BaileyMacTavish
Hockey lovin' wolf
Maybe when a top 6 player goes down on injury. That or TDL Call up.
Sharks Sign F Collin Graf to Elc
- Thread starter Lebanezer
- Start date
Jargon
Registered User
I’m getting to the point where I’m like… let’s just put him with Celebrini or Smith and see what happens..,
YUPPY
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- Oct 5, 2020
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The coach is trying to create a 1-2 punch for the future but the kids are not there yet. Remember Marleau and Thornton were on separate lines, but eventually they end up playing together on the same line with Palvelski? Sometimes, things work better in real life than on the drawing board.
Let the Cuda kids cook down there this year. Let them taste winning before joining the big squad where it's going to be choppy waters for a while. There's no one down in the A that's special enough to change the fortunes of the Sharks this year, and that includes Askarov.
Jargon
Registered User
Spots will also likely open up after the trade deadline when any of Granlund, Kunin, or Sturm could be moved. Would be great to see a lineup of Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli, Graf-Smith-Zetterlund, Bordeleau/Gushchin-Wenneberg-Cardwell, Goodrow-Bystedt-Dellandrea after the TDL.
Harbessix
Registered User
Not only would that lineup get destroyed but it would seriously deplete the Barracuda which would suck even more as it’s beneficial for this franchise to have them go on a deep playoff run.
Harbessix
Registered User
For one, so Celebrini and Smith don’t have to get pummelled every night. Two, and more importantly, we should absolutely care about the Barracuda getting some playoff experience and removing a third of their forward group because it would be “fun” to watch seems very counter productive in my honest opinion.
Celebrini would still be playing with Eklund and Toffoli on the top line in my proposed lineup, so that shouldn't affect him. Smith has been playing mostly with Goodrow and Kunin so far, so I don't see how Graf would be a downgrade from Kunin assuming Graf keeps up his production the rest of the year.
I think if Graf looks ready for the NHL, I would prioritize getting him NHL experience in preparation for next year rather than prioritizing an AHL team. Same thing goes for Cardwell, Bystedt, and Mukh. If you want to keep Bordeleau and Gushchin in the AHL to stabilize the top-6, that's fine because I don't think they're gonna be NHLers anyway and won't be here next year.
I don’t think they will. I think with no retention spots Grier may end up taking on other cap hits, whether as part of a trade for a granlund or just like they did with Walman where they’re taking on a contract with a pick attached. I think his plan is to touch the Cuda as little as he can.
hohosaregood
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EXTRAS
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- Jul 31, 2012
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Starting to he a bit more productive: 7 points in his last 10 games.
CHALUPA
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- Oct 9, 2008
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Loving what Graf has been bringing
jMoneyBrah
Registered User
I’m becoming a big fan of Graf. I just love how the kid responded this year. He hounds the puck, and is good for at least one great defensive play per period and he is showing he has some offensive pop to warrant some more favorable deployment by Warso. Graf is starting to look like a really great collegiate UFA signing.
I’m not sold on him as a legit top 6 guy yet; but I’m not not sold either.
I’m not sold on him as a legit top 6 guy yet; but I’m not not sold either.
He could be a top six guy. I think he has the smarts to be a good winger option for Celebrini after some experience. I like that he can bring more to the team at a second line level and kill penalties. No matter where he ends up, it's a huge success for an undrafted free agent signing.
209
Registered User
i really like this kid. He brings it defensively every game and has shown to have some pop too.
Jargon
Registered User
I think ultimately his ceiling is of an elite 3rd line winger who could shut guys down while also scoring timely goals — which would obviously be a huge get.
The one caveat is that he’s improved SO much over just one summer, if he comes in next year even stronger and faster and can start scoring a bit more, maybe 2nd line isn’t impossible…
The one caveat is that he’s improved SO much over just one summer, if he comes in next year even stronger and faster and can start scoring a bit more, maybe 2nd line isn’t impossible…
Hodge
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- Apr 27, 2021
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He’s already performing like an elite 3rd line winger at 22 years old on a terrible team after putting up dominant scoring numbers for his age in the AHL and college. His ceiling is almost certainly higher than that unless we’re currently seeing his peak.
jarr92
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Hodge
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He's scoring at a 31 point pace which would put him among the top 200ish forwards if sustained over a full season. There are 192 top six forward slots in the league so that's #6-#7 forward (i.e. elite third line) production without any power play time. Beyond that, he's one of the most used shorthanded forwards in the league at 2 mins per game which is exactly what you want from an elite third liner and impressive for a rookie. Between his staggering level of improvement compared to this time last year and his AHL/NCAA production I don't think it makes sense to cap his ceiling at third liner.
Jargon
Registered User
I’m not sure that’s a correct evaluation of Graf, he’s good but he’s not an *elite level 3rd liner* yet. He's probably a pretty good one, currently.
Hodge
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He will be the perfect wing that can drive play on the 3rd line or play a complementary role on a top line. He looks so good out there and passes the eye test.
