I'd waive either of Georgiev or Vanecek for Askarov to get him more experience but if that part of things hasn't changed with this deal for the team, it's possible to get someone like Georgiev to figure things out when they're going to face a lot of volume. Either he figures it out, we swing a three way trade for someone else to retain 50% to make him a 1.5 mil goalie or we guarantee ourselves a top three pick.
Confirmed with Link: TRADE: Sharks trade G Mackenzie Blackwood, F Givani Smith, 2027 5th to COL for G Alexandar Georgiev, F Nikolai Kovalenko, '26 2nd, Cond'l '25 5th
- Thread starter The Nemesis
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The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Reports I saw called him a middle-6 player or a 3rd liner. He's a crash/bang forechecking energy guy with some offence, but he's probably not a high end scorer.
If he's a top 6 player he'd likely be #6 in that group by a noticeable margin whereas his ideal spot on a good team is as a strong aggressive 3rd liner with some pop.
I'd think the Sharks probably give him a run on the 2nd line (or even the 1st) because they don't have 6 top 6 forwards right now and will have even fewer once they trade Granlund. But in a perfect world as long as he doesn't pumpkin or flee back to Russia after his contract expires his future ideal fit would be on a 3rd line.
Lets go conference finals then lolDamnit, you're right. Totally skirted over that portion.
LadyStanley
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Hodge
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Ultimately I think this trade is about pulling the plug on the season and entering tank mode. Hard to argue with that decision after the last two games.
I would have loved to see us extend Blackwood but from his perspective it doesn't make sense to sign with a bottom feeder if there's an opportunity to be moved to a legit contender he can lead to a Cup.
Gecklund
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I don’t necessarily think it’s pulling the plug yet. Askarov looked good and Vanacek has shown potential. If it was Granlund moving yes agreed. I think it’s really just capitalizing on Blackwood and just feels weird.
TheBigDrunkPanda
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After looking at goalie trade history and the most comparable one being Dubnyk to Minnie for a 3rd this trade is on par for market value like STL was saying, considering it basically turned a 6rnd pick to a second that’s a pretty good come up
Hodge
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Askarov isn't getting called up. It's Georgiev/Vanecek in net until one of them gets injured.
Star Platinum
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We have the goalie of the future ready to go at any moment and Blackwood's value was never going to be higher. It was the right time for both teams.
What would be hilarious is if the Sharks managed to rehabilitate Georgiev by the deadline and then flip him as well.
Hodge
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It's not impossible. He was an All-Star like 10 months ago and is still relatively young for a goalie.
LadyStanley
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This is my hope as well and would make the trade sweet. I dunno if Georgiev is salvageable but playing him a lot is a win win.
1. He crushes it: sharks can then flip him for actual value at the deadline.
2. He sucks: Sharks get a top 3 pick.
LadyStanley
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The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
In that situation him sucking is a lot more valuable than a deadline return. By the time we get to the deadline teams are only going to be looking for backup goalies, so the price will be significantly lower than what we just saw Blackwood fetch.
Looking at the last couple of deadlines the return on goalies was mostly something like "taking back a mediocre or worse other goalie to create roster space + a 5th-7th round draft pick or futures."
Georgiev even if he rebounds and as a pure rental would only be worth like a mid-round pick and/or some niche or lottery ticket prospect.
That would be far less valuable than teh difference between the Sharks drafting top 3 and them drafting like 7-10.
Zetterlund is a great comparison for Kovalenko.
He's clearly a NHLer and has been getting better as the season has progressed, just a question of whether he'll develop into a 2nd line tweener or a bottom 6 forward.
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Hell yeah. I have no beef with Colorado, I'll root for them over *barf* Winnipeg.
TheBigDrunkPanda
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Interesting that Grier was looking to extend Blackwood but the conversation with his agent basically expedited the trade
Alaskanice
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Grier did mention that he talked to Colorado before about Kovalenko. Interesting.
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Jargon
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Always liked their fans when we played them in the playoffs and they’re a super fun team, so yeah, by all means.
Great interview. I love Grier’s bluntness over DW. So Blackwood priced himself out, they love Kovalenko (very interested in him now) and the deal was too good to pass up.
Grier clearly saw how much more we need the last two games. I really like how he’s constantly analyzing and planning for the future, I’m really enjoying his tenure.
sharski
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I understand why GMMG wanted to extend Blackwood
I also understand why Blackwood wanted to go somewhere where he didn't have a recently-traded-for-goalie-of-the-future sitting behind him and be open to treating him like the guy going forward
one of those good problems
I also understand why Blackwood wanted to go somewhere where he didn't have a recently-traded-for-goalie-of-the-future sitting behind him and be open to treating him like the guy going forward
one of those good problems
vortexy
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Anyone thinking we could get a first round pick needs to really look at the returns goalies usually get, even Grier mentioned this value was too good to pass up "It's kind of still in the stages of where we are. We look back historically on returns for goalies and in season. There's only two guys that have ever gotten a second-round pick, and both of them were coming off Vezina seasons, I believe, in Fleury and Robin Lehner. It was a return we thought we couldn't pass up."
Also really like that Grier seems to really know trust in his process of rebuilding this team as he knows this team is still a long ways away from being a championship contender "But as well as you've seen these last couple games, where as much as things are better and we're improving, I think you guys all see how far we really are away from what the championship standard is in this league, and that's what we're trying to get to. It's my job to look at the present but keep an eye on the future as well. We got to keep building it."
I have a lot of confidence in Grier and once again will state I love the value we got in this deal, also to note Grier really likes Kovalenko
Also really like that Grier seems to really know trust in his process of rebuilding this team as he knows this team is still a long ways away from being a championship contender "But as well as you've seen these last couple games, where as much as things are better and we're improving, I think you guys all see how far we really are away from what the championship standard is in this league, and that's what we're trying to get to. It's my job to look at the present but keep an eye on the future as well. We got to keep building it."
I have a lot of confidence in Grier and once again will state I love the value we got in this deal, also to note Grier really likes Kovalenko
matt trick
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And I love that Grier just shares that shit, rather than us endlessly debating it.
Hopefully we get the full Michkov story some day…
Hodge
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I am so grateful he is our GM. No bullshit about scraping into the playoffs or playing competitive games in March. He's here to win the Cup and the last two games obviously showed how far we are from that goal.
Jargon
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I don’t know what I was expecting but he’s been absolutely fantastic, especially from like the Meier trade on. I didn’t expect our prospect pool to go from one of the worst to one of the best in 2 years. His trades have been shrewd, aggressive and calculated. He also corrects quickly for his own mistakes — he saw that bringing in a bunch of skill guys with no grit/leadership qualities can destroy a team so he corrects this season and puts together a lineup that is shockingly watchable but will still get us a top 5 pick.
And yeah, I really just love the honesty. Never understood why some GMs are so secretive about often banal, obvious things. I really enjoy his approach.
