The San Jose Sharks are horror-bad

[stator]

To tank as hard as possible?

I just cannot bring myself to use that word anymore. Tired of the Sharks doing that.

 

[wmupreds]

Horror-bad, sure, but they're fun bad.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Hey, in Nashville, we're pumped that we came back against that team and won when they were tired on a back-to-back, then blew a huge lead and hung on to win the next game. Yeah, we are awesome! We really nailed that horror-bad team for 2 straight wins. Woot. Trotz thinks we can still make the playoffs.

 

[coooldude]

Ad nauseam: if you think the Sharks are intentionally tanking this year, you're not watching the team. Grier is actively trying to rebuild this team now after last year's tank job / bottom out. The problem is, last year we were historically bad, this year we're just regular bottom 2 bad. Huge improvement! And if this thread has to be dredged back up over and over, we should just make it about CHI too. Whose team looks perhaps even worse and rebuild looks perhaps more questionable.

 

[BLNY]

Ad nauseam: if you think the Sharks are intentionally tanking this year, you're not watching the team. Grier is actively trying to rebuild this team now after last year's tank job / bottom out. The problem is, last year we were historically bad, this year we're just regular bottom 2 bad. Huge improvement! And if this thread has to be dredged back up over and over, we should just make it about CHI too. Whose team looks perhaps even worse and rebuild looks perhaps more questionable.

With Celebrini, Eklund, and Smith up front, there's a nice young core group of forwards that Grier has surrounded with capable vets. From the outside, it seems like they're building a strong, positive, culture as well. Work to do, but there certainly are things to be excited about if you're a Sharks fan.

 

[Star Platinum]

I think the goalie trade with the Avs show what kind of season the Sharks mgmt wants.

The goalie trade with the Avs shows that the Sharks would rather get something for an expiring contract than nothing at the end of the year when that player signs with a better team.

We're gonna do it again several more times in the next 6 weeks.

Ad nauseam: if you think the Sharks are intentionally tanking this year, you're not watching the team. Grier is actively trying to rebuild this team now after last year's tank job / bottom out. The problem is, last year we were historically bad, this year we're just regular bottom 2 bad. Huge improvement! And if this thread has to be dredged back up over and over, we should just make it about CHI too. Whose team looks perhaps even worse and rebuild looks perhaps more questionable.

I think two things are true at the same time. The Sharks want to be better than last year, but they absolutely are tanking to get another good pick.

Next year, I think they're going to try as hard as they can to win more games.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Ad nauseam: if you think the Sharks are intentionally tanking this year, you're not watching the team. Grier is actively trying to rebuild this team now after last year's tank job / bottom out. The problem is, last year we were historically bad, this year we're just regular bottom 2 bad. Huge improvement! And if this thread has to be dredged back up over and over, we should just make it about CHI too. Whose team looks perhaps even worse and rebuild looks perhaps more questionable.

By actually having a defense core of the future???

 

[Barrie22]

By actually having a defense core of the future???

San jose has a strong forward core but weak defensive core with the goalie of the future potentially also. Chicago has a strong defensive core but a weak forward core and no goalie of the future presently.

 

[Shark Finn]

I think the goalie trade with the Avs show what kind of season the Sharks mgmt wants.

To get maximum value for players who do not fit the long-term plan of the team?

 

[coooldude]

I think two things are true at the same time. The Sharks want to be better than last year, but they absolutely are tanking to get another good pick.

Next year, I think they're going to try as hard as they can to win more games.

This gets at the definition of "tanking" which is a well worn debate that gets pedantic. I agree with you that the Sharks are not trying to make playoffs and that Grier isn't desperate to get us out of the bottom 4 picks, but I personally wouldn't define what's happening as tanking. I think the team is legitimately trying to win more games, and be a lot better. It's just that this still puts us in the bottom 2 because of how bad we were last year, especially in the back half.

I think Grier sees the team as in the build phase, but the very beginning of it, and it takes longer than most people think or hope.

 

[Star Platinum]

This gets at the definition of "tanking" which is a well worn debate that gets pedantic. I agree with you that the Sharks are not trying to make playoffs and that Grier isn't desperate to get us out of the bottom 4 picks, but I personally wouldn't define what's happening as tanking. I think the team is legitimately trying to win more games, and be a lot better. It's just that this still puts us in the bottom 2 because of how bad we were last year, especially in the back half.

I think Grier sees the team as in the build phase, but the very beginning of it, and it takes longer than most people think or hope.

Well players and coaches always try to win, but a GM can give them a lot of rookies or bad vets and get the result they want.

I think they're gonna go in hard on getting meaningful upgrades to the defense this offseason and try to get the best winger they can to complement Celebrini.

 

[StreetHawk]

This gets at the definition of "tanking" which is a well worn debate that gets pedantic. I agree with you that the Sharks are not trying to make playoffs and that Grier isn't desperate to get us out of the bottom 4 picks, but I personally wouldn't define what's happening as tanking. I think the team is legitimately trying to win more games, and be a lot better. It's just that this still puts us in the bottom 2 because of how bad we were last year, especially in the back half.

I think Grier sees the team as in the build phase, but the very beginning of it, and it takes longer than most people think or hope.

Where you land in the standings is also dependent on the other teams. Last season Ana had 59 points for 3rd worst. On pace for 75 this season. That would put them 5th worst, which is about where MTL was last season at like 75 points too. So, when you are that far from the rest of the bad clubs, even a 16 point improvement only gets you 2 spots higher.

I think 2025 is an important summer for grier. Can see that Cellibrini can play. Need to support that. Also, important for his HC. Rookie HC and wants him to build the team up that they will still believe in the message. Harder to do that after 2 bottom 3 finishes. Grier already hired and fired Quinn after 2 seasons. Going to want to have a HC that will last.

But, that won't be easy. Players with options are not signing with weaker clubs unless the money is that much better. Plus, their D core is going to have a lot of turnover so that will take time and patience with new kids coming in.

 

[Star Platinum]

Where you land in the standings is also dependent on the other teams. Last season Ana had 59 points for 3rd worst. On pace for 75 this season. That would put them 5th worst, which is about where MTL was last season at like 75 points too. So, when you are that far from the rest of the bad clubs, even a 16 point improvement only gets you 2 spots higher.

I think 2025 is an important summer for grier. Can see that Cellibrini can play. Need to support that. Also, important for his HC. Rookie HC and wants him to build the team up that they will still believe in the message. Harder to do that after 2 bottom 3 finishes. Grier already hired and fired Quinn after 2 seasons. Going to want to have a HC that will last.

But, that won't be easy. Players with options are not signing with weaker clubs unless the money is that much better. Plus, their D core is going to have a lot of turnover so that will take time and patience with new kids coming in.

The big trick for Grier will be how to get enough short-term veterans to make the team respectable while you're waiting for your young guys to be ready to be the impact players on your team. A guy like Dickinson is probably two years away from even being a guy you can trust on the ice at the NHL level, let alone make an impact. How do you bridge that gap and not fall into the Buffalo trap?

And then of course, you have to keep making good draft picks.

 

[Stickpucker]

Ad nauseam: if you think the Sharks are intentionally tanking this year, you're not watching the team. Grier is actively trying to rebuild this team now after last year's tank job / bottom out. The problem is, last year we were historically bad, this year we're just regular bottom 2 bad. Huge improvement! And if this thread has to be dredged back up over and over, we should just make it about CHI too. Whose team looks perhaps even worse and rebuild looks perhaps more questionable.

Counter point: their arena is called the tank.

 

[Kegs]

Don’t worry. All part of the 10-15 year rebuild.

 

[Mattb124]

Gotta love that some folks are ignorant to the fact the Sharks are on track to reduce their goal differential from -150 last season to closer to -80 this season. Highly doubting there will be another team in the league that shows that level of improvement year over year.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I like a lot of their pieces but Georgie is just gonna help them with the tank and their defensive coverage is non-existent. I was shocked Vlasic was still playing, I know they suck but it's a crime he's on the roster. Passed it right to Schmidt.

Gotta love that some folks are ignorant to the fact the Sharks are on track to reduce their goal differential from -150 last season to closer to -80 this season. Highly doubting there will be another team in the league that shows that level of improvement year over year.

It might be over 150 by the end of tonight

 

[FrolikFan67]

I hope they win the lottery again, I want to see them do well and eventually win a cup. I think they have a promising future. Between celebrini, smith, eklund, zetterlund, and askarov in net to name a few. Add another top guy from the draft. Sign some vets to insulate them and hopefully they’ll be on their way in a few years

 

[Star Platinum]

Gotta love that some folks are ignorant to the fact the Sharks are on track to reduce their goal differential from -150 last season to closer to -80 this season. Highly doubting there will be another team in the league that shows that level of improvement year over year.

This Panthers game isn't going to help in that regard.

 

[Helistin]

The Sharks are a bad team but they played decent when Blackwood was in net most of the time.
With Georgiev in net there isn't even a fighting chance.
Bad team with a worse goalie.

 

[Zarzh]

San jose has a strong forward core but weak defensive core with the goalie of the future potentially also. Chicago has a strong defensive core but a weak forward core and no goalie of the future presently.

Chicago just picks a forward in this draft and most of their issues are fixed relatively easily. While none of their goalie prospects look promising, it's not impossible for Gajan to improve or to trade for a starter.

 

[Barrie22]

Chicago just picks a forward in this draft and most of their issues are fixed relatively easily. While none of their goalie prospects look promising, it's not impossible for Gajan to improve or to trade for a starter.

Yeah because a forward is really going to transform the hawks from the 3rd worst defensive team in the league into a respectable team.

Even adding one of misa, martone, hagens to the offense won't turn the team from the 2nd worst offensive team in the league to a respectable team. Especially since the top forwards in this draft most likely are not ready for the nhl next year.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Yeah because a forward is really going to transform the hawks from the 3rd worst defensive team in the league into a respectable team.

Even adding one of misa, martone, hagens to the offense won't turn the team from the 2nd worst offensive team in the league to a respectable team. Especially since the top forwards in this draft most likely are not ready for the nhl next year.

Jones, Brodie, and Martinez are hugely responsible for a lot of shitty defensive play this season. The kids are actually playing well and we’re excited as Hawks fans seeing this young D core develop.

Vlassic and Crevier are the twin towers out there. Two huge guys covering a ton of ice. Allan and Kaiser are doing well. Del Mastro just got a call up and looked good. Not to mention Korchinski and Levshunov developing in the AHL.

Another elite forward would go a real long way on this team. So would Schaefer FWIW. We’ll just have to see how the lottery shakes out. I’m sure Uncle Gary I’ll give us some lottery luck once or twice more before he steps down.

 

[Kegs]

Chicago just picks a forward in this draft and most of their issues are fixed relatively easily. While none of their goalie prospects look promising, it's not impossible for Gajan to improve or to trade for a starter.

You think the blackhawks are one 18 year old forward away from being good?

 

[Zarzh]

Yeah because a forward is really going to transform the hawks from the 3rd worst defensive team in the league into a respectable team.

Even adding one of misa, martone, hagens to the offense won't turn the team from the 2nd worst offensive team in the league to a respectable team. Especially since the top forwards in this draft most likely are not ready for the nhl next year.

No but that basically completes their core and they don't particularly have to worry about adding more forward talent.