Team: 2024-25 San Jose Sharks

Initial Creation Date: May 9, 2024

Published: May 10, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Quick Assessment of where this team is at:
- Starting Year 2 of a full-scale teardown rebuild.
- Going to sign a couple veterans to short term deals most likely those who are bounce back season candidates.
- Young Forward Core looks really good: Celebrini, Smith, Musty, Eklund, Zetterlund, Graf, Bordeleau, Gushchin, Bystedt, Edstrom and more to come
- Young Defensive Core needs to be addressed: I don't know if this will be done through FA, Trades, or Drafting, but I assume with our 14oa we will go best defensemen available. So: Ferraro, Mukhamadullin, Thrun, 14oa Pick, Cagnoni, Havelid, Emberson, Thompson. If none exceed expectations (Besides I guess the draft pick), there is most likely no top pairing defensemen there, and that needs to be addressed within the next year or two. I assume we go D next draft as well as we most likely draft top 5 again.
- With these 3 FW lines I wouldn't say there is necessarily a "1st, 2nd, 3rd" line, but just kind of lines that I thought make sense in my head. Line 3 could be great offensively if Bords continues to improve, Arvidsson is 100%, and Smith acclimates well. Could be better than line 2 in my eyes.

Line 1: Eklund - Granlund - Gushchin
Eklund played well with Granlund, so keep them together. Did not want to have all the rookies play together, so I am having them play with Gushchin who definitely has some upside. Hopefully Eklund continues to improve, and Granlund and Eklund can feed Gush who actually has a lethal shot.

Line 2: Kotkaniemi - Celebrini - Zetterlund
Carolina may end up buying Kotkaniemi out this summer, and if San Jose can get him on a short term deal, see if he can bounce back. If not, move someone else to 2LW, not a big deal. Celebrini will at least have some skilled players on his wing, who he should be able to work with.

Line 3: Bordeleau - Smith - Arvidsson
Arvidsson was near a ppg, sadly only was able to play 18 games. Probably a lot of concern for teams signing him, elects to make the same money he did last year in San Jose for 1 more year to prove himself again. Smith starts at center playing with 2 wingers who also have some skill who should keep up with his pace. This line could be rough defensively though.

D-Pair 1: Ferraro - Dumba
Obviously this is not a great top pairing, but I could see Grier signing Dumba to a 1 year deal to see if he bounces back. At the very least he can log minutes, and play a physical game and can protect the kids out there.

D-Pair 2: Mukhamadullin - Ceci
Ceci has actually had a decent year in EDM, but will probably be a cap casualty last season. Seems to bring a good vibe into the locker room, and will probably be a good guy for the youth to be around. He is not much of an offensive guy, but should be able to play next to Muk who will probably make some mistakes this year.

D-Pair 3: Thrun - Emberson
Emberson looked really good until he got hurt, and Thrun seems to continue to improve. Would be interesting what this pair looks like games 41+ when they have more NHL experience under their belt.

Not 100% happy with starting Celebrini and Smith, (more specifically Smith) playing center, but that kind of seems like the only option, unless we want to sign a Center this offseason which I don't love because any that make sense, will probably sign longer term deals. With Celebrini, Smith, Bystedt, Edstrom, the last thing we want to do is have a Center log jam.

Graf, Havelid, Bystedt, Thompson all start in the AHL, Graf, Bystedt, Thompson probably called up after Trade deadline when we sell a few guys again.

Couture basically still LTIR, just on IR for cap reasons
Vlasic same deal I guess? More or less a healthy scratch, and will play a few games here and there.

Sell: Sturm, a Goalie, Ceci, Arvidsson? Maybes: Granlund, Dumba, Kostin.
- Can't just constantly sell everyone, its good to keep a bit of a culture

How realistic is this?

1.

2.