Team: 2024-25 San Jose Sharks

Initial Creation Date: May 17, 2024

Published: May 18, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

What I'd actually do.

Assumes Celebrini and Smith sign and Couture can't play.

Addison - Was bad defensively last year and couldn't stay on the 1st pp unit, which is what he was acquired for. Could add offense for another team that can cover for his defensive lapses.

Bordeleau - Sharks have too many small forwards. We need to trade Bordeleau or Gushchin eventually. I think Gushchin has the higher offensive upside and Bordeleau has the higher current trade value, so I traded Bordeleau. He'd be a good addition to another team that doesn't already have too many players like him.

Veteran D - Sharks have too many P3 D. Only Ferraro is top 4. I decided to trade Rutta and send Burroughs to the Cuda. Kept Benning as the best of those three. Vlasic is untradeable and we need his cap hit to get close to the floor so I didn't buy him out.

UFA's
Didn't go for the best available (Montour, Reinhart, etc.) as they are unlikely to sign in SJ.

OEL can run the pp and adds puck moving without sacrificing defense. He's a good veteran leader who's been through adversity. Probably won't sign in SJ unless he wins a Cup with Florida this year. I went for a short term and a big raise. OEL played RD some in Florida so I put him there so Muk could break into the NHL on his natural left side, although Muk can play RD as well. Skjei or Zadorov would also be good here but probably harder for the Sharks to sign than OEL. OEL is more attainable because of his recent buyout but proved with Florida this year that he's still a good player. Florida probably can't afford to keep him.

Roy is a reliable two-way D. A true top 4. I overpaid because there will be a lot of competition for him. I'm ok giving him a longer contract because he's only 29 and could still be a key part of the team when it gets competitive again. DeMelo would also be good as the top RD.

Joshua is exactly what the Sharks need more of right now: Compete, toughness, character, offensive upside. Given his breakout year and playoff heroics it will be tough for SJ to sign him, but they should try.

Lafferty brought in as the 3C. Adds toughness, defense, compete, veteran leadership. He kind of faded in the playoffs so might be easier to sign. I also considered signing Blueger or Trenin for this role. Looked at some veteran wingers too, but I think the Sharks need a 3C more. The idea is to bring in gritty, defensively responsible vets and let our high draft picks add the offense and skill.

Stephenson would also be a great UFA signing but may be out of the Shark's reach.

Bailey, Carpenter, and Cooley were re-signed for depth and sent to the Cuda.

RFA's
Thrun and Emberson appear to be good prospects but need more sheltered minutes than last year. Grier loves Kunin and will bring him back. Kunin does bring toughness but should only be used as a bottom 6 winger. Coe is a big body and still has potential so I re-signed him for the Cuda. Zadina was ok last year and gets another chance with the Sharks.

Rookies and Prospects
Celebrini and Smith make the team, of course. Musty is too good for the OHL but can't go to the AHL, so I started him on the 4th line to ease him into the NHL. He would probably work his way up the lines. Both Muk and Gushchin are NHL-ready. I wasn't sure about Graf so I started him in the AHL.

I signed Havelid and Lund and sent them to the AHL. Halttunen, Bystedt, Edstrom, Cardwell, and Thompson should start in the AHL but could get called up during the season. Cagnoni and the others on the reserve list probably aren't ready for the AHL yet. Chmelevski unfortunately signed a new contract with his KHL team. Kaut isn't coming back.

I'd draft Yakemchuk at #14. Jiricek if Yakemchuk isn't available. If he's still available I'd take Eiserman over Jiricek. None of these three would be NHL-ready in 2024-25.

Lines
Musty / Celebrini / Smith could be an awesome line some day, but I didn't want to pair them all up as rookies. I put Joshua with Celebrini and Smith to provide some defense and protection, and to see if he has another level to his offense. I tried to make sure each line had a balance of toughness, skill, size, and maturity. Lafferty and Kostin can protect Gushchin. Zetterlund can protect Eklund. The Lund Line was effective and fun to watch last year, so I kept them together.

D Pairs
Considered OEL as LD1 to take some pressure off Ferraro but decided it was better to have OEL play on his off side and mentor Muk. Thrun and Emberson are both second year now so I thought it would be ok to put them together. Vlasic or Benning could step in if more veteran experience is needed for P3.

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