Confirmed with Link: Zetterlund, Robins, 4th to Ottawa for 2025 2nd, Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor

[TheBeard]

Really don't like this deal. It actually besmirches some of the good will and props i was giving Grier for the Meier deal, being that Fabian himself was just about keeping pace with Timo's goal scoring over in NJ.

you cannot convince me that Grier couldn't have just waited and found a better deal for Zetterlund in the summer. If he really wanted he could have used Fabian to sweeten a deal and move up in the first round. And here, he throws in a 4th, just cuz

I think the worst part is Grier having the audacity to try and con us into thinking this was a trade meant to get a player.

 

[Shark Finn]

I think what this trade also exemplifies is that, sadly, Grier & Co. are ready to eke out an seemingly overpayment for a guy they really, really like.

And I don't really like the comment, essentially meaning, that Ostapchuk fits the long-term plan better than Zetterlund. A potential 3C fits the team better than a present top-6 winger when there also needs to be a focus on the present? Come on.

Let's see how this deal ages.

 

[SnarkAttack]

Dress him, let him sit on the bench the whole game and the only time he gets to leave is to serve penalties.

Make him our goalie.

 

[Melek Taus]

Zetterlund was my favorite Shark

 

[Mafoofoo]

Having some more time to reflect on this trade there’s really only a few possible explanations.

1. Mike actually hates the San Jose Sharks and enjoys making the fans suffer.
2. Somehow Chris Grier got ahold of Mike’s phone.
3. Mike owes Ottawa’s GM a life debt and this was the only way to get out of it.
4. He’s addicted to the draft lottery and winning it is his Stanley Cup

Either way, trading Zetterlund for Gregor and a guy who has a legit shot of turning into a taller current level Goodrow is actually insane. Not to mention also a draft pick.

 

[Sharksfan83]

Granlund gone, Zetterlund gone, Eklund..?

 

[jMoneyBrah]

Granlund gone, Zetterlund gone, Eklund..?

Nah. Don’t forget Grier brought in Berglund and said today he intends to sign Camlund as soon as his college season is over. Sharks’ll be back to equalibrilund shortly.

 

[MackAttack71]

Think of all those breakaways sprung by Smith and Macklin passes not even hitting the net!

Kunin says hi

 

[Le Rosbeef]

I said that Ostapchuk was a great, high-character guy after the trade, but I don't think anyone was going to listen at that point because there was too much reflexive anger.

I'm quite happy to have him on the team. I'm a Vancouver Giants season ticket holder since like 2017 so I was there for his entire junior career except for those like 30 games he played in Winnipeg to cap off his WHL run. I was there for him as the Giants captain and I still see probably more Ostapchuk jerseys in the arena than any other single player.

I think he'll probably be graded harshly by the fans that are upset at losing Zetterlund, but he's the kind of guy who becomes extremely likeable extremely quickly if you're not on train of him being a "garbage 4th liner who will be out of the league in a few years"

Nice to see some fans can still separate logic from emotion. The numbers are dwindling...

"Tall, 3C upside" = aBSOlUtE jUnK.

No matter what the evidence - and if you listen to Grier, read the scouring reports and news articles there is PLENTY to read on ZO, so there's no excuse to be uninformed - ...but some people will just seek to confirm their own biases and denigrate him and the deal immediately.

Ostapchuk is 21, has played 50 NHL games. He's a prospect. We are rebuilding. This makes total sense to roll the dice. Grier likes our winger depth. Some of you act like a lover scorned.

Any trade may not pay off but I sure as heck am glad Grier and the team have the sack to believe in their own vision. I've made a point of informing myself about ZO since the trade and actually, I'm really excited Grier wants him this much and that the scouting team feel the same way. With every respect to many of the dissenting voices, I'm trusting their call more than an armchair take based around reductionism from his stat line.

Agree, disagree, it's what makes the boards fun. But the ones throwing shade who have made no effort to empathise and see how it plays out... well, it's just increasingly the narrative around here.

 

[Hodge]

I think what this trade also exemplifies is that, sadly, Grier & Co. are ready to eke out an seemingly overpayment for a guy they really, really like.

And I don't really like the comment, essentially meaning, that Ostapchuk fits the long-term plan better than Zetterlund. A potential 3C fits the team better than a present top-6 winger when there also needs to be a focus on the present? Come on.

Let's see how this deal ages.

Why would there need to be a focus on the present? We're dead last. Our only relevant players are 18-22 years old. This team is at least two years away from even competing for a wild card spot and Ostapchuk fits that timeline better than Zetterlund who will be UFA eligible in 2027.

Is Zetterlund really a top six winger or is he a top six winger on this team because we have no other options? IMO he's a true talent 2nd/3rd line tweener with serious limitations in both his offensive and defensive game that make him a less than ideal fit on a skill line or a checking line.

Even if Ostapchuk ends up on the wing, a physical 30ish point defensive stopper who can kill penalties, drop the gloves and take draws when necessary is just as valuable as a one-way wing like Zetts who will eat up much more cap space and likely struggle to score 20 goals when prospects and/or other acquisitions push him out of our top six.

The spectre of Zetterlund's arbitration case also can't be overlooked. He has good numbers in some useless/misleading categories like +/-, hits and blocked shots that would certainly be used by his agent to drive up his price.

 

[sharks_dynasty]

Nice to see some fans can still separate logic from emotion. The numbers are dwindling...

"Tall, 3C upside" = aBSOlUtE jUnK.

No matter what the evidence - and if you listen to Grier, read the scouring reports and news articles there is PLENTY to read on ZO, so there's no excuse to be uninformed - ...but some people will just seek to confirm their own biases and denigrate him and the deal immediately.

Ostapchuk is 21, has played 50 NHL games. He's a prospect. We are rebuilding. This makes total sense to roll the dice. Grier likes our winger depth. Some of you act like a lover scorned.

Any trade may not pay off but I sure as heck am glad Grier and the team have the sack to believe in their own vision. I've made a point of informing myself about ZO since the trade and actually, I'm really excited Grier wants him this much and that the scouting team feel the same way. With every respect to many of the dissenting voices, I'm trusting their call more than an armchair take based around reductionism from his stat line.

Agree, disagree, it's what makes the boards fun. But the ones throwing shade who have made no effort to empathise and see how it plays out... well, it's just increasingly the narrative around here.

Totally agree. His AHL tape looks really good. He could have an immediate impact considering we have lots of room on our roster in the top six. Also could go down to the Cuda and dominate during the playoffs. Fans will come around on him.

 

[LadyStanley]

Since the one year limit has passed, the Sharks could now (meaning this offseason since the trade deadline has passed) or in the future re-acquire EK65

TDL = last chance for UFAs to sign for season and trade (signed) players to play in playoffs

So the Sharks could make trade today for a guy. Or an unsigned prospect.

Traditionally trades don't restart until after end of RS.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Granlund gone, Zetterlund gone, Eklund..?

I think Eklund gets traded this summer.

 

[tahoesharksfan]

I think Eklund gets traded this summer.

Well that would ruin my summer....

 

[Jargon]

I think Eklund gets traded this summer.

The only way I see Eklund traded is for a high caliber defenseman and even then I’m doubtful. I know we’re all raw from the Zetterlund trade but if they truly thought Ostapchuk is a future top 3C, then the trade made sense (particularly because I’m sure they see Zetterlund as a 3rd liner). Eklund is a top 6 winger and I think he’s one of the building blocks here.

I expect Grier to start packaging prospects and extra picks for the guys he wants.

Could be wrong, it’s all conjecture either way.

 

[coooldude]

I think Eklund gets traded this summer.

It's definitely possible, but Grier called out that
1. Eklund would be stepping up as a leader on this team going forward, mentioned him alongside Mack and Will
2. Grier said he'd be "calling a few guys tomorrow to check in" and I have to believe Ek is guy #1.

The case for trading him would be: not Grier's guy, too small, better wingers coming behind, huge center piece for a true top pair D that could be our guy for 5+ years.

But given his tenacity and production and two way play I think they keep him, just every other winger will be 6'2" or bigger. No question in my mind that Goose and Bords are 100% not in this org for long.

 

[cheechoo]

I think Eklund gets traded this summer.

I was playing around with the idea yesterday as well.

Would have to be for a superstar #1D however, like no to Noah Dobson tier players.

Charlie McAvoy is the dream (barring that shoulder checks out) and he's on a fantastic contract that takes him up until he's 32.

Sadly I find the odds slim that he waives his clause to come here.

 

[Hodge]

I was playing around with the idea yesterday as well.

Would have to be for a superstar #1D however, like no to Noah Dobson tier players.

Charlie McAvoy is the dream (barring that shoulder checks out) and he's on a fantastic contract that takes him up until he's 32.

Sadly I find the odds slim that he waives his clause to come here.

We know Buffalo and Kevyn Adams specifically loves Eklund. Maybe something like Eklund and either the Dallas or Edmonton 1st for Owen Power could be a possibility if we miss out on Schaefer?

 

[cheechoo]

We know Buffalo and Kevyn Adams specifically loves Eklund. Maybe something like Eklund and either the Dallas or Edmonton 1st for Owen Power could be a possibility if we miss out on Schaefer?

Mixed narrative around Power, but you take that and run. His microstats are sort of insane and he's just physically gifted in a way that you don't find very often.

I would say they never send that offer in the first place, but it is Buffalo...

 

[Jargon]

It's definitely possible, but Grier called out that
1. Eklund would be stepping up as a leader on this team going forward, mentioned him alongside Mack and Will
2. Grier said he'd be "calling a few guys tomorrow to check in" and I have to believe Ek is guy #1.

The case for trading him would be: not Grier's guy, too small, better wingers coming behind, huge center piece for a true top pair D that could be our guy for 5+ years.

But given his tenacity and production and two way play I think they keep him, just every other winger will be 6'2" or bigger. No question in my mind that Goose and Bords are 100% not in this org for long.

Grier said he felt like prospect-wise they were pretty set at forward. So projecting this team into the future, from their POV:

Eklund - Celebrini - Toffoli (for the near future, then maybe Chernyshov or whoever steps up, or an FA/Trade)
Musty - Smith - Chernyshov
Graf - Ostapchuk - Haltunnen
Caldwell - Bystedt - vet

I’m not sure I see a replacement for Eklund in this bunch (and we’re still praying these guys even work out). So, in my opinion, if he trades Eklund it’s for that heralded top defenseman. That said, if we get Schaefer and the near future looks like:

Schaefer - Muhk (if the RD switch works out)
Dickinson - ??
Ferraro - ??

… and then we don’t necessarily need to trade out a guy like Eklund for D. I think then we’d trade out some picks or throw a lot of money for shorter term deals on stopgap guys while Schaefer and Dickinson (betting he gets the Smith treatment next season) develop.

I think this is likely what they’re seeing — while also aggressively picking up who they like this summer and along the way to hedge their bets on the prospects succeeding.

 

[Juxtaposer]

It's definitely possible, but Grier called out that
1. Eklund would be stepping up as a leader on this team going forward, mentioned him alongside Mack and Will
2. Grier said he'd be "calling a few guys tomorrow to check in" and I have to believe Ek is guy #1.

The case for trading him would be: not Grier's guy, too small, better wingers coming behind, huge center piece for a true top pair D that could be our guy for 5+ years.

But given his tenacity and production and two way play I think they keep him, just every other winger will be 6'2" or bigger. No question in my mind that Goose and Bords are 100% not in this org for long.

You called out the three main reasons why I think he gets traded: small, not Grier's guy, valuable in a trade for defense. And add one more: needs a new contract.

Maybe Eklund is the new Couture (core guy who keeps having his friends traded). More likely IMHO, he's a goner.

We know Buffalo and Kevyn Adams specifically loves Eklund. Maybe something like Eklund and either the Dallas or Edmonton 1st for Owen Power could be a possibility if we miss out on Schaefer?

I'm surprised you want the softest defenseman in the league.

 

[Shark Finn]

You called out the three main reasons why I think he gets traded: small, not Grier's guy, valuable in a trade for defense. And add one more: needs a new contract.

Maybe Eklund is the new Couture (core guy who keeps having his friends traded). More likely IMHO, he's a goner.

I had the exact same thought today.

 

[Gecklund]

The more I think about it, the more I understand this trade. If sharks genuinely sees Ostapchuk as that Lowry, Paul, Luostarinen type guy then great. Granted I don’t fully see it and I think Ostapchuk is more a bottom 6 character winger than long term 3C but gotta trust Grier a bit here.

Yes Zetterlund was a second liner here but on a true playoff team he should probably be your 6th best forward at best. I mean I understand not seeing Zetterlund as the future, he’s probably pretty tapped out on his value. My only thing with this trade is Grier needs to be telling the truth that this is the last deadline we truly sell, otherwise he loses all trust he’s built these last couple years.

 

[Hodge]

I'm surprised you want the softest defenseman in the league.

Are we trading for Bustson?

 

[Hodge]

Yes Zetterlund was a second liner here but on a true playoff team he should probably be your 6th best forward at best. I mean I understand not seeing Zetterlund as the future, he’s probably pretty tapped out on his value. My only thing with this trade is Grier needs to be telling the truth that this is the last deadline we truly sell, otherwise he loses all trust he’s built these last couple years.

We don't really have anything left to sell. Maybe Ferraro and Wennberg but I could also see us extending them if Celebrini, Smith and Askarov take a step forward to make us more competitive.