Just having began a full scale tear down, this team is bad. Real bad. To compound this, having used all three retention spots completely handcuffs what Grier could possibly do. So, the plan is to take a page from the Leafs rebuild handbook - sign 1 year cheap deals in hopes of being to flip them for assets at the deadline. Targets are more reclamation projects (have to be). One-year "prove it deals".
Signings:
Kubalik: a 40 point winger as a Hawk, has been a trainwreck as a Sen.... so much so that finding a 7 figure deal may prove difficult. Sharks take the chance. If he returns to form, $1.5 million for that production is something teams will look for at the TDL.
Beauvillier: much like Kubalik, a terrible season amongst 3 teams, but a stronger track record to suggest he is a secondary scorer. Definitely taking a pay cut. If he comes back to form, another movable contract for assets.
Olofsson: there is game here, but fell down the depth charts in Buffalo. One dimensional goal scorer. Cannot see him getting north of $2.5 million with a contender. With ice time, 20 is more than achievable..... again, a movable contract for
Zadina: still young, so why not? The Sharks lack options. Bridge deal that when it is done I doubt will be back unless something drastic happens to his game.
Jost: a solid enough 4th line player struggling to stay in the NHL. Should see an opportunity with the Sharks. The one signing that is made to add cap, not anticipating this turning into anything other then replacing Sturm when he is dealt.
Side Notes:
1. I assume Couture will be healthy to start the year.
2. There is a very strong argument to have Makhamadulin on this squad. They are going to loose, he is waiver exempt. No reason to rush him.
3. Would have bought out Vlasic, but need the money for cap purposes.
4. Cap basement looks to be around $64 million. Cannot find the exact number. In this scenario, it is close enough that of a little short, add $100K to some FA signings. That isn't going to change my direction here or a possible TDL return if it pans out.
5. My window here is 2 years, at which time Weisblett Edstrom, Bystedt and Smith should all hit the lineup. That is not including the strong possibility of Celebrini.
6. Could try and weaponize cap space, but steered away from this as all the retention spots are used. Any money taken on is playing..... and of the 3 contracts I saw; NTCs are involved. I doubt they get waived for San Jose.
Overall: absolutely terrible, but spending money to try to compete right now is a fools errand. Hope here is that Kubalik, Olofsson and Beauvillier can land some mid round picks to round out the 2025 and 2026 draft board.
What is clearis that the Panthers need to shave some money, and Knight seems to be the path of least resistance. Extremely hard to gauge his value after his issues; but has looked very good in the AHL putting himself and his game back together. Coming into what is clearly a rebuild situation may mitigate the pressure.
As I said, it is very hard to gauge what Knight would garner on the market. Some may see this as a risk. Others may see a salary dump. Others may say not enough.
Blackwood has been pretty good for the Sharks, but they also need to make basement in this scenario. Flipping him for the more expensive Knight is necessary.
Yes, Sharks take on a risk. But they are also a team in a position to take on that risk.
Prolly what the sharks would do but i dont really see them moving blackwood without getting a good/great asset back which i dont think Knight is at this point but he could be again in the future. I think, in an ideal world, this would be the worst season in the sharks rebuild, with the goal next year being simply to compete in games more often. Bords wont be playing center anymore, he’s for sure a winger in the eyes of the organization. Similarly, putting Muk on the Cuda isnt exactly protecting him from losing cuz they suck too.
Prolly what the sharks would do but i dont really see them moving blackwood without getting a good/great asset back which i dont think Knight is at this point but he could be again in the future. I think, in an ideal world, this would be the worst season in the sharks rebuild, with the goal next year being simply to compete in games more often. Bords wont be playing center anymore, he’s for sure a winger in the eyes of the organization. Similarly, putting Muk on the Cuda isnt exactly protecting him from losing cuz they suck too.
Honestly rather keep Blackwood. The move is simply money related. And if Blackwwod repeats his season in 24-25, I think there will be suitors. You're point is valid..... but gotta make basement, and signing a BS contract to make that happen may not make sense either.
Bordeleau playing C is more a short term thing here. There just isn't anything in the UFA market worth signing that could shift him..... unless Sturm plays 3C - and if you are going to be bad, be bad lol.
It is a waiting game in San Jose. They have some great prospects. The real challenge is not to rush them.
I would try rehard to trade G. Smith, Burroughs, Benning, and Rutta. I would want any picks that you can get for them. That is more roster spots to sign turn arounds or take a UFA dump. Get the pick with the dump and you might get luck and flip the player for another pick.
I would also like to explore what the leafs would take for Robertson. He needs a change and he can’t be waived next year. I just don’t see them able to keep him on the nhl roster and he won’t clear waivers.
I would also like to explore what the leafs would take for Robertson. He needs a change and he can’t be waived next year. I just don’t see them able to keep him on the nhl roster and he won’t clear waivers.
In the past I have said Robertson for Burroughs.....
The cap hit, term amd what he brings fut the Leafs.
I would try rehard to trade G. Smith, Burroughs, Benning, and Rutta. I would want any picks that you can get for them. That is more roster spots to sign turn arounds or take a UFA dump. Get the pick with the dump and you might get luck and flip the player for another pick.
This is to spend the season. About simply icing a roster that meets cap floor.
The Bennings, Burroughs and so forth of the world I think may have more value at the TDL (except Burroughs see my previous comment).
The trade is simply getting to the cap floor. No other reason.
Hard pressed to find a contract where a player would waive for San Jose. And even there, the Sharks carry the contract because of the lack.of retention spots. The advantage of the deal is Knight is young amd has two years. If he shows well, he could be flipped with retention when Burns' contract is off the books.
I like the idea of trading for Knight. Blackwood for Knight is a little risky, but I'd still do it. Vanecec for Knight would be better if Florida would do it.
Good reclamation projects. Sharks need a few forwards who are good at defense too.
I'd consider trading Bordeleau for a young player of similar value but bigger and better on defense. Trade skill and offense for size and defense.
The Shark' s D needs a complete overhaul. Worth spending some money on UFA's, or taking on some bad contracts with overpaid but decent D men. I'd look to replace Addison, Benning, Rutta, and Burroughs with bigger and better RD. Sharks still need a pp quarterback. Maybe Havelid? Thompson? Barrie? Klingberg? I'm ok moving Muk up next year. Thrun may need some AHL time.
I agree on Vlasic: Would buy him out but need to hit the cap floor. Could trade him for another bad contract. I've seen some interesting Vlasic for Anderson trades on here. I'd do that.
I don't see Wiesblatt making the NHL. I still have hope for Gushchin, undersized but highly skilled. Wait and see on Bystedt and Edstrom.
I like the idea of trading for Knight. Blackwood for Knight is a little risky, but I'd still do it. Vanecec for Knight would be better if Florida would do it.
Good reclamation projects. Sharks need a few forwards who are good at defense too.
I'd consider trading Bordeleau for a young player of similar value but bigger and better on defense. Trade skill and offense for size and defense.
The Shark' s D needs a complete overhaul. Worth spending some money on UFA's, or taking on some bad contracts with overpaid but decent D men. I'd look to replace Addison, Benning, Rutta, and Burroughs with bigger and better RD. Sharks still need a pp quarterback. Maybe Havelid? Thompson? Barrie? Klingberg? I'm ok moving Muk up next year. Thrun may need some AHL time.
I agree on Vlasic: Would buy him out but need to hit the cap floor. Could trade him for another bad contract. I've seen some interesting Vlasic for Anderson trades on here. I'd do that.
I don't see Wiesblatt making the NHL. I still have hope for Gushchin, undersized but highly skilled. Wait and see on Bystedt and Edstrom.
Not sure is Vanacek moves the financial needle enough for FLA. Why I went Blackwood. From a strictly asset management point, if Zito would take Vanacek, I would be all over that. I think Blackwood would garner a better return, and the contract is cheaper making him easier to move.
I am not sure now is the time to be making upgrades on the blueline. On one hand, given the depth that is there, you could back into an excellent deal. Conversely, what is there isn't terrible.... not that good, but not terrible. Ferraro, Thurn, Muk is a pretty decent starting point. The need to a PP QB is evident, but at this point becomes a short term solution. No one on the market will be a Shark when they turn the corner.
I offer optimism on Weisblatt (although you are probably right).
Suck. Suck hard. And draft. Draft well. I would be investing as little as possible this year.
Grier has spent the last 18 months ridding the roster of Tiny Robertson type players. He's not going out and trading for one
Grier has spent the last 18 months gutting the roster because it finally hit home the team needed a rebuild. His moves had very little to do with size amd everything to do with young players and assets.
Dealing for a 5'10 178lb defenseman doesn't exactly support your argument. Nor does Eklund being in the line up..... who is about the same size as Robertson.
Getting to the cap floor will be easy. I don’t know why everyone is so worried about that.
You need around $20 million with 8 players to sign.
You can sign a series in one-year riduculous contracts that Grier would have no hope in moving, or a series of one-year contracts on some reclamation projects that can garner additional assets.
Like odds are you are riding out Granlund for the year unless a 3rd party is involved..... and that diminishes the return.
Not even in an ideal spot to take a bad contract for picks. Because a guy like Anders Lee..... Sharks cannot retain for a year.
With all the retention spots full, singing the cheaper deals seems far more pragmatic.
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