Confirmed with Link: Sharks trade Eklund, Halttunen and Svoboda to Ottawa for 9th overall.

[themelkman]

I’m still fairly positive 9/27 are getting traded and I keep going back to it being for Hronek.

fingers crossed for Werenski

 

[Hodge]

Never thought I'd be the one telling you that size and physicality wins over soft, one dimensional offensemen in the playoffs, but I guess here we are...

IMO Dickinson doesn't even need to hit his ceiling to be a more valuable contributor to a championship team than Byram.

Rudolph, the likely pick at 9OA, is also a soft one dimensional offenseman but the difference is Byram is a proven top pair NHLer and still young enough that he can improve defensively.

I can't remember who started saying it on here, but I like the idea I've seen around here recently that your draft spot becomes meaningless the second you are drafted. Who cares that he went at 4 his draft year? Kotkaniemi went at 3 in his draft year. Are you going to tell me he'd get a better return today than Brady Tkachuk (#4 that year) just got?

Byram still goes top 5 in a redraft and this is a significantly worse draft class than 2019. It's just a reference point for what you can typically expect out of picks in this range. Chicago made a smart move to save 6 years of development time and avail themselves of any risk of the player they drafted busting. It's too bad we didn't have the assets to make a more competitive offer.

 

[sampler]

Just got home and saw the news. Bummer hes not a shark, but no thanks for that price.

I dont think this was a good play for chicago. Yes they get a #1Dman for 10 years. But, they will have to pay him market rate after next year, the same any other UFA would get. They made this move because once we traded Eklund ,they knew stenberg wouldnt fall, and decided to solidify their D. Still, they are gunna have a lot of trouble scoring goals, and their D is still so young that while it will be respectable now, it's not good enough to overcome the lack of forwards.

I guess they figure they have such a clean cap sheet, just like the sharks, that they can buy enough offense in the open market, but landing top pair Dmen is much harder.

 

[Sharksfan66]

Rudolph, the likely pick at 9OA, is also a soft one dimensional offenseman but the difference is Byram is a proven top pair NHLer and still young enough that he can improve defensively.

No argument here. I would have been fine with 9 for Byram (and I don't think enough of 27 or a prospect like Bystedt to let that be a sticking point). But Buffalo rejected that offer for Byram, and to their credit, they suckered Chicago into giving up 4 +! If Grier traded 2 + 62 + Mukh (our equivalent of the Chicago offer), I'd be livid.

Byram still goes top 5 in a redraft and this is a significantly worse draft class than 2019. It's just a reference point for what you can typically expect out of picks in this range. Chicago made a smart move to save 6 years of development time and avail themselves of any risk of the player they drafted busting. It's too bad we didn't have the assets to make a more competitive offer.

Hughes, Seider, Boldy, Caufield, Broberg (and others) would probably disagree.

But to keep us from getting off into the weeds on that...if you don't believe in 4 out of McKenna, Stenberg, Reid, Carrels, Malhotra, then sure, they made a smart move. But call me naive, I believe that all 5 of them have a solid chance to be more of an impact player on a cup winning team than Byram.

Funny enough, the guy I feel the least certain about is Reid, which may be our point of overlap. So to just lean in here, I have to ask you...are you going to tell me you wouldn't take Malhotra over Byram on this team if we had the choice of the 2 players right now?

 

[Hodge]

No argument here. I would have been fine with 9 for Byram (and I don't think enough of 27 or a prospect like Bystedt to let that be a sticking point). But Buffalo rejected that offer for Byram, and to their credit, they suckered Chicago into giving up 4 +! If Grier traded 2 + 62 + Mukh (our equivalent of the Chicago offer), I'd be livid.


Hughes, Seider, Boldy, Caufield, Broberg (and others) would probably disagree.

But to keep us from getting off into the weeds on that...if you don't believe in 4 out of McKenna, Stenberg, Reid, Carrels, Malhotra, then sure, they made a smart move. But call me naive, I believe that all 5 of them have a solid chance to be more of an impact player on a cup winning team than Byram.

Funny enough, the guy I feel the least certain about is Reid, which may be our point of overlap. So to just lean in here, I have to ask you...are you going to tell me you wouldn't take Malhotra over Byram on this team if we had the choice of the 2 players right now?

No I wouldn't take Malhotra over Byram given our needs. And you're not naive to like those prospects more than Byram but nobody knows how they're going to pan out while Byram is a sure thing even if he's an imperfect player. He's also still young enough to have a bit of developmental runway left.

 

[sampler]

I wonder if Buffalo wants to draft Reid? They just got crevier who is an RHD. They also just drafted Mrtka 9th OA, another big RHD. Would they want to draft Reid as another RHD?

I know grier covets Reid and will try to move up to #3 or #4 to get him. I cannot see the sharks moving off #2 and stenberg now that they traded eklund. I also cannot imagine that grier wants to draft at #9. It's a terrible spot for grier. The big 4D will be gone by 7 or 8 most likely. All this makes me think that Grier will either flip 9 for an NHL dman (though the chicago trade changes that market for the worse), or try to move into the top 6 or 7 to get a guy like Voerhoff.

I am sad because I am wuite sure grier could have traded with Chicago to move from 9 to 4. But, its a harder play with Buffalo who may well want to draft Reid.

 

[Sharksfan66]

No I wouldn't take Malhotra over Byram given our needs. And you're not naive to like those prospects more than Byram but nobody knows how they're going to pan out while Byram is a sure thing even if he's an imperfect player. He's also still young enough to have a bit of developmental runway left.

Well, I'll give you this, you are certainly showing range today. I guess I had you totally pigeonholed on Malhotra and size and grit on D.

 

[sampler]

No I wouldn't take Malhotra over Byram given our needs. And you're not naive to like those prospects more than Byram but nobody knows how they're going to pan out while Byram is a sure thing even if he's an imperfect player. He's also still young enough to have a bit of developmental runway left.

Thing is, adding Byram is like trading the #4 for the rights to negotiate with a UFA. Byram only has one year left. After that, UFA. Even if he extends, it will be at full market value.

Would you trade #4 for one year of any Defenseman? of course not. Chicago, basically, just did that. Well, one year and exclusive negotiating rights for that year. Pretty big price...

Thats different from trading for a guy like Fox who is signed three years, or Hronek who is yours at that rate (below market) for 6 years.

Its a bad deal for chicago, but its also a bit of bad news for SJ.

Amazing big movement these last two days. Brady Tkachuk? Byram? Eklund? Raddysh? #9 pick moving twice. #4 pick moving.... And clearly, it's not over yet.

 

[sampler]

Thing is, adding Byram is like trading the #4 for the rights to negotiate with a UFA. Byram only has one year left. After that, UFA. Even if he extends, it will be at full market value.

Would you trade #4 for one year of any Defenseman? of course not. Chicago, basically, just did that. Well, one year and exclusive negotiating rights for that year. Pretty big price...

Thats different from trading for a guy like Fox who is signed three years, or Hronek who is yours at that rate (below market) for 6 years.

Its a bad deal for chicago, but its also a bit of bad news for SJ.

Amazing big movement these last two days. Brady Tkachuk? Byram? Eklund? Raddysh? #9 pick moving twice. #4 pick moving.... And clearly, it's not over yet.

Oh I would add that Byram has 100% leverage over chicago in that negotiation. He could play hardball and get 8 x 13-15M, because there is ZERO way Davidson isgunna let him walk after a year and still keep his GM job. If Byram doesnt extend, Davidson is done. No GM can survive moving the #4 pick for a guy who plays for you for one year.

 

[coooldude]

Unless Grier surprises to the downside, the only top pair D out there that would warrant trading the 2 or 9 are Seider, Werenski, Hronek, Edvinsson for 9... And I just don't see it for any of them. But we'll see.

 

[Hodge]

Thing is, adding Byram is like trading the #4 for the rights to negotiate with a UFA. Byram only has one year left. After that, UFA. Even if he extends, it will be at full market value.

Would you trade #4 for one year of any Defenseman? of course not. Chicago, basically, just did that. Well, one year and exclusive negotiating rights for that year. Pretty big price...

Thats different from trading for a guy like Fox who is signed three years, or Hronek who is yours at that rate (below market) for 6 years.

Its a bad deal for chicago, but its also a bit of bad news for SJ.

Amazing big movement these last two days. Brady Tkachuk? Byram? Eklund? Raddysh? #9 pick moving twice. #4 pick moving.... And clearly, it's not over yet.

They're gonna have to pay through the nose (8x12M?) but they'll keep him.

 

[crankshaft mechanic]

So, like, Chicago does have a handshake deal in place for Byram's next contract, right? Because how could you possibly trade the 4OA++ with any possibility that you get only one year of Byram.

 

[sampler]

They're gonna have to pay through the nose (8x12M?) but they'll keep him.

Yeah, Byram holds Davidson by the balls. He could ask for 15 per and davidson would have to give it to him. If Byram walks out of Chicago next summer, Davidson walks right behind him with a box of his personal stuff and a nice succulent in his arms.

Word is that Byram's agent drives a hard bargain and generally likes his clients to hit UFA and get the big payday.

God help Davidson. He just cornered himself, and I have no idea how he hopes to build a contender.

I also cannot believe he included Crevier in the deal!?? 7 goals, 25 pts with Zero PP time. He played #4/5 minutes as a25 year old, 6'8, 230lb RHD. I cannot believe that chicago had to sweeten the deal beyond the #4. Like, how in the hell did davidson feel the #4 was not enough for one year of Byram??

Im so happy for buffalo. Long suffering fan base finally gets sunny skies ahead.

 

[Erep]

So, like, Chicago does have a handshake deal in place for Byram's next contract, right? Because how could you possibly trade the 4OA++ with any possibility that you get only one year of Byram.

Rumor from a twitter account, that Chicago fans said was legit was 7x12.5

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

I wonder if Buffalo wants to draft Reid? They just got crevier who is an RHD. They also just drafted Mrtka 9th OA, another big RHD. Would they want to draft Reid as another RHD?

I know grier covets Reid and will try to move up to #3 or #4 to get him. I cannot see the sharks moving off #2 and stenberg now that they traded eklund. I also cannot imagine that grier wants to draft at #9. It's a terrible spot for grier. The big 4D will be gone by 7 or 8 most likely. All this makes me think that Grier will either flip 9 for an NHL dman (though the chicago trade changes that market for the worse), or try to move into the top 6 or 7 to get a guy like Voerhoff.

I am sad because I am wuite sure grier could have traded with Chicago to move from 9 to 4. But, its a harder play with Buffalo who may well want to draft Reid.

Have faith my friend. Buffalo doesn't need another damn like Reid. They could easily go Bjork or Lawrence, both centermen.

Calgary at 8 might go center also since they just traded for Nemec and they have no real good young centermen.

 

[LadyStanley]

The Sharks are not in a position where they have to get help now.

Define "now".

They do not have enough blue liners signed for this upcoming season to fill NHL and AHL rosters. No guarantee that any drafted D will be ready to suit up for NHL team for 26-27.

IMHO EK65 is not the answer. Burns is a UFA and may not get big bucks ($1m last season); not sure he wants to return to SJ. And at 41 how much longer does he want to play.

GMMG is looking for someone to fill roster holes "now" that will be around a few seasons. Not sure how many 30+ yo someone's will be considered. (Mathews is 28)

They need some blue line help for 2026-27. And definitely could use depth for future needs.

 

[Daisycutter]

Guessing after the Nemec trade Grier sees Calgary taking a center and a top defense he likes falling just as Dickinson did

I'm not sold on Daxon Rudolph but I can totally see Buffalo drafting Viggo Bjorck and I have a feeling that Calgary is going to nab Ethan Belchez. So hopefully we can get one of Smits or Verhoeff assuming Grier doesn't package 9 and 27 for Hronek (which is what I'm really hoping for)

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Well you kind of need someone to like Rudolph or Cullen for that to happen.

I guess Calgary could trade down if it's 4 forwards and a defenseman in the top 5.

They arent the only ones who will target a center over a defenseman. Perhaps it changes it from 5 teams drafting a forward in the top 9 to 6. Maybe Grier knows another team between us and Calgary is taking a center and now that Calgary might, that lets yet another d drop

 

[Eklund72]

Made my name when Eklund was our only hope for our future.

That time has passed. Great trade.

 

[sampler]

Have faith my friend. Buffalo doesn't need another damn like Reid. They could easily go Bjork or Lawrence, both centermen.

Calgary at 8 might go center also since they just traded for Nemec and they have no real good young centermen.

Thanks bud (CGY is #6, but either way its before #9, so yeah). Maybe Grier holds his breath and prays Smits or Voerhoff falls to 9.

Tankathon thinks Buffalo takes Bjork. If so, then could the sharks look to make a move with NYR for #5?

How about 9+27+Bystedt for #5 if Reid is still available? No brainer for SJ to land Reid For NYR, they need everything, so getting a solid 3C prospect, another solid forward (lawrence?) or D (rudolph/Smits) at 9, and another pick at 27 helps restock them with thre good assets for the price of one.

I cannot fathom grier walking out of the draft floor with Stenberg AND Reid while only losing Eklund and a few secondary/blocked prospects in Bystedt and Haltunnen, not to mention saving 4.6M in cap space that can be used for a Dman.

Then on July 1, go shopping and fill the D for next year with Andersson 7x 9M and Trouba, 3 x 9M.

Andersson, Trouba, Kesselring, Orlov, Dickinson, and Mukhamadullin (allan as the #7)