Cagnoni Gets NHL Point, Sharks Beat Bruins (Ep 244)

4 comments

1. Hey Guys,
   This is a new low for me. Full disclosure another wonderful aspect of what I lovingly call "old man issues" is that my sleep patterns are all over the place these days! When I was younger I had other problems but, sleep was never one of them. I was the kind of guy who if the house caught fire I would die in the house because I would not wake up! I slept like a friken' log and could always get 8 straight hours of sleep if I had that much time to sleep. Not now. I am averaging like 4.5 hours….it just sucks. Getting beat off walls, can't sleep right, my toes are dead…hahaha Anyway, last night I actually never slept. I literally stayed awake all night and I knew this would cause me grief today trying to avoid excessive napping so I can get back into a normal sleep patter again even if it is only 4.5 hours! hehehe So….yes…erm…I fell asleep during the show when we were talking about the Boston game and woke up in my chair at 12:30am!!!! I feel shame!

   Anyway, I watched the rest of the show after I woke up and have some thoughts beause that is what old guys like me do. hahaha I agree about Cagnoni. This guy has just exceeded expectations everywhere he has played and has forced his teams to promote his role because he is just one of those talents who rises to and beyond the level of expectation. I am not sure what the trajectory of his career will look like when he hang's 'em for the last time but, I could see him being a staple on the Sharks blue line for a generation.

   Also completely agree about the ascendancy of Graf. I was excited last year when we won the Graf sweepstakes and this year he has shown his quality by just rising to the level of the competition all within his first full pro season which is pretty crazy and speaks very highly about him. I think Graf's future is very bright. Not sure what Graf's ceiling is ultimately but, I think he is also going to be a staple in the Sharks line up and be an incredibly valuable part of the Sharks future success.

   Darts at a dartboard boys. I am going to beat this drum relentlessly. Grier's accumulation of picks and prospects stuffing our player cupboard full to brimming just creates that hyper competitive environment Grier said he wanted. He wants our young talent to not just force their way onto the Sharks Roster but, to friken' kick the door down like Gushin did this fall even though ultimately he wasn't able to stick. This is Grier's plan.

   Pavs and Nabby were 7th round picks. I think Justin Braun was a 6th rounder. I think Jake Middleton was a 5th rounder? Johnathon Cheechoo and Mark Eduard were 2nd rounders and on and on. Every pick or prospect we acquire is another dart at the dartboard. Throw enough darts you are bound to find solid and important NHL talent to handle critical roles on a championship contender. Throw enough darts at the dart board and you will eventually hit a bulls eye like Dan Boyle, Pavelski, Nabby and on and on.

   When we look back in a decade at this era of the Sharks we will surely be in awe of Will Smith, Maclin Celebrini, Askerov, Dickenson and a host of other key core players but, we will recall with great awe the guys who rose from the depths like Cagnoni and others to become critical players and not just role players like a Pavelski. I mean Pavelski's career now that his playing days are done is in consideration for the Hall of Fame. Pavs might wind up just short of getting in but, he might get in! That's how great a gem The Big Pavelski was and we picked him up in the 7th round.

   If we are really going to rise to challenge for a championship we need one or two of those later round prospects to hit a home run. We know what our highly touted prospects are likely to be for us its those late round picks that will make or break our chances and I think Greir and his team are setting us up for the best possible chance to find 1 or 2 (or maybe more?) diamonds in the rough to once more rise from the depths like our namesake mascot and terrorize the NHL rinks for a generation.

   I apologize again boys for falling sleep at the switch literally tonight! hahaha My best friend messaged me tonight and said now we have equaled the infamous Al Sims ill fated season as Sharks head coach and given that we still have a dozen games I think it is virtually impossible that we go on a season's longest losing streak to end the season. I am sure we will win at least 1 more game and it is probable we will win at least 2 more. I think 3 would be a dark horse chance and 4 is fantasy land. hahaha I think 2 is possible but, not probable given the nature of the games we have left to play. If we wind up playing more games that are not critical for play offs we can get 2 wins in that environment. If we wind up landing in some desperation late season games with teams clawing for that final play off spot we may be looking at just 1 more win.

   Either way is fine by me since I am wholly focused on the development of the individuals and looking forward to the off season and free agency and draft lottery position. Definitely we are likely to have more than one Calder trophy winner as we matriculate our talented youngsters up to the Sharks for the next half a decade or so years. But, to be honest my brain went a different direction when you mentioned could the Sharks win multiple Calder trophies?

   I went to the Cuda. Granted Calder TROPHIES rather than Calder CUPS should have been a dead give away but, I had just woken up and was watching after the live stream and I am old and feeble! hahaha Anyway, how do you like our chances to win one or possibly even 2 Calder Cups? That would be a worthy accomplishment for a franchise that is yet to win any championships yet.

   Thanks for another fun show boys. Have a good week and Paul I hope you continue to mend and good luck to your sons under 12 team.

   Peter St. John
   Clovis, CA

2. The sound mix of your “get on with it” clip is too loud and it is jarring when it pops up on YT

3. Loved your podcast, as always and really appreciate Aaron's take no how GMMG is doing and what his plans might be with contracts.

   I think he might be doing that as well. Ensuring that contracts are staggered when he has them sign. With that in mind, I am of the opinion that they try and sign Eklund to a new contract or extension in July (which is when he can do just that).

   Aaron mentioned this year's draft and what I have noted is that Schaefer is listed as the number one prospects in most all draft listings, but not as clear a number one as Bedard or Celebrini.

   Another thing to mention is that, Dickinson cannot play in the AHL next season due to age, just like Musty. I am sure it just slipped your mind. He either will play with the Sharks or back to the OHL he goes.

   IMO, the Sharks should manage the amount of rookies on their blueline next season. With that in mind, I do not think Cags makes the opening roster but plays a season like Thrun did last season where he gets shuttled between the Sharks and the Cuda.

4. You did not mention that Cam Lund signed his ELC. I find this interesting because they could have signed him to an ATO. I know NCAA players have a little leverage when they sign. This means one year of his ELC burned for 10 or so games and he cannot play with the Cuda for their Calder run.

   Yet another reason that the Zetterlund trade made sense as Lund is a 6 foot 2 inch 194 pound center that shoots right. He is a scorer with a great transition game.

   Also, this goes to contracts and when they are signed as well. This would mean that Celebrini, Smith, Lund and Asky will all be in need of a new contract unless they can sign one or more earlier to an extension.

   Since GMMG is expecting Musty, Chernyshov, and maybe Havelid (depending on how his team is doing in the SHL/Allvenskan) may be joining the Cuda for their push (or the Sharks), and the additions he made to the Cuda (three or more 6 foot 3 and 200 plus wingers) is there a need for another one?

   Lund played very well on a North Eastern team and was a major reason they managed to get as far in the Hockey East Championship that they did. They were a one line team on offense which was centered by Lund.

   Also, if Havelid makes it to North America and signs with the Sharks, it means all first and second round draft picks from the 2022 draft have gone pro.

   One more topic, the Sharks have some exciting prospects in the NCAA this season and one that just got reported on, but I have mentioned for the last couple months is Joey Muldowney.

   In his most recent tournament he did this: Quarter Finals – UConn scored three goals. Muldowney scored two of them and was the primary assist on the other, in the semi-finals UConn scored 4 goals with Muldowney getting a hat trick (including an empty netter) and having a secondary assist on the other. Two games, seven goals with Muldowney being in on all seven.

   In the finals he got an assist, so his tank run'th dry me thinks. He is a sophomore and was drafted in the 6th round of the 2022 draft (172 overall). His point totals as a freshman were 14 (5 goals and 9 assists) in 35 games, but this season he has 45 points (27 goals and 18 assists) with another 8 points (6 goals and 2 assists) in three games for the Hockey East Championship run.

   UConn (a Division 1 NCAA team) will be in the Frozen Four Tournament and playing March 28th against Quinnipiac (Graf's old team).

   Add to that Laubach, Pohlkamp and Svoboda and GMMG has a nice little stash in the NCAA to take a peak at.