to be in the ~8th overall draft position this year. He wouldn't have signed Celebrini and Smith and Toffoli and Wennberg or traded for Liljegren if his intention was to punt the season. He could have held on to David Quinn this season if he didn't care about winning.

The team has also obviously improved. True, January was tough, with the flu and injury bugs going through the locker room and the goaltending not being good enough. But claiming we've regressed from last year is insane.

what cup winner intentionally lost to accumulate early 1st rd picks for many seasons? Vegas, Florida, Colorado, TB?

Washington, Chicago and Pittsburgh might have decided to flat out cut talent and lose to draft high, but they started winning after getting 1OA.

I would say only Edmonton bought into the tank every year and it took a while for them to be contenders

Tampa drafted Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman 1st and 2nd overall in back to back seasons. Colorado drafted Landeskog 2nd overall in 2011 and basically languished in mediocrity until they got Makar. Florida drafted Barkov and Ekblad 2nd and 1st overall in consecutive seasons. Vegas obviously is an exception.

As you mentioned, the Caps, Pens, and Hawks were masterful tankers.

Tanking is the most consistent path to contention. It's not a guaranteed path to contention, but it's tough to find teams who won Cups or contended for long periods without finding multiple top-5 picks at their core. The ones that have managed to win Cups or contend for extended periods without that are not replicable circumstances.

 

[rekrul]

Grier clearly tried to improve the team this offseason. He clearly did not enter the season trying to lose on purpose. He recently stated that he hoped/expected to be in the ~8th overall draft position this year. He wouldn't have signed Celebrini and Smith and Toffoli and Wennberg or traded for Liljegren if his intention was to punt the season. He could have held on to David Quinn this season if he didn't care about winning.

The team has also obviously improved. True, January was tough, with the flu and injury bugs going through the locker room and the goaltending not being good enough. But claiming we've regressed from last year is insane.

Agreed, Not saying Grier has not shown willingness to spend and improve. I believe he did more than most of the bottom feeders of 23-24. Its more of fans wanting management to keep trading veterans for drafting high and losing consistently. Thats a lazy plan imo. Its great they got a #1 pick here for UFAs but if they just keep doing this its going to just prolong the wait to finally get back to winning.

Vegas has like one drafted player on their team, they laugh at the Sabers, Ducks, Utah HC, Habs, Sharks of the world and the Draft, develop, be patient strategy.

 

[Star Platinum]

 

[Juxtaposer]

Agreed, Not saying Grier has not shown willingness to spend and improve. I believe he did more than most of the bottom feeders of 23-24. Its more of fans wanting management to keep trading veterans for drafting high and losing consistently. Thats a lazy plan imo. Its great they got a #1 pick here for UFAs but if they just keep doing this its going to just prolong the wait to finally get back to winning.

Vegas has like one drafted player on their team, they laugh at the Sabers, Ducks, Utah HC, Habs, Sharks of the world and the Draft, develop, be patient strategy.

So to be clear, you think they should have kept Granlund?

Vegas got a whole first line and Norris-caliber defenseman for zero assets. Don't pretend like their situation is replicable.

 

[tahoesharksfan]

I’m glad to see GMMG nabbing all these chances to restock our cupboard!
I’m happy to see all of the young talent he’s already brought to the team.

I’m ready for this rebuild to be over though!
It seems like it’s been going on as long as the preceding few down years now..

 

[StanleyCup2035]

We should have gotten Doncic instead of that conditional 3rd…Oh wait, wrong sport

 

[Bizz]

We should have gotten Doncic instead of that conditional 3rd…Oh wait, wrong sport

The NBA is a joke. All they do is make 2-3 superteams and the rest just go through the motions all for fake ratings and to sell shoes.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Last year was different, the prize was Celebrini and the tear down had to be done by Grier. they also got hecka lucky winning 1OA as it had only a 25% shot.

The sharks got the best prospect they have ever drafted, and this year was supposed to be a trajectory upward. Instead they regressed, you just can't keep losing and drafting high picks and just expect winning to come.

You’re being impatient. The team gets there when it gets there and Grier has done enough work as manager to allow him to continue implementing his vision. It wasn’t ever going to be a quick fix to get things turn around. We needed a whole new core and we can only really dabble in futures to get them. That sort of path forward takes a lot of development time. Our goalie for the future will probably be a rookie next season and three of our cornerstone forwards have less than two years of nhl experience and we still need a new group of blue liners that actually can defend in the new NHL. Takes time.

 

[Lebanezer]

Not to say I have any problem with this trade, because I don't, but at some point Grier has to start building a competitive team. He's done a solid job getting value for what he had, but aside from Eklund, Celebrini and Smith there isn't much in the NHL, or close to the NHL. They're going to be awful next year, and the year after. In terms of their place within a rebuild, Celebrini has more in common with Taylor Hall and Matt Duchene, than he does with McDavid and MacKinnon. Celebrini is the first piece of the rebuild to show a glimpse of the future in the NHL.

 

[TheBeard]

Make a play for Nemec. Now.

What do we have that the devils need? They’re in win now mode and we don’t really have anything that’ll help.

 

[Bizz]

Agreed, Not saying Grier has not shown willingness to spend and improve. I believe he did more than most of the bottom feeders of 23-24. Its more of fans wanting management to keep trading veterans for drafting high and losing consistently. Thats a lazy plan imo. Its great they got a #1 pick here for UFAs but if they just keep doing this its going to just prolong the wait to finally get back to winning.

Vegas has like one drafted player on their team, they laugh at the Sabers, Ducks, Utah HC, Habs, Sharks of the world and the Draft, develop, be patient strategy.

Vegas got lucky by taking a gamble on a franchise #1 Center (Eichel) and got him for almost nothing because other GMs questioned his health and work ethic. Without Eichel (as well as blatantly circumventing the Cap three years in a row) Vegas never even sniffs their Cup win.

 

[TheBeard]

Vegas got lucky by taking a gamble on a franchise #1 Center (Eichel) and got him for almost nothing because other GMs questioned his health and work ethic. Without Eichel (as well as blatantly circumventing the Cap three years in a row) Vegas never even sniffs their Cup win.

While true, I sort of have a lot of respect for Vegas willing to take risks. I feel like that takes a lot more balls than just trading guys, tanking and drafting high for a few years. I would like to see Grier start taking more risks like that. Not yet though but I don’t think Grier can repeat this process next offseason (vets for picks).

 

[Cas]

Grier has indeed taken on the worst GM situation possible , terrible aging team cap strapped with not a single good prospect in the system. They now have one of the best, if not THE best prospect group in the NHL. And the cap is now in their favor. I really want them to use all that smarts to buy some defense, either trade or UFA. Heck I would welcome a RFA offer sheet. This team has plenty of picks, and prospects- and more 7 game losing streaks ahead of them with a rookie coach yelling at them to compete.

Getting this team to even be near a playoff position seems now even a longer leap, are they really going to be another shitty team again next year? Yet this team is bad and going repeat last years worst ever teams in NHL History. Just think how much losing Eklund/Zetterlund is going to experience and now Celebrini/Askarov/Smith. Their entire core knows nothing but long losing streaks and now probably more blowout loses.

I can't believe how many fans here root for tanking, its got to be the laziest way to build a hockey team.

Grier has proven he is pretty sharp in many of the moves but the hard part comes now. Some spend money like Nashville and it never gels. Or you can be agressive and spend like Vegas and not worry about defense for the next 3-5 seasons. No cheap youth there, and no losing either.

The Blackwood trade was a win on paper but the team has been under water since, I am not sure another "trade for the future" win here gets them any closer to contending next year. And its a bad environment for the High draft talent to develop in, and I am not sure another UFA like Toffoli will come here, no matter what money Grier throws him.

It does not matter what Grier did, once he came onto this team, we were doomed to be getting blown out with multiple 10-loss streaks, because we were already just that bad.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Not to say I have any problem with this trade, because I don't, but at some point Grier has to start building a competitive team. He's done a solid job getting value for what he had, but aside from Eklund, Celebrini and Smith there isn't much in the NHL, or close to the NHL.

The Sharks need those one or two draft steals that really push them over the top.

What's been a little disappointing is the low hit rate on all the flyers he's picked up. Blackwood is the only real success (and he was traded for a 2nd and another flyer).

 

[JTB1974]

Last year was different, the prize was Celebrini and the tear down had to be done by Grier. they also got hecka lucky winning 1OA as it had only a 25% shot.

The sharks got the best prospect they have ever drafted, and this year was supposed to be a trajectory upward. Instead they regressed, you just can't keep losing and drafting high picks and just expect winning to come.

Draft Schaefer and things will turn around quickly. The defense is the biggest issue with this team. Draft an elite generational talent on defense who can log 30 minutes a night will make a huge difference for this team. And then have Dickenson as your #2 who can also log alot of minutes. There is a scenario in the near future where you can have one of Schaefer/Dickenson on the ice for 75% of the game. Right now our #1 Dman is Walman who might be one of the worst Dmen in the league defensively and our #2 guy is Ferraro who also is not good.