#1 most important thing this year: Development
Moves:
Forwards:
- Sign a 2-way top 9/6 UFA Vet Winger to a 1-year contract to help out our young forwards play on the defensive side of the puck:
- Zucker - Not the best option, but signed a similar deal last year, so it feels realistic
- Do not want to cause a log jam similar to our D-core this year
- Without Couture, take a cap dump for our 3c position (Pageau fits perfectly)
- Put Couture on IR to get over the cap floor
Defense:
- Bring in a vet on a reasonable contract, no long-term drastic overpay - (DeMelo) perfect temporary fit
- Acquire a young RD with actual top-4 potential (Unlike Addison) - Barron
- Likely going to be drafting a ton of high-end defensemen in the next couple of drafts, so we do not want to create a log jam
This year/Deadline:
- Hold off on long-term UFA Deals (3+ year deals)
- Move Sturm, A goalie, Rutta, Zucker, or anyone else who makes sense
- I would love to keep Granlund around
- Give Barron a full season for his shot in the NHL
Lines:
- Zucker - Granlund - Smith
Pair Incredibly Skilled Smith with Granlund, who was our best player last year, and Zucker, who is very solid defensively.
- Eklund - Celebrini - Zetterlund
A young 2-way winger who has been getting better and better, a new franchise center, and Zetterlund, who also continues to impress. Good Line could be a line in San Jose for years to come
- Bordeleau - Pageau - Kostin
Skilled Bordeleau with a Veteran Center and a young, physical forward who played solid here towards the end of last year
- Bailey - Sturm - Kunin
Not a terrible 4th line
D-Core:
- Mukhamadullin - DeMelo
Muk's got some serious potential; pair him with a reliable top 4 to develop him properly
- Ferraro - Emberson
Easily our best pairing last year
- Thrun - Barron
Give Barron a full season, let him QB one of the Powerplay units, and play him with a defensive D-man like Thrun. Lots of Skill there hasn't been handled great in MTL
Future:
- Keep many open spots in the FW core, so guys like Musty, Bystedt, Graf, etc. have spots to take over after this season
- Would love to keep Granlund around as our vet leader
- Same with Defense, keep some spots open so future guys we draft will be able to crack lineup
With Musty, Bystedt, Edstrom all being higher end FW prospects than Gushchin, I feel like it makes sense to move him for an RD with potential. I know Barron is not going to be a 1st pairing guy, but I think he has the same ceiling as Gushchin (despite being a dman) as a solid #4 guy who can play on the power play.
If we get extremely lucky maybe a #3 but I doubt that.
Barron is the only one I know of that could be moved, if anyone knows of any others put them in the comments.
MTL Fans: Gushchin is honestly a great hockey player, just has no real fit on SJ. Small but pushes back physically enough. Won't be a top line guy, but will likely pan out to be a solid middle 6 forward who can play on the 2nd pp unit, Lowish ceiling, highish floor.
5.
SJS
2024 6th round pick (CAR)
Additional Details:
Cup Winner - Could be any team looking for experience
Don't know about adding on top of Barron to get Gushchin - especially considering we have tons of "alright" forward prospects (Farrell, Heineman, Mesar, Beck, Tuch, Simoneau, Roy, etc.). We'd probably keep Barron in that scenario honestly
I dont think we will get a second of JGP but this is for sure the way we have to go, 2-3 year contracts max…..
I am going to be heart broken about Gush or Bords, whoever we end up having to trade. Im preferential to Guschin, however Im not sure either has the value sharks fans would wish and idk if any has value for Montreal who have small scorers already.
I dont think we will get a second of JGP but this is for sure the way we have to go, 2-3 year contracts max…..
I am going to be heart broken about Gush or Bords, whoever we end up having to trade. Im preferential to Guschin, however Im not sure either has the value sharks fans would wish and idk if any has value for Montreal who have small scorers already.
Quoting: zk97
Don't know about adding on top of Barron to get Gushchin - especially considering we have tons of "alright" forward prospects (Farrell, Heineman, Mesar, Beck, Tuch, Simoneau, Roy, etc.). We'd probably keep Barron in that scenario honestly
TBH the trade I proposed isn't really about Montreal or Barron even, its more about the fact that as much as it pains me, I want to be able to move Gushchin or Bordeleau for an RD with top 4 potential, I just think its something our team has to do
I don’t see the Habs trade working. Habs don’t have an extreme amount of depth on RD their problem is the amount of LD. If it is a prospect swap something more in line with Harris or Struble would work but even then a small forward isn’t what they are looking for so it will probably be a pass
I dont think we will get a second of JGP but this is for sure the way we have to go, 2-3 year contracts max…..
I am going to be heart broken about Gush or Bords, whoever we end up having to trade. Im preferential to Guschin, however Im not sure either has the value sharks fans would wish and idk if any has value for Montreal who have small scorers already.
I leaned Gushchin until Bordeleau's end of the season performance, I thought he looked 5x the player he was earlier on. I think there's a chance both may end up being moved.
Another reason I lean Bordeleau is that is that I know he has the potential to play Center (which I think he has to if he wants to find a spot on SJ long term), which Gushchin does not
I don’t see the Habs trade working. Habs don’t have an extreme amount of depth on RD their problem is the amount of LD. If it is a prospect swap something more in line with Harris or Struble would work but even then a small forward isn’t what they are looking for so it will probably be a pass
DeMelo is great, but would he sign for only 2 years?
Not a fan of the Zucker signing. We could do better for that role.
Wouldnt say Im a fan of the Zucker signing either, it was just more of a realistic option, I am not sure we will be able to do a whole lot better given the fact I assume we want a 2 year contract max for the forward group, maybe we just take Mikheyev instead?
Personally I would want DeMelo for only 3 years max, he would be 34 by the end of that contract, and surely declining, especially since I assume we draft a ton of young defenseman who will command spots in the lineup sooner rather than later