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

[Alaskanice]

When you say things like this you shred your credibility. Do you sincerely think that's why the trade happened? Toronto really wanted Matt Benning, and hence the Sharks could pry Liljegren from them?

Not to mention, a cromulent example was right there: Burroughs netted the Sharks Grundstrom.

My credibility is shredded because I think Liljegren is better? I’m not sure many will contest me on that.
As for Grundstrom over Burroughs, again, I think he’s better.

 

[OrrNumber4]

My credibility is shredded because I think Liljegren is better? I’m not sure many will contest me on that.
As for Grundstrom over Burroughs, again, I think he’s better.

No, the assertion in your original statement is that the Sharks signing Benning was good because they traded Benning for Liljegren. Benning was a warm body in that trade.

 

[Patty Ice]

The only true stinkers against are Caleb Addison, Mike Hoffman, Thrun, Lindblom and maybe Burroughs

Only one I don't agree with is Thrun. He still has time to prove himself. Although a Luca defensive pairing would have been sweet. However, no guarantee Grier even picks Marrelli since he still had a chance to but maybe with an extra third he does.

 

[Alaskanice]

No, the assertion in your original statement is that the Sharks signing Benning was good because they traded Benning for Liljegren. Benning was a warm body in that trade.

Signing Benning led to the trade. Good.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Signing Benning led to the trade. Good.

I don't think signing Benning or not signing Benning would've made the difference in acquiring Liljegren. If it wasn't him, it would've been someone else.

 

[Cas]

I don't think signing Benning or not signing Benning would've made the difference in acquiring Liljegren. If it wasn't him, it would've been someone else.

Could have been Burroughs just as easily.

Benning really was just a bad signing and I am so, so happy I don't have to watch him any more.

 

[Alaskanice]

Could have been Burroughs just as easily.

Benning really was just a bad signing and I am so, so happy I don't have to watch him any more.

I never heard that Burroughs was potentially a part of that trade.

 

[Cas]

I never heard that Burroughs was potentially a part of that trade.

If we didn't have Benning, assuming we wind up signing Burroughs (I think it's a reasonable possibility to happen regardless), we probably keep Burroughs and then dump him for Liljegren instead.

Benning was, as was said, a warm body for the Leafs to throw into the AHL for depth. Burroughs would be the same - an awful, sub-NHL level defenseman whose sole positive attribute is that he is right-handed.

If neither Benning nor Burroughs were on the team, we'd have sent someone else - a no-name signed to be a warm body, an AHL defenseman like Carlsson, whatever. Getting Liljegren for picks and a warm body doesn't justify signing Benning for that kind of contract in the first place; we just managed to dump that contract and get something out of it (well, really the 3rd and 6th).

 

[Hodge]

If we didn't have Benning, assuming we wind up signing Burroughs (I think it's a reasonable possibility to happen regardless), we probably keep Burroughs and then dump him for Liljegren instead.

Benning was, as was said, a warm body for the Leafs to throw into the AHL for depth. Burroughs would be the same - an awful, sub-NHL level defenseman whose sole positive attribute is that he is right-handed.

If neither Benning nor Burroughs were on the team, we'd have sent someone else - a no-name signed to be a warm body, an AHL defenseman like Carlsson, whatever. Getting Liljegren for picks and a warm body doesn't justify signing Benning for that kind of contract in the first place; we just managed to dump that contract and get something out of it (well, really the 3rd and 6th).

I'm still trying to get over that unjustifiable Benning contract that destroyed this franchise. If we hadn't traded Benning when we did the Sharks would have likely moved to Quebec by now.

 

[Alaskanice]

If we didn't have Benning, assuming we wind up signing Burroughs (I think it's a reasonable possibility to happen regardless), we probably keep Burroughs and then dump him for Liljegren instead.

Benning was, as was said, a warm body for the Leafs to throw into the AHL for depth. Burroughs would be the same - an awful, sub-NHL level defenseman whose sole positive attribute is that he is right-handed.

If neither Benning nor Burroughs were on the team, we'd have sent someone else - a no-name signed to be a warm body, an AHL defenseman like Carlsson, whatever. Getting Liljegren for picks and a warm body doesn't justify signing Benning for that kind of contract in the first place; we just managed to dump that contract and get something out of it (well, really the 3rd and 6th).

The depths of what you know. Impressive.

 

[The Nemesis]

The only true stinkers against are Caleb Addison, Mike Hoffman, Thrun, Lindblom and maybe Burroughs.

Hoffman wasn't a signing or solo trade. He was part of the Karlsson return and this was likely necessary for salary matching.

 

[Alaskanice]

Hoffman wasn't a signing or solo trade. He was part of the Karlsson return and this was likely necessary for salary matching.

Clarity is a beautiful thing.

 

[Jargon]

Hoffman wasn't a signing or solo trade. He was part of the Karlsson return and this was likely necessary for salary matching.

Truly, the absolute worst punishment for trading Karlsson.

 

[TheBigDrunkPanda]

So how about that Kovalenko

 

[TheBeard]

Hoffman wasn't a signing or solo trade. He was part of the Karlsson return and this was likely necessary for salary matching.

I meant it as the only real negative players he’s brought in, but you are correct. Same could have been said for Lorentz.

Truly, the absolute worst punishment for trading Karlsson.

I’d still say Ruuta because of the second year and higher cap but either or.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Could have been Burroughs just as easily.

Benning really was just a bad signing and I am so, so happy I don't have to watch him any more.

It could've been literally anyone. It was really only for the contract slot. The cap wasn't a concern for the Sharks. Anyone making what Benning did or less would've worked for the Leafs because they would've just buried them either way.

I don't think Benning was a bad signing considering the time we're talking about here. They were going into a rebuild and had no righties after Karlsson then. They needed plugs until they found some opportunities because nobody wanted to be here and we had nothing really coming soon through the system. Now that it's been a little over two years and we lucked into Ceci and Liljegren, he wasn't going to be needed with guys like Thompson and Pohlkamp potentially in a depth role soon. The term was obviously ridiculous but ultimately harmless because of the low cap figure.

The reason we got Liljegren will either be because of taking Ceci or because of Hertl getting what he did to help get us Askarov since the 3rd Nashville sent back in that deal. Because whichever 3rd that ends up being is the best asset Toronto is getting in return for Liljegren.

 

[TheBeard]

Only one I don't agree with is Thrun. He still has time to prove himself. Although a Luca defensive pairing would have been sweet. However, no guarantee Grier even picks Marrelli since he still had a chance to but maybe with an extra third he does.

I don't blame Grier for taking a shot. I just don't think it's going to work out is all.

 

[Patty Ice]

I don't blame Grier for taking a shot. I just don't think it's going to work out is all.

He has NHL qualities but I never expected him to be more than a 5/6 type maybe an occasional fill-in for the top 4.

 

[TheBeard]

He has NHL qualities but I never expected him to be more than a 5/6 type maybe an occasional fill-in for the top 4.

Fair, my only issue is it was a 2024 3rd when we were clearly going to be one of the worst teams. It essentially ended up being the 66th pick. I had high hopes for Henry but I wouldn't be surprised if Grier tries to move off of his million dollar hit next year.

 

[The Nemesis]

I meant it as the only real negative players he’s brought in, but you are correct. Same could have been said for Lorentz.


I’d still say Ruuta because of the second year and higher cap but either or.

I don't count it as a negative because of extenuating circumstance (the cap balancing).

If he had made the Karlsson deal and was given the option of Hoffman and some other better players of equal cap hits off the Pens/Habs, then yeah, that's a negative. But I'm willing to bet that taking Hoffman's contract was a necessity of the deal because of the amount was needed to keep things copacetic.

I don't hold a GM responsible for taking a bad player if they make the deal knowing that's what they're getting for a good reason.

 

[TheBeard]

I don't count it as a negative because of extenuating circumstance (the cap balancing).

If he had made the Karlsson deal and was given the option of Hoffman and some other better players of equal cap hits off the Pens/Habs, then yeah, that's a negative. But I'm willing to bet that taking Hoffman's contract was a necessity of the deal because of the amount was needed to keep things copacetic.

I don't hold a GM responsible for taking a bad player if they make the deal knowing that's what they're getting for a good reason.

I didn't say it was a negative against Grier. I said the only negative players as in their production was more hurtful than helpful.

 

[tahoesharksfan]

So how about that Kovalenko

He certainly looked good last night but it’s still early…

 

[Munnyro]

Toronto really wanted Matt Benning, and hence the Sharks could pry Liljegren from them?

They did not want to take Benning and were pretty upfront about it.