The San Jose Sharks are at the center of swirling rumors as the NHL Draft approaches, with speculation about potential trades and free agent pursuits dominating discussions. JD Young explores the latest buzz surrounding the Sharks’ draft strategy, including the possibility of trading up for coveted prospect Matthew Schaefer. He examines the team’s reported interest in Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner and investigates how pursuing top free agents fits into GM Mike Grier’s rebuild plans.
Young provides in-depth analysis of the Sharks’ offseason moves, from draft day strategies to free agent pitches. He discusses how the team might approach adding talent while balancing their long-term vision. The episode also highlights Sam Dickinson’s standout performance in the Memorial Cup, examining whether the young defenseman is ready for NHL action.
The significance of the NHL Draft Combine and its impact on trade discussions is another key topic covered in this episode. Young offers expert insights on the Sharks’ potential moves and how they could shape the team’s future. Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the various factors influencing San Jose’s offseason decisions and the potential outcomes that could unfold in the coming weeks.
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37 Comments
Comical seeing all these clowns saying Dickenson on top on #2 + Dallas pick + Edm pick to move up one spot
JD I revisited your offer sheet video with Quinn in it and I really like that idea. I was watching game highlights from buffalo vs Philly and he was outstanding in those two games i recommend watching those game highlights. It puts into perspective what he can bring from a scoring perspective.
I'd be absolutely fine if GMMG has no interest in moving up to 1st overall. It really comes down to this: Misa is the safer pick as forwards are more predictable and he played a lot more games. And his results were fantastic. Schaefer played relatively few games and d-men are harder to predict. But he looked fantastic in that small sample size.
Free Agent Forwards Episode drops at 9AM PT.
I honestly think picking second is kind of a blessing in disguise. There’s pros and cons to drafting either Misa or Schaefer. Both would be phenomenal players on the sharks for different reasons, so walking away from the draft with whoever is there at second is a win.
really liked your insight of GMMG meeting with Marner to, at a minimum, get his big game 'pitchman' skills honed. Agree, this isn't the one he needs to win. But there will come a day when he does need a win and it'll help to have been in that sort of room before.
Dickinson needs to be in the place he develops the most/best. Its not clear because we don't know how he learns. Maybe he has a great d-man coach at London that's a perfect fit for his development. Or maybe he is best served in the NHL, even if it turns out he's in way over his head. But yes, he's really good in the OHL. That assist you mentioned was superb. His secondary on the pass the Brustewicz was a simple play, executed perfectly.
The rush up the ice for go ahead goal in the earlier game was amazing and the feed was also superb. Alas, the rest of his shift before that great play was hot garbage, giving up back-to-back net front chances. One when he was pyloned by Desnoyers and the other where he just made a bad decision and Desnoyers got behind him for a breakaway. But when he was where you'd expect to find the RW in the d-zone, he got the puck and changed the game. He reminds me of Brent Burns.
The more I hear/read about Misa, the more excited I get. Can’t wait to see what he becomes for us
No way the Isles are trading the #1 pick for just a mid-level prospect. Speaking as an Isles fan, , their fan base will kill them. That's just wishful thinking by Sharks fan. They'll take Schaefer and that will be that.
The article from Dave Pagnotta where he mentions the Sharks and Mitch Marner only claims the Sharks, as well as some other teams, have the cap space to make a competitive offer. That’s all the article says.
If you’re going to call assists something as silly as “apples,”
then I insist you also call goals “gobble-gobbles” from now on 🏒🥅
If you could pick 1 player from each group of 2, which 2 player combo would you want the Sharks to draft the next 2 years?
1 out of: Schaefer / Misa
And 1 out of: McKenna / Verhoeff
I think maybe Schaefer/Verhoeff might be best… but you could go Misa/Verhoeff, or Schaefer/Mckenna… probably anything besides Misa/Mckenna, right?
But which combo would be the best for the Sharks?
No to moving up, no to signing Marner.
i think Schafer only edges out Misa because hes a Dman. both guys are #1 pick in my eyes.
Damn, I didn't realize Sam was playing that many minutes. He must have great conditioning. HOPE!
Dickinson is nhl ready, 100%, he’ll be there opening day. Will Smith started the year a little rough but ended up to be a top 5 rookie coming down the stretch.
If we don't end up with Schafer or Misa we messed up big time.
I've been content with the 90% fact Sj will be getting Misa.
That to me means Grier will even more-so likely be in business when it comes to a package around pick #30 and trading up to finding a top 20 pick D-man.
I think a Peterka availability is a must strike opportunity for Grier. If they don’t want draft capital, then get a 3rd team involved that will take the picks, make it happen. 1st line, NHL proven 23yr olds don’t become available. Don’t worry about penciling in prospects into specific roles years from now at the expense of adding young NHL talent now.
Trading down with Blackhawks incoming
Grier needs to talk to Chicago, the Sharks need defense,. the Hawks have a lot of very good young D men. Its what you call a hockey trade, both sides benefit.
Look at the Seth Jones to Florida trade, Chicago got a solid young goalie and a first round pick, Jones is playing great for Florida who look strong for another cup, Its a win win.
Just dont over pay…. pick misa and dont give the islanders an arm and a leg
You said it all perfectly JD.
GMMG should at least see what the Isles want for the number one pick, but I put it at a 1% chance he actually trades up. If it is cheap, jump. If it is expensive, nah.
GMMG would be silly not to listen to offers to trade the number 2 pick. Who knows what a team might offer?
As to Marner. It is a hard pass for me but not to listen to him and have a chance to run a pitch by him (even if it is just a practice run for the future) would be foolish.
It is a big thing that he has listed the Sharks as a team he might want to come to. A season ago that would never have happened. It shows the kind of progress the Sharks have made and the job GMMG, his staff and Warso have done that this kind of a free agent would consider the Sharks on his short list.
Dickinson is everything JD says he is. I also watched a bit of London Knights hockey during the season and in their post season run. Dickinson is a beast and is past the OHL. He needs to turn pro.
Of course GMMG and his staff will do their due diligence and if he is just not ready he will go regrettably back to the OHL. I put it at a 70% chance he is on the Sharks next season and on a defensive Will Smith plan.
Thanks for the episode JD, fun and informative as always!
JD what's your dream offseason for the Sharks??
I mean like listen as a die hard Islander fan, we’re in no position where we have to trade the pick, you guys are the ones calling us to move up to draft your potential franchise defenseman at your position of most need. The islanders have every right to demand a high price. San Jose are the ones calling them. It should hurt San Jose to move up to get the number one overall selection. Realistically it should be something like Musty + #2 overall + EDM 2026 1st. And to be honest, that’s just to get Darche to pick up the phone. Again this is because it’s your position of most need by a pretty large margin, show me how bad you want him. And it may only be to move up 1 spot like you said, but you guys have tons and tons of young talented forwards and forward prospects, in fact, an excess of them, so moving up at one spot to draft a guy like Schaefer is franchise altering.
If the NYI demand more than 2nd OA 30th OA and 53rd OA I say pass! Schaefer is very talented but not a generational
Talent, and the drop from Him to Misa is very slim. I’m perfectly OK with Dickinson Mukhamadullin Cagnoni on the LD side.
Anything more than the Dallas pick to move to 1 is a no for me dawg.
It's not rocket science. You just stick with the number two pick. You take Misa at number two. Unless for some reason The Islanders have already taken Misa. If they do take Misa instead of Schaefer you take Schaefer at number two. It's very clear it's very simple.
I disagree in regards to marner. I don't believe there sharks need more talented hockey players right now. Theyre in a rebuild, and their core building blocks are still very young. They aren't getting out of the rebuild in the next two years, maybe they start making a splash and showing signs of their ability to compete, but they still need a ton of development and defensive pieces. Adding an extremely expensive and long contract for an offensive player when we dont know what the team will need when it starts competing in a few years is foolish, let alone knowing what the contracts will look like.
Let's say they give marner a huge contract, and it seems like the contract is just a little rich for his play, hes literally in his prime now so maybe he starts declining in 3 or 4 years when they need to clear cap space for their younger stars. Now they have to give up assets to get him off the books. All for what, so they can be a little better during the years where they weren't really ready to compete anyways?
Seems foolish to me. And this sentiment is true for any A or S tier player that will command a large contract. Its not necessary yet, at least for guys that are already in their prime.
San Jose should offer sheet Bouchard
The more I think about it, the more Porter Martone intrigues me
Why do you keep saying 'did the thing' instead of saying what the thing is. Nobody knows what you're talking about, unless they're dialed in on what the London Knights are doing. I know it's mostly Sharks fans and diehards watching, but still. Good job, otherwise.
I wouldn't mind us picking up Alex Huang as Dman this year!
No need to galaxy brain the 2nd overall pick, draft the best player available either Misa or Schaefer.
Sharks in on Marner is an attempt to raise his price against their competitors. It’s going to be expensive for Dallas, Vegas or LA.
Let the big swinging Dickinson play.
Take Anderson and two first rounders from Calgary for number two overall
My honest opinion of the draft pick: I dont think the sharks will end up trading up, but they would be stupid to not at least see what NY's asking price is. If you can get it for the 2nd overall, Cagnoni (Because with Dickenson, Scheafer, and Muka it would be tough for him to make the roster), the 1st rounder from Edmonton, and maybe a second from this year then I think that would be a decent deal. But I think NY will likely want more than that and you dont want to trade everything to move up 1 spot. I think it is very likely the Sharks look to trade down instead and get a current, close to top pair level D man in the deal (like Byrum) and then use the later pick to take either Mrtka or Eklund. I just have a feeling the Sharks won't end up with Misa. Yeah a player like him will always be valuable to any team, but he's more valuable to basically every other team than the sharks. And if you're willing to trade down, then YOU have all the leverage and can take the best deal.
do this for Mckenna not Misa/Schaefer
Watching the conference finals, it is clear, the Sharks need help in the grit department. These teams playing now have guys the play a 200 ft game with tenacity. The kids the Sharks have now are talented for sure! The grit and physical play is lacking greatly. Marner does nothing to address that. My opinion of course