They are obviously hoping dick can be a top pair in 2-3 years.
I expect that much depends on this year. The Sharks are gunna get a gooooood look at what they have. They’ll see a year of smith and Celly. They might see musty too if he can wow them. They get to see what they have in Halttunen and busted in the A. They’ll know what they have in mukh.
They will also get a final word on gushkin, card well, and Bordy as well as seeing if dyllandrea is worth anything. They will also get a look at Cagnoni and get a good look at pohlcamp in Denver. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a top 4D shark in two years. Watch out for him!!
This is a very tell tale year. We have the best farm in the league (I think) and this year is the major determination.
(P.s.: we’ll also see what we might have in graf and if Eklund has true star potential or just second liner… not to mention a sharp eye on the khl for Chernyshov ans Edstrom in Sweden.)
Basically, this year will likely determine the direction summer 2025. If the kids collectively show themselves to be the real deal even if missing the PO, then Grier will dump the ufas in granlund, kunin, sturm, vanacek and Blackwood for a 1st and a few mid rounders (likely get one more big draft haul). Then, in summer 2025, they go shopping hard for a couple D to compliment the kids.
2025-26 lineup:
Celebrini-Eklund-Zetterlund
Smith-musty-Toffoli
Wennberg-Bystedt-Halttunen
Goodrow-grundstrom-dylanndrea
Edstrom, gushkin, cardwell, and a few others could be for depth. Note: cooch Retires and this forward crew costs best to nothing. Just a total of 25M or so.
On D:
Dickinson - mukh
Walman-ferraro
Benning- thrun
Pickles
This D would cost a total of 18M.
Goalie:
???? No idea! But let’s say 8M for two solid vet goalies.
That’s a cap hit of just 53M!!
That gives Grier 35M to play with!! If we kids look ready, that should be enough to add two star D and a star forward and still have left over.