Sharks need a full on legit rebuild, problem is we have a large market but it is heavily saturated with other sports teams, meaning a full on rebuild will likely destroy the fan base and revenue. This just isn't an option for us. "On the fly rebuild" is the only logical choice I would have as new sharks GM. Below is my assessment of out prospect and our team Prior to the start of the new Fiscal year, as well as my plan and the reasoning behind the future moves I posted below.
--TEAM ASSESMENT--
Prospect Pool:
As of 6/23 sharks have a glut of wing prospects with bottom 6/ middle 6 potential, a few bottom pairing middle pairing D prospect and a few backup goalie prospect with 1B potential. but only a few players with all-star potential (if any). and most of those are a few years away from challenging for spots on the big club roster.
NHL Level:
We have only 4 (maybe) top 6 forwards, 3 (maybe 4) top 4 D-men, and no quality goaltending.
Top 6 and middle 6 forward depth is weak at best with a ton of bottom 6 prospect and player who might one day be middle 6 guys. Of out top 6 one is aging out, one is heading into his final year and likely to cost a lot to resign, and 1 is a locker room cancer who the team is having a hard time with.
Defense we have 2 former Norris trophy winners and one guy who us to be a premier D man all locked up long term and all 3 looking like a shell of their former selves. We have 2 legit young players quickly making a name for themselves and looking like top 4 mainstays for years to come, and Simek who I like but will be delt for cap savings this offseason.
Goaltending we have nothing of value save for a couple Backup caliber prospects (at best) and a overpaid starter who is a shell of his former self.
With all this info above I have come up with a clear plan to get us competitive this year and into the future.
Step 1: keep as many picks and prospects as possible
The easiest step, and the most important. We have to also add to them as much as we can. we need to infuse top end talent into our prospect pool and get back to being at the very least middle of the pack (12-18 out of 32) prospect pool. we were 25-28th last year at the beginning of the season and moved up to 22nd by seasons end.
step 2: Void Kane’s deal.
His bankruptcy drama was embarrassing, and his attitude is wearing on his teammates as seen in the exit interviews. If we can get assets for him great but at this time I see our only solution as to cut our losses and void the deal.
Step 3: Buy-out Jones.
This one is simple. Jones is no longer a starter and barley a backup the way he is playing the last 3 years, even a competent backup would give us a better shot at winning games.
Step 4: Trade Hertl,
Hertl is one of our top players... but he is on the final year of his deal and will need a significant raise and we are cap strapped, my solution is trade him, Gambrel and our 21 3rd to Ny to get Chytil, Georgiev Lundkvist and their 21 first. we save money get a Player who is close to NHL ready in Lundqvist, a legit young 3C who has 2C potential in Chytil a Goalie in Georgiev who could flourish here or at the very least play better than Jones and a 1st.
Step 5: Trade Meir
Meir is falling out of favor with the coaching staff and I think he desperately needs a change of scenery, we trade him to Montreal for Drouin who is also very talented and in need of a change of scenery. I see him flourishing in our system and with the reduction of media attention, we also get a solid prospect and 2 decent picks. this trade has been mentioned multiple times on here and seems to be mutually acceptable for both sides.
Step 6: Get Seattle to pick Simek.
Simek fits a solid need for an expansion team (good 2nd or 3rd pairing D man who can eat up min on a cheap deal. Knyzhov made him expendable this year otherwise id be pushing Gambrell to Seattle.
Step 7: trade for Johnson and a 1st from tampa.
Tampa is in desperate need of shedding salary to get under cap for next year, we use this to our advantage and take Johnson who I feel is still a solid Middle 6 guy, (although overpaid) and their 22 1st and a 23 3rd for Donato. I honestly think Donato could be solid middle 6 player for Tampa and produce similar numbers to what Johnson had with Tampa, and for us Johnson plays Similar to Pavelski and I think him and Couture could have some chemistry and he should get a few more goals tipping in Burns shots from the point.
Step 8: Trade for Sam Reinhart
Buffalo is staring at another re-rebuild with multiple players demanding to be traded including their captain and Sam Reinhart, we jump in offer up Labanc who can slot in right away in their top 6 and Tampa’s 1st for Reinhart and sign Reinhart to a fair deal for 3 years to get him through to FA. (Hopefully we are a team he wants to sign up long term and not test FA 3 years from now)
step 9: Sign Hall & Hyman
Give both long term deals and let them shine. This is a package deal though as we need both.
Step 10: trade for a cheap backup Goale.
Stalock has played better the last few years than any goalie we’ve had in a while and add good veteran backup for us in case Georgiev fails or either Korenar or Melnichuyk don’t take the next step.
Looking at our lineup now vs last year
1st line
20/21 21/22
Kane - Couture - Labanc Hall - Reinhart - Johnson
This 1st line is solid but might take abit of time to gel, but they each bring unique traits that could make for a strong line. see our new 1st line around 12-16th in the league (out of 32)
2nd Line
20/21 21/22
Meir - Hertl - Baranov Drouin - Couture -Johnson
If Couture stays healthy and if Drouin bounces back in this new environment and if Johnson does gel with Couture this could be a very strong line, Hertl will be missed but this should be a better line than the one we saw last year, around 13-17th in the league. (out of 32)
3rd Line:
20/21 21/22
Leonard - Gambrell - Balcers Barabanov - Chytil - Balcers
3rd line is clearly better than last year! Chytil is far more offensively talented than Gambrell and still plays a fairly strong 2 way game and will compete 2C job eventually pushing Couture to the wing. Barabanov and Balcers spent most of the year in and out of our 2nd line and will have far more success playing on the 3rd line against other teams 3rd line. line should be around 7-12 in the leauge (out of 32
4th line
20/21 21/22
Gregor – Marleau – Nieto Leonard – Dahlin - Nieto
4th line will again be a revolving door with Viel punching in from time to time for muscle, I can also see Kellman Chmevelski, Chekovich, True and Gregor pushing for playing time diurring the season and fill ins for injuries. TBD where they land out of the 32 teams.
Defense is very similar to last year
20/21 21/22
Ferraro - Burns Ferraro - Karlsson
Knyzhov - Karlsson Knyzhov - Burns
Vlasic - Simek Vlasic - Jaros
Top 4 is same, although I'm giving the top dog spot to Karlsson in hopes he actually plays like his salary says he should. Burns needs less min anyways to preserve him as he has 3 more years after this season, Ferraro and Knyzhov are both young and talented D men who will be solid fixtures in our lineup for some time, Vlasic is a shell of himself but can be used as a very expensive mentor to either Merkley or Lundkvist or Harris who are our best top D prospects now.
Both the 5th and 6th spots are an open competition with Harris, Merkley and Lundkvist vying for playing time. If Vlasic fails to preform this season he will be Bought out at the end of the year.
Goaltending
20/21 21/22
Jones - Dubnyk Georgiev – Stakock
Georgiev has potential to be a starting goalie but was moved to make way for a solid vet to mentor Igor and save NY money, this is a make or break season for him, Stalock is more an emergency goalie if Melnichuyk and Korenar don’t take the next step or look like they need more seasoning in the AHL.
With he draft and the pickups we got in this offseason we are stronger team in the the NHL and a much stronger prospect pool with a bunch of NHL caliber prospect in the D side and those picks from last year starting to show well we should move up to around 18-22 prospect pool and should be a playoff contender. Though with so many movies we might have an issue out the gate until we can gel.
Contract is mutually voided due to bankruptcy hearings and his teammates seem to hate him. would have loved to have gotten assets for him… we have to settle for a clean slate.
A lot for the Rangers to give up for an older Chytil.
chytil is a solid prospect but we don’t know if he will ever be as productive as Hertl, that being said yes i see this is a tad much but is a trade i’ve seen rangers make in here multiple times and the only way the rangers make this is with a hertl
extension ties to it.
chytil is a solid prospect but we don’t know if he will ever be as productive as Hertl, that being said yes i see this is a tad much but is a trade i’ve seen rangers make in here multiple times and the only way the rangers make this is with a hertl
extension ties to it.
Well just to give you some perspective, most Sharks fans I’ve talked to accepted Chytil, Georgiev, #15, and Zac Jones for Hertl, Simek, and Korenar.
chytil is a solid prospect but we don’t know if he will ever be as productive as Hertl, that being said yes i see this is a tad much but is a trade i’ve seen rangers make in here multiple times and the only way the rangers make this is with a hertl
extension ties to it.
He has 2 more years but yea I can see that if he’s not willing to negotiate a new deal then that qualifying offer is a hard no!
Oh right! I was under the impression it was next year only. Ok two years actually may change the conversation. I think two years with the team and then he gets integrated well enough he'll be more open open to an extension after the QO is declined. At which if negotiations are going crappy we just cut our losses. Two full years of Meier is still pretty decent. 1 seems like too much of a one a done scenario.
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