SAN JOSE – What we’ve learned unequivocally about the San Jose Sharks through the first four months of the season is that they’re not one player away from being a playoff contender.
As the NHL’s 32nd-place team, the Sharks (15-35-7) are not one draft pick away; they’re not one free agent signing away or one trade away from playing meaningful games this time next year. There are too many holes on the roster.
That said, this coming offseason represents another opportunity for the Sharks to add more pieces to the puzzle and to keep bringing in the type of players they feel can make a difference to the team’s long-term fortunes.
That’s why it’ll be interesting to see what Sharks general manager Mike Grier does with the first-round draft pick he acquired from the Dallas Stars earlier this month in exchange for forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci. The Sharks also received a conditional 2025 third-round pick in the deal.
That first-round selection might land anywhere from 21st to 32nd overall. Should Grier keep it — even though this year’s draft is not believed to be deep — and add another piece to an already strong pipeline? Or, in the more interesting option, should he use it in a trade that could benefit the Sharks’ NHL roster sooner rather than later?
Speaking with a group of Sharks season ticket holders last month, Grier, days before the trade with Dallas, referenced his deal with the Nashville Predators in August. He sent prospect center David Edstrom and a 2025 first-rounder, assets he received from the Golden Knights in the trade Tomas Hertl trade in March 2024, plus goalie Magnus Chrona to the Predators for 22-year-old goalie Yaroslav Askarov, a 2025 third-round pick and minor league forward Nolan Burke.
At that time, the Predators had signed goalies Juuse Saros and Scott Wedgewood to multi-year contracts, and Askarov felt his path to the NHL was blocked. He requested a trade.
Perhaps a similar situation crops up before the NHL Draft in June, where the Sharks have an interest in a young player who wants a fresh start elsewhere. If that happens, Grier now has an asset to dangle with the first-rounder the Sharks acquired from the Stars. The Sharks, objectively, also have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL, one they can dip into, if needed, to get the player they want.
“We still have to keep building, so the draft picks are still important and going to be a big part moving forward,” Grier told season-ticket holders. “Our amateur staff has done a good job, but (we’ll) definitely have our eye out on any situations like (Askarov). If there’s any type of young player who wants a change of scenery or is disgruntled, whatever it may be, we’ll be in on it for sure.
“Because at the end of the day, the draft is important, but it’s still a dark throw, right? If these players are 20, 21 and we have a better idea of what they actually are (as opposed to) taking a guess at what this 17-year-old is going to be, we’ll be in on it.”
Where could the Sharks use the most help in terms of bolstering their roster? Take your pick.
With Granlund gone, the Sharks could use another second-line center unless they feel Will Smith is ready for that role next year. Alexander Wennberg is signed for another season but might be best suited for a third-line center role. Another proven scorer on the wing could also be on the wish list.
The Sharks’ defense is also in desperate need of an upgrade, and Grier will have some holes to fill on the right side with Ceci gone and Jan Rutta a pending unrestricted free agent. The Sharks certainly want their young defensemen, Henry Thrun, Shakir Mukhamdullin, and Jack Thompson, to take a step forward in their development, but they still need to add an impactful veteran or two to the mix.
These needs have been exposed over the last two plus months, as the Sharks have had the league’s worst record at 6-22-2 since Dec. 1. In that time, they are last in the NHL in goals for per game (2.33) and goals against per game (4.00). They’re on track to finish with the NHL’s worst record for a second consecutive year.
However, the Sharks did bring in Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, Jake Walman, and Smith last offseason, and Askarov was added thanks to some shrewd maneuvering.
The Sharks want to have another offseason like it, and perhaps that first-round pick they acquired from the Stars will play a role. Whatever happens, the Sharks — and certainly their fans — do not want to be in the same position they are this year.
“Hopefully, we’re more in the mix this time next year,” Grier told reporters after that season-ticket holder event. “It’s hard to say, but I think that’s kind of the next step for the group. The standings are the standings, but I think the group’s moving forward and pushing forward.
“So if we can, as a management staff, add some pieces to it, then hopefully this time next year, we’re talking more about being — maybe we’re not sellers, not necessarily that will be buyers — but maybe there’s more talk about us hanging around the race, and seeing what happens down the stretch.”
Originally Published:
Source: Paradise Post
