This is going to cover the 2022-23 season including the trade deadline. I am not as familiar with all the teams' prospects as my #1 so please do let me know if you think there are players who should be getting a shot here. I will also explain my moves I make in detail in the description. Generally, I am just going to try to follow the pattern of trading most expiring UFAs, possibly with some exceptions. In Part 2 I will discuss the draft and offseason moves for 2024.
1.) For the lines, I am using the reported lines on an article from sanjosehockey.com published Oct. 3 with of course adjustments for trades being made. I am not an NHL coach or an expert on all players, I will do my best but please do not take the lines too intensely. The most important thing they represent to me is that the top 12 forwards and top 6 defensemen would be your "regulars". Also, I know Nutivaara and Barabanov are currently injured but I assume they are going to come back and play this season. Here is how I imagine the lineups being after the first ~5 games or so:
Meier-Hertl-Kunin
Lindblom-Couture-Labanc
Gregor-Bonino-Barabanov
Eklund-Sturm-Lorentz
Nieto/Gadjovich extras. Viel, Svech, Bordeleau down to AHL (assuming first two aren't claimed)
2.) Trades: A lot of this will certainly depend on player health, performance, and what Grier's plan is. I see the Sharks having two players very likely to be traded at the deadline, one who definitely could but its tricky, one that really depends on health/performance, and one who I think they keep. Lets go ahead and start:
Bonino: He is the perfect playoff rental for a contending team in my opinion. He has everything a GM wants: playoff experience, plays center, PKer, and pretty cheap. Its impossible to know exactly what fits best until we are at the trade deadline (injuries, etc.) but I will just choose a team like the Rangers.
Nieto: They like him, but the Sharks have a lot of guys who are becoming ready to come up, and Nieto is no longer needed.
Reimer: This one is very tricky because we've seen other instances of goalies that were certain to be moved just...not be at the deadline. The cap hit can be hard for contending teams with goalies as well. Here, I just went with Edmonton in case of a Campbell or Skinner injury, or if they just want to upgrade for the playoffs on Skinner.
Nutivaara: I have no idea with him. If he plays well, they could try to flip him. He's missed a lot of time in the past year. I kind of feel like he's going to play like ~40 games and just stick around.
Meier: I imagine they are going to keep Meier as he is a RFA. Yes the return would be huge, but that's just my hunch.
The lineup as presented here would then be the lineup to finish the year. Totally possible Bordeleau or others play their way in earlier due to injuries, an earlier trade, or someone's performance tanking.
Trades
1.
SJS
2024 4th round pick (NYR)
Additional Details:
Don't get too bogged down on the exact return. It could probably be a third in a certain scenario.
I think Nieto would be a great fit for Florida's system. I'd assume they could make the cap work with an injury or two along the way which is very likely to happen for most teams.
3.
SJS
2024 4th round pick (EDM)
Additional Details:
Return for goalies is hard. I can't think of the last goalie traded for higher than a 4th or 5th at the deadline barring Fleury. And Reimer is not Fleury, no disrespect, nor would he be serving that role here. Mayyyybe a third.
FYI with their high upside scoring and smaller stature Bordeleau and Eklund will never play 4th line
Yeah I agree that that is likely not their actual location in the line up. I wrote up in the description that I try not to go too crazy with lines because I'm not a coach. I just used their practice lines from the preseason game today and Daily faceoff to estimate.
Seems to be a rather low return for Reimer half retained
Goalies are the trickiest to gauge their value, especially as rentals. The highest draft picks goalies have been traded for recently include: Kuemper (1st), Fleury, Murray (2nd) or Georgiev, Mike Smith, Mrazek to Philly (3rd). Not including things like Mrazek or Bishop recent cap dumps which are different. Then you have guys like Dubnyk, Johansson, even Reimer a few years ago getting picked up for 4ths or lower.
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Eklund,
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