San Jose Sharks 2024-25 Season in Review (Ep 249)

6 comments

1. think grier goes after samsonov?

2. I like that you talked about the improvements with the Sharks and their defensive unit in particular. If they had kept the players they had managed to piece together when they still had Ceci and Walman, I think those improvements would have been greater.

   Alas, it was not to be. I would like to point out that GMMG did state that he was starting the build stage (correct me if I am wrong) before the season started or at the start of the season, which for me anyways, is why I was surprised at some of the moves GMMG made at the TDL.

   Still, I can see his point as the Sharks did not have a good November, December, or January. So making moves with that in mind I get it.

   What they got back was good and in some cases really good. As those moves reflect the cap situation, it completely makes sense as their cap will be possibly the cleanest in the modern NHL era after next season.

   So, stating after the TDL that he wants to start finally entering the building (and most difficult) stage of the rebuild fits into GMMG's timeline.

   We all know they have 44+ million in cap space with 20+ million to spend in order to reach the floor this offseason. You also mentioned that they only have one contract that extends outside of next season (Toffoli) other than the ELCs that were signed this season.

   Add to that Pickles coming off the books next season (7+ million) and Coots the season after (8+ million) and there is an additional 15+ million in two seasons. That is a lot of cap space to build with.

3. I agree with what was said about Smith but Paul has got to lay off the poor kid. He will get better Paul, he will! lol. I do hope he puts on more muscle and works on his defense and physical game though I realize that when he was drafted that was never going to be a strong suit of his.

   Celebrini got better as the season wore on but there was a bot of a down tick at the end of the season other than his outburst of points when he scored the hat trick.

   To me Smith improved the most of the two and ended up being to an extent, a more consistent point produce than Celebrini. Moving him back to center sounds good, and I appreciate GMMG saying that "they will try him there" because he may or may not be ready.

   I also like that he said we drafted him as a center and our intention is that he plays center for the Sharks. Having Celebrini as one and Smith as two sounds so good, but I must admit, the chemistry they have together makes me think drafting Misa to fill the role of the number 2 center is very tantalizing to say the least.

4. Boy the roster changes you all listed would shock most fans that do not pay much attention to it, but should come as no surprise with the rebuild occurring. But anytime you look at it, man is it a lot!

   Going back the three years that you have I think should have fans see tangible proof of the work GMMG has done since he was named GM. I think the cap is a great reflection of that as well.

   Like GMMG eluded to in his past presser, everything is connected.

   The nice thing is something you both noted moving forward. The players he signs now should be here for a longer tenure (depending on who is coming up from the prospect pool behind them).

   For Defensemen, I think the terms will most likely be longer. Like Nemec or Dobson would get longer term contracts. I assume in the 6 year range while an older FA like Ekblad would get something shorter (say three years or so).

   Still, there will be more consistency with the roster and that unto itself will improve the Sharks for next season.

5. The defense is where I can see GMMG handing out a long term contract, but not for an FA, rather if he manages to make a move for say Dobson or Nemec.

   Dobson is an RFA, coming off a 4 mil AAV contract. One thing GMMG would have to do is ensure he would be ok with coming to the Sharks before the trade could be made.

   I think Dobson would want a long term deal with some big money, and he would be worth it. He will be 26 next season, so signing him to a long term deal like say 6-7 seven years with a 7 or so AAV would be what GMMG is referring to.

   He also fills a GAPING hole in his roster and in his prospect pool for both timeline and position.

   When it comes to Nemec, this would not be an immediate issue as he will be 22 next season and will be an RFA in 2026-2027. I imagine GMMG could sign him to an extension, but I imagine he will wait for the season after next and then sign him to a long term deal if he wants to.

   As to FA defensemen GMMG might target, I bet he only gives mid term deals. Again, this (IMO) has to do with what is on the Sharks now and what might be comings.

   Now they have Mukhamadullin and Thrun

   Next season Cagnoni and Thompson will get minutes

   That is not a lot. They have no defensemen signed past next season. So, they will NEED to sign defensemen to mid term contracts so they can fill out their defensive unit for the net couple seasons.

   I believe GMMG will be aggressive acquiring a player or two like Nemec and Dobson. Aaron brought it up in a previous episode. The Sharks have prospects breaking into the AHL and more in the developmental leagues with two in the NHL.

   But there is NO good prospects in between those that just got the the AHL and the two they have in the NHL. They MUST fill that hole. And the draft is not the answer (even if they get Schaefer as he is two year minimum away).

   This is why (IMO) he acquired all his assets and why he announced his openness in moving picks/prospects to acquire players. He is letting GMs know he is going to move to get a player.

   And he letting us fans know too. the future is teal!

6. The goalie situation is where GMMG might have done his best work. When thinking about the list you all showed, man there was a lot of goalies moved, but what did we end up with in the pipeline and what did it cost?

   Well Blackwood cost a sixth round pick and Vanacek cost Kaapo. What did we end up with?

   A 2026 2nd round, 2025 7th round pick, 2025 5th round pick and (for now) Nikolai Kovalenko.

   He now plans on adding an NHL starting caliber goalie to work in tandem with and push our goalie of the near future Askarov. He signed two time NCAA Frozen Four winning goalie Matt Davis.

   He does have two RFAs (Romanov and Carriere) whom I think will both be resigned.

   Romanov was said to make the biggest leap in his development of any goalie Speers or Nabby has ever seen. There is now way they do not resign him (IMO). He adds consistency to the net for the Cuda and their players, he has played NHL games, and as you all mentioned he adds to the Russian contingent.

   Carriere is also a very good Division 1 NCAA goalie who has a winning pedigree. He did well enough to graduate to the AHL (I know in some way out of necessity) and played well.

   Here is where I see their goalies stacking:

   NHL: Askarov and new goalie
   AHL: 1A Romanov and 1B Carriere
   ECHL: Davis and either Dell or another goalie to assist in Davis's development

   Other leagues;

   Frisch – Played in the USHL this last season and is committed to Division 1 NCAA UMASS
   Korostelyov – MHL (I think graduates to VHL). This is the best (IMO) prospect the Sharks have at this position outside Askarov.

   His numbers this season: 27 games played, 20-3-0 record, 1.53 GAA, .935 SV% and 4 shutouts.

   The MHL is very much and offensive centric league (it is equivalent to the CHL). His SV% was the same for last season with this team and just a tad lower for the team before at .931.

   He was the last pick of the 2024 draft by the Sharks and seemed like a choice that Nabby had a big hand in. He slid due to an injury from what I read and will represent his country for the U20 Jr-international.

   At every level in the Sharks system they have Goalies with a lot of promise and the best thing of all is it has cost them very very little other than the acquisition of Asky:

   Davis, Romanov and Carriere – UFAs
   Frisch and Korostelyov – Both 2025 7th round picks