Personally, I don't think we'll move off of Walman, Lily, or maybe even Ceci at this point in the rebuild. I think they only move if we replace them with better vets, and they are placeholders until our prospects kick them out of their top spots.
Ferraro I think we try to move... but Walman is our best D, Lily and Ceci probably competing for #2. If we move them for call it a 2nd or 3rd at the deadline, we have an even worse defensive corps next year or the year after, UNLESS the kids are fully ready to step into a top 4 role, OR we add someone else in free agency. Because the team is going to keep trying to take steps forward, and even when you're trying it's still hard to do so, I doubt we continue to fire sale our players at the deadline. Tangentially this is why I think we end up signing Granlund unless we get a 1st.
Absolutely, hence my point above. But Schaefer almost certainly goes back to OHL for D+1.
Its way too early to walk about moving Lily or Walman. Both are signed through next year and I think the sharks are going to try to compete for the PO's next year with the kids having experience, and much of the draft haul of the last two years entering NHL consideration. If they try to win in '25-'26, but falter, then they can move those guys in March '26.
Anyone they draft in '25 will play in their respective draft league. There is no one good enough to pull a celebrini, I think.
As for Granny, if the sharks keep faltering this year, it makes sense to move him no matter what. They can always resign him over the summer after renting him out. No rule against trading him for a pick, then grabbing him back on July 1. Just "sign" a gentlemen's agreement.
Lastly, I expect the sharks will go shopping next summer. I know its tough to land high end UFAs, but I think Grier will at least try hard to land at least one top 4 D and one top 6F, or more if possible. Sharks are projected to have 30M in cap space already with a #1G signed (askarov), 6 top 9 forwards in Smith, Celly, Eklund, Zetterlund (RFA, say 5M per), Toffoli, Wennberg, along with Walman, Lijegren, Ferraro, Thompson (RFA, say 1.5M per), and thrun.
They can also likely count on at least 1 of Dick, Cagnoni, Pohlcamp, and Mukh taking an NHL spot.
This would mean that the sharks would have 30M to add likely two top 6/9 forwards, and one top 4D, along with filling out the roster (#2G and a couple 4th liners). That's a very possible haul. Rantanen, Marner, Bennett, Ehlers, Boeser and a few others are out there as of now. Doubt they will hit the market, and doubt the sharks can land them, but you never know. Pionk, Pettersson, Ekblad, and a few others are also out there as of now too. Not sure the sharks can make a run at those level players, but I hope grier tries.
With all the 1 goal games this year, it feels like they are only a few guys from flipping those scores to wins. a couple more scorers. one or two more D, along with natural development of the kids. This year is too soon, but next year feels very possible, and they definitely should target the PO's before the Celly and Smith ELCs expire, otherwise, they will stink AND face a big cost increase and the rebuild will go forever.
Toffoli, Walman, Ceci, and Lilj have made a nice difference so far. Smith and celly have not been the main difference between last year and this year, but instead those added quality vets, especially on D. Seems to me like we need to add a strategic few more, and we'll have tons of space to do it.
