Rumor: Sharks looking to trade up to #1

[Patty Ice]

Interesting take as an Isles fan.

What would Chicago offer to swap?

They have the Panthers 2026 1st and plenty of cap room

Isles #2
Engvall or Mayfield

for

Chicago's #3
Panthers 2026 #1

The Isles then have three 2026 #1's, Eklund and Hagen or Frondell, etc.
They also will have 30, 33 and have gotten a bad contract off the books.

At 30 and 33, they are possibly adding Ihs-Wozniak and could even trade one of those two picks for a solid defenseman or use it to trade the one not traded above.

Mayfield or Engvall and the 33rd to whoever will take the contract for a 2026 7th.

Sign DeAngelo and look towards 2026 to replenish the defense prospect pool.

I have a modified one where the Sharks also take Engvall to make the deal more appealing and I fantasy GM'd this one last night:

Ok this maybe an out to lunch moment but I want to play fantasy GM. This is dependent on if the rumors of Utah making the 4 OA available for a young top 6 forward.

To Utah: William Eklund, 30 OA

To NYI: 2 OA. 4 OA, 33 OA

To SJS: Noah Dobson, 1OA

Utah obviously gets what the rumor states plus still maintains a 1st round pick.

Isles get 2 top 5 picks that the fanbase here has a hard on for. They could possibly extract another 1st rounder out of Chicago and come away with Martone and Hagens or come out with Misa and Hagens for a filthy center combo of the future.

We completely change the look of our future defense led by Schaefer, Dickinson, and Dobson. Not to mention Mukhamadullin, Cagnoni, etc. Suddenly that defensive pool looks incredible.

Now I don't think either are expected to happen but I think it's fair value across the board given what I've learned the past week or two. The only one I'm unsure of is Utah and their wanting to trade 4 OA. In terms of value I think Eklund who was a former top 10 (7 OA) and a consistent producer in the NHL plus the 30 OA is equal to what the Mammoth would be offering. He will be locked up for likely around $7 to $8 million for multiple years and fits well with their core and timeline. It at least makes sense to me but maybe I'm off the mark.

 

[Patty Ice]

SJ needs to up their offer or they can go pick Misa.

Very happy to do just that.

 

[DrDangles]

I'd hate to be in the GM's shoes with the 1st overall when the consensus BPA is a defenseman. How often do these guys pan out to be the best player from their draft?

Dahlin was a fine 1st overall, but isn't even the best defenseman from his draft.

Take the capital and trade down for a safer pick.

 

[BillR10]

I'd hate to be in the GM's shoes with the 1st overall when the consensus BPA is a defenseman. How often do these guys pan out to be the best player from their draft?

Dahlin was a fine 1st overall, but isn't even the best defenseman from his draft.

Take the capital and trade down for a safer pick.

Exactly why Shark fans don't want to see the Sharks trade up. Funniest part of your reference though is both the last 2 #1 OA dmen were drafted by Buffalo and both times they passed on the Hughes brother for the "Consensus #1". Honestly though, I think the last time a dman went 1OA and was actually the best talent at least in the 1st round was Ed Jovanovski.

 

[TheBeard]

Exactly why Shark fans don't want to see the Sharks trade up. Funniest part of your reference though is both the last 2 #1 OA dmen were drafted by Buffalo and both times they passed on the Hughes brother for the "Consensus #1". Honestly though, I think the last time a dman went 1OA and was actually the best talent at least in the 1st round was Ed Jovanovski.

I mean how many D-men have gone first overall in the last 25 years? 3?4?

 

[themelkman]

I'd hate to be in the GM's shoes with the 1st overall when the consensus BPA is a defenseman. How often do these guys pan out to be the best player from their draft?

Dahlin was a fine 1st overall, but isn't even the best defenseman from his draft.

Take the capital and trade down for a safer pick.

A first time GM trading number one is crazy. He will be blamed for all time if the pick Is better than the one he takes. If I am him I just make the top rated pick, atleast then no blame is on him for failure

 

[Thrasymachus]

The real #1st over all is the friends we made along the way

A first time GM trading number one is crazy. He will be blamed for all time if the pick Is better than the one he takes. If I am him I just make the top rated pick, atleast then no blame is on him for failure

This is my pov. Darche is brand new, he will likely make the safe play.

 

[Brodeur]

A first time GM trading number one is crazy. He will be blamed for all time if the pick Is better than the one he takes. If I am him I just make the top rated pick, atleast then no blame is on him for failure

Lightning gives reins to Dudley

The new vice president makes no promises on roles, including Jacques Demers'.

www.tampabay.com

Dudley has his draft pick in mind

Lightning's new boss focuses his efforts on the NHL draft, but he isn't tipping his hand on strategy.

www.tampabay.com

Dudley's dreamy draft day

After countless hours of preparation and working the phones, the Lightning boss pulls in a haul of talent that should allow him to sleep easy.

www.tampabay.com

No team in NHL history had traded the No. 1 overall pick. Dudley, in his first draft as head honcho, traded it. In a way, he traded it twice. He knew he could make a deal with the Rangers, who badly wanted Pavel Brendl, the scoring machine from Calgary of the Western Hockey League. But because he held his cards so close to the vest (even his own scouts weren't sure what the Lightning was doing), Dudley also figured Brendl would last until the fourth pick.

If he had to, Dudley was ready to forget the trades, step on the podium, and make his own pick to start the draft.

"Truthfully, we were prepared to take Brendl with the first pick," Dudley said. "If there were no deals in place, Brendl was our guy. I think he's going to be a really good player in this league and a real scorer in this league."

It sorta did happen in 1999 (Rick Dudley had barely a year of GM experience in Ottawa), although a different draft year where there wasn't a consensus #1. Until I looked it up now, I didn't realize Tampa had hired Dudley just a few weeks before that draft.

Dudley didn't last long in Tampa but has been around the NHL in some capacity ever since (currently a senior advisor in Florida).

It's funny, Dudley is mostly a forgotten part of the the 1999 pick swaps. Unfortunately for Patrik Stefan, he had the burden of being #1 and taken in front of the Sedins. After trading down, Dudley then traded #4 for a bunch of stuff that didn't really pan out. But as a result, he wasn't directly associated with Pavel Brendl who he said Tampa would have taken had they kept the pick.

But typically a team only trades down if they can still land their intended target. Oddly Dudley is still the only GM in modern times to trade out of #1. He did it twice more in his next gig as Florida GM in 2002 and 2003. In both instances, he still landed the #1 guy on their list (Bouwmeester/Horton).

 

[BillR10]

I mean how many D-men have gone first overall in the last 25 years? 3?4?

4 - Power, Dahlin, Ekblad, Johnson, none of which would in a redraft. Take a look at the 1st dman drafted in every draft for the past 25 years and the quality will surprise you. Not many Hedman/Doughty type picks. Dangles had a point. Each draft has a consensus top dman that's hyped and it's quite often that player isn't the best dman when the dust settles.

 

[TheBeard]

4 - Power, Dahlin, Ekblad, Johnson, none of which would in a redraft. Take a look at the 1st dman drafted in every draft for the past 25 years and the quality will surprise you. Not many Hedman/Doughty type picks. Dangles had a point. Each draft has a consensus top dman that's hyped and it's quite often that player isn't the best dman when the dust settles.

You know what would be a good thread? Figuring out which draft year could ice the best starting lineup.

 

[matt trick]

You know what would be a good thread? Figuring out which draft year could ice the best starting lineup.

2003, 2015 recently, but there was one in the 70s or 80s chock full of hall of famers, as well.

Kaprizov-McDavid-Rantanen
Connor-Eichel-Rantanen
Cirelli-Aho-Barzal
Eriksson Ek-Hintz-Konecky
Strome, Meier

Werenski-Gavrikov
Hanifin-Anderson
Chabot-Cernak
Roy/Marino

Blackwood
Montembault

BTW, the first player picked to not get NHL Games? Our own Jeremy Roy, though injuries were the reason. He was a player.

Aside from CAR (Hanifin, Aho) and MN (Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek), it's pretty evenly distributed.

 

[Thrasymachus]

4 - Power, Dahlin, Ekblad, Johnson, none of which would in a redraft. Take a look at the 1st dman drafted in every draft for the past 25 years and the quality will surprise you. Not many Hedman/Doughty type picks. Dangles had a point. Each draft has a consensus top dman that's hyped and it's quite often that player isn't the best dman when the dust settles.

At the very least, none of these players were a total bust? Trying to find some silver lining here

 

[themelkman]

At the very least, none of these players were a total bust? Trying to find some silver lining here

They are all good D men. You probably aren’t getting a bust at that point, just seems like they probably won’t be franchise level.

 

[GoldenSeal]

If the Sharks want to trade it, why go after #1 which is impossible and just trade it for a young legit Dman?

 

[Fatass]

If the Sharks want to trade it, why go after #1 which is impossible and just trade it for a young legit Dman?

Which young left shot D that’s available for trade is as good as the ceiling Schaefer has?

 

[matt trick]

Which young left shot D that’s available for trade is as good as the ceiling Schaefer has?

We don’t care about shot, with Dickinson, Muk, and Ferraro, right handed would actually be better. That said, it’s a short list: Seider, Sanderson, Faber, L Hughes, Makar, Werenski, and Q Hughes. None of whom are available.

I’d like to have them but for #2, Power, Byram, Dobson, Nemec, and K. miller don’t interest me. Obviously, if we could get one of those guys great, but I’m not trading a core piece for one. We have lots of B pieces (2 late 1sts/2nds, 2 early 2nd, Musty, Bystedt) but if the right deals of a few of those for top four guys don’t materialize, we’ll figure it out eventually.

Elite center depth, quality wings, great goalie, and solid defense can get us to a playoff team. Ideally we’ll find/develop a top pairing dman.

Schaefer is the guy I want, but I don’t think NYI are moving that pick. We need Misa nearly as much to have a third elite forward and a second option for 2C if it’s not Will. Smith and Misa are made to play with each other IMO.

 

[Leviathan]

Saw reports that Sharks would have to offer 2, 30, 31 plus a high end prospect or player to even get a conversation going.

I can't see the Isles budging. I think Schaefer's gap on the other players is bigger than some people realise.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Sharks D is garbage for future . It's a must to at least attempt to make it happen . Blackhawks can use anyone of the top 6 or so forwards

 

[BillR10]

Why is this still listed as "rumor" when it's speculation?

Ideal outcome for the Sharks in this draft is take Misa at 2. Then move 30+ to move up far enough to grab Fiddler. That would be ideal grabbing an elite 2C and a big RHD

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Darche is a yes man. He wasn't even able to say no to the Palmieri extension or firing Roy. Also still got Lou's kid in the system, managing the worst run AHL team in the league. I would not be surprised one bit if the Islanders owners want to draft Hagens and that's why other GMs turned the job down.

Lou extended Palmieri not Darche.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Sharks D is garbage for future . It's a must to at least attempt to make it happen . Blackhawks can use anyone of the top 6 or so forwards

No one is going to sell the farm to make that happen. They’ll have to find another way.

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

Why is this still listed as "rumor" when it's speculation?

Ideal outcome for the Sharks in this draft is take Misa at 2. Then move 30+ to move up far enough to grab Fiddler. That would be ideal grabbing an elite 2C and a big RHD

If the sharks are moving up for a defenseman, I really hope it’s not Fiddler

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

As a Panthers' fan. I don't think the Isle are going to trade their pick. And I don't think they should. You need those cornerstone players to eventually get to the ultimate goal. Trading back is more likely for teams that already have those cornerstone players.
Even then, you probably still make the pick. It's not an issue getting another elite player. Depth is important, but if you are going to be around the bottom 3rd or so of the standings for multiple years, you'll probably organically pick up the depth in the process.

 

[WSS11]

Saw reports that Sharks would have to offer 2, 30, 31 plus a high end prospect or player to even get a conversation going.

I can't see the Isles budging. I think Schaefer's gap on the other players is bigger than some people realise.

What “reports”?

 

[boredmale]

4 - Power, Dahlin, Ekblad, Johnson, none of which would in a redraft. Take a look at the 1st dman drafted in every draft for the past 25 years and the quality will surprise you. Not many Hedman/Doughty type picks. Dangles had a point. Each draft has a consensus top dman that's hyped and it's quite often that player isn't the best dman when the dust settles.

Probably better to look if the top picked defenseman ended up a #1 D or a top pairing D or lesser

They could end up a #1 D but just not be as good and the best defenseman pick(See Heiskanen(3) and Makar(4) for instance)