Prospect Info: Sharks Prospect Info & Discussion Megathread XXI: "New, improved, and wayyyy too much info" Edition

[TheBeard]

Chip on shoulder Musty coming in hard next year

Maybe. But there’s certainly a cause for concern that he hasn’t been even invited two years in a row.

 

[Alaskanice]

Maybe. But there’s certainly a cause for concern that he hasn’t been even invited two years in a row.

It’s because US hockey has unreasonable expectations for players. It’s at times not about who deserves it.

 

[Hodge]

Hope to see Team USA humiliated without Smith and Musty.

 

[LilLeeroy]

Maybe. But there’s certainly a cause for concern that he hasn’t been even invited two years in a row.

He's looked good at the summer showcases

 

[TheBeard]

He was invited last year?

If I remember correctly he was not.

It’s because US hockey has unreasonable expectations for players. It’s at times not about who deserves it.

That may be the case but there’s obviously a reason they keep not inviting him despite what he does on the ice.

 

[Alaskanice]

If I remember correctly he was not.


That may be the case but there’s obviously a reason they keep not inviting him despite what he does on the ice.

That’s the unreasonable part.

 

[TheBeard]

That’s the unreasonable part.

I'm not saying it's not, but there's a reason they decided to be unreasonable specifically with him, and it's obviously not because of his on-ice production.

 

[SoftDumpInTheCorner]

Maybe. But there’s certainly a cause for concern that he hasn’t been even invited two years in a row.

Musty shunning the USNDP for the OHL a few years ago probably has a lot to do with USA Hockey being petty and not his skill level.

 

[SoftDumpInTheCorner]

How Musty comes to camp next fall will define his career IMO. Buck up and overcome adversity or fade away. He doesn't have to win a spot, but if he doesn't show he's close to the NHL, then things become a bit more uncomfortable.

Will be interesting as to what happens at trade deadline this year and free agency. Grier wants a competitive environment and if he retains some players in the bottom 6 or adds up top in the top 6 its going to be more difficult for Musty to step in out of camp.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Hope to see Team USA humiliated without Smith and Musty.

Well, to be fair, I understand them not inviting Smith since he's not going to go...

 

[Juxtaposer]

Will be interesting as to what happens at trade deadline this year and free agency. Grier wants a competitive environment and if he retains some players in the bottom 6 or adds up top in the top 6 its going to be more difficult for Musty to step in out of camp.

Obviously what the plan is will come more into focus after the deadline, but assuming Granlund doesn't come back, I have this as the skeleton for next year:

Eklund-Celebrini-Zetterlund
XXX-Wennberg-Toffoli
XXX-Smith-XXX
Goodrow-XXX-XXX

In the mix for those spots would be Grundstrom, Dellandrea, Musty, Graf, Bystedt, 2025 1st (if a forward), Kunin (unfortunately Grier could bring him back), Kostin, Cardwell, and whatever UFAs are out there. I'd look to Graf for the LW on Wennberg's line, and Bystedt and Cardwell to fill out the fourth line. Third line seems wide open for Musty to take a spot, he just has to grab it. Kostin, Kunin, or a UFA would be ideal for the other third line wing spot. Someone like Ehlers, Bennett, Nelson, Marchand, or Boeser would be ideal, but I doubt they'd come to SJ if they even get to FA, so maybe FA isn't the answer and we finally go big game hunting via trade.

Long walk for a short drink of water: there's probably a spot for Musty if he earns it. But he has to earn it.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Obviously what the plan is will come more into focus after the deadline, but assuming Granlund doesn't come back, I have this as the skeleton for next year:

Eklund-Celebrini-Zetterlund
XXX-Wennberg-Toffoli
XXX-Smith-XXX
Goodrow-XXX-XXX

In the mix for those spots would be Grundstrom, Dellandrea, Musty, Graf, Bystedt, 2025 1st (if a forward), Kunin (unfortunately Grier could bring him back), Kostin, Cardwell, and whatever UFAs are out there. I'd look to Graf for the LW on Wennberg's line, and Bystedt and Cardwell to fill out the fourth line. Third line seems wide open for Musty to take a spot, he just has to grab it. Kostin, Kunin, or a UFA would be ideal for the other third line wing spot. Someone like Ehlers, Bennett, Nelson, Marchand, or Boeser would be ideal, but I doubt they'd come to SJ if they even get to FA, so maybe FA isn't the answer and we finally go big game hunting via trade.

Long walk for a short drink of water: there's probably a spot for Musty if he earns it. But he has to earn it.

This is a good plan. But I suspect that there is going to be a youth cap. Imagine if Graf, Musty, Cardwell, and Bystedt all play well enough to justify making the team. That's an awfully raw forward group.

Feels like the prudent move might be to move some futures for an established #1 d-man.

 

[timorous me]

Obviously what the plan is will come more into focus after the deadline, but assuming Granlund doesn't come back, I have this as the skeleton for next year:

Eklund-Celebrini-Zetterlund
XXX-Wennberg-Toffoli
XXX-Smith-XXX
Goodrow-XXX-XXX

In the mix for those spots would be Grundstrom, Dellandrea, Musty, Graf, Bystedt, 2025 1st (if a forward), Kunin (unfortunately Grier could bring him back), Kostin, Cardwell, and whatever UFAs are out there. I'd look to Graf for the LW on Wennberg's line, and Bystedt and Cardwell to fill out the fourth line. Third line seems wide open for Musty to take a spot, he just has to grab it. Kostin, Kunin, or a UFA would be ideal for the other third line wing spot. Someone like Ehlers, Bennett, Nelson, Marchand, or Boeser would be ideal, but I doubt they'd come to SJ if they even get to FA, so maybe FA isn't the answer and we finally go big game hunting via trade.

Long walk for a short drink of water: there's probably a spot for Musty if he earns it. But he has to earn it.

With the way this year has gone for Musty, I'm basically looking at next season as a complete developmental year with the Barracuda, and if he does see action with the Sharks, it'll be either post-deadline or a sign that he's playing like a man possessed.

I just hope he can go into next year not feeling big pressure (he shouldn't; he doesn't have to be a savior, which is another underrated aspect of having Celebrini leading the rebuild). With the right advice from Grier and the coaches and development guys, he can approach next season as a learning year with a target of being a regular in '26 (god that feels weird to write and I suddenly feel very old!).

I could definitely see Kunin coming back--which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as he is looking like a different player a year removed from his ACL injury--and we'll see about Kostin and Dellandrea. I'd love to see Bystedt take the 4C job out of camp. Is there room for both him and Cardwell and maybe even Graf on the roster? Hopefully Graf gets some decent run later this season to see how his game looks at this level after more seasoning.

Getting into all that...yeah, Musty needs to be prepared to hunker down in the AHL next season. But I really hope people don't give him crap for that and act like it means he's a bust (even though we all know some certainly will do just that).