The San Jose Sharks’ simulated off-season is heating up, with the team poised to make significant moves in free agency. JD Young breaks down potential signings, including former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick Jack Quinn and veteran forward Pius Suter. These additions aim to boost the Sharks’ overall talent level while maintaining roster flexibility for emerging prospects. On the defensive front, Young discusses key acquisitions like Matt Grzelcyk and Nick Perbix, designed to strengthen the blue line and provide much-needed stability.
Goaltending strategy takes center stage as the episode explores the addition of Chris Driedger as a third option. This move not only provides depth but also offers crucial support for the team’s young netminders. Young then presents a comprehensive projected 23-man roster, offering listeners a detailed analysis of forward lines, defensive pairings, and the resulting salary cap implications.
While the simulated moves may not immediately propel the Sharks into playoff contention, they promise to inject some much-needed scoring punch and defensive solidity into the lineup. Young’s insights provide a fascinating glimpse into how San Jose might reshape its roster and lay the groundwork for future success. This episode offers fans an in-depth look at the strategic decisions facing the Sharks’ management as they navigate the complexities of NHL free agency and roster construction.
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26 Comments
I’m very prepared to be wrong with my prediction but here it is:
Eklund – Celebrini – Toffoli
Marchment – Smith – Roslovic
Appleton – Wennberg – Graf
Grundstrom – Bystedt – Dellandrea
Miller – Fabbro
Mukhamadullin – Liljigren
Dickinson/Vlasic – Dumba/Thompson
Askarov
Allen
I like the idea, but I really think Grier tries hard to get Ehlers or Boeser.
There’s a good chance of a waiver addition even coming out of camp. Sharks will have #1 waiver priority again and hopefully won’t waste it on another Goodrow. They could have had Fabbro last year if they hadn’t done that.
I wish it was better but this off-season is tough.
Correct approach and most likely what we are going to see. We will still be a bottom 3-5 team and that is FINE, you do not need to rush this. I expect the 2025-2026 offseason to be the time we see the “Bigger” moves, especially with Celebrini/Smith on their first real contracts.
There’s a decent chance that Mukhamadullin slots in on the right side for the season. He doesn’t seem to mind.
Cagnoni will probably play every pre-season game in hopes the NHL game starts to slow down for him. The team needs a puck moving D that bad, but he’s only 20 and it might take more years and callups for him.
The Dickinson decision is going to be tough. Chernyshov will be on the Sharks’ second line by February.
Driedger is going to Russia. Signed, sealed, and delivered.
Gone: Thrun.
Not on the roster, Giles (who deserves it), Cagnoni, Thompson. Afansyev, Chernyshov. Its a respectable plan. It does have flexibility, nothing too long term. Smaller than I think GMMG wants. More picks out than I'd like. But it is what it is. Prefer RFA Hague over RFA Quinn if I'm parting with a 2nd rounder.
PS, we share a common mistake. Turns out, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes and Jack Quinn are all the same guy … (about 7:30 mark)
JD, I can get on board with your moves save Grzelcyk. I’d replace him with Gavrikov. He’s my top def signing. He seems to be the best D defenseman of all those you profiled in earlier videos. I want Azkarov to have the best def support I can give him.
This is the right way for this team to grow at the right pace and not be rushing into trying to contend. Small additions that help the blue chip guys come along but wont impede any prospects. I would love it if GMMG did something like this.
I would really love to see GMMG weaponize his cap space this off-season, and take on a couple bad contracts to add even more assets like he’s been doing.
Dallas is a perfect partner, if we take Dumba & Lyubushkin’s contracts off their hands we would get not only a 2nd round draft pick for doing them that favor (or maybe even a player…marchment?), but also simultaneously would gain 2 RHD, which we desperately need to add. Then, we can even flip those d-men for even more picks in the future.
This is our window to weaponize that cap space, and add more assets.
Plus, adding nhl caliber d-men who aren’t all that great in reality will also help the tank for Verhoeff at 3rd overall next draft.
Adding those 2 RHD will help boost the defense just enough to help Askarov develop normally, while also not boosting the team too much to where we’re picking outside of the top 5 in the Verhoeff/Mckenna draft.
Really like the approach, not to be overly agressive when were not ready. I think one last year stinking the place out is exactly what we need. Guys like marchment will help along the young core. Next year is the year to go for it once smith and celebrini are locked up. We would benefit hugely from a good draft pick. Id be looking to take the dallas contracts too.
Isaac Howard?
Overall the JD GM era is looking good! Your offseason was really good and very reasonable. I would say a solid B to maybe a B+ would be my grade.
You provided cap and roster flexibility and to me that is key. I agree with having the ability to add to the roster internally as the season progresses and having contracts that can be moved at the TDL if needed.
What I loved: Marchment trade, Suter, Prebix, Romangh, over 17 mil in remaining cap space, Dickinson's opportunity and first draft
What I liked: Quinn, Brossoit, Marchment/Suter, Thrun trade and draft 2
What was ehhh: Grzelcyk
There was an idea of acquiring Hague in the comments. He is a better defensive defenseman and would help insulate Askarov. Hague provides more beef and snarl than Grzelcyk. I would prefer him and I do not think he would cost too much to acquire in trade.
I am assuming that Afanasyev just did not make the team, but my hope is he does and that Dellandria is moved as he is my least favorite of the signed forwards in the bottom six.
I think my biggest question is getting both Marchment and Suter. Both are centers that shoot left. Is getting both is a little redundant?
I also assume that Ostapchuk is with the Cuda to start the season?
Not bad JD, only major change would be that Kovalenko is probably walking, he wants top 6 minutes. But maybe Igor or Quinntin makes the leap
Nice Video JD. I am hoping Grier actually seeks serious upgrades to the roster. If we could trade our 1st rd picks from Dallas (2025) and Edmonton (2026) and a 2026 3rd for JJ Peterka would be awesome. They could give the Sabre’s a young prospect too. This would be a reach but I would sign Ehlers too. To have a first line of Ehlers-Celibrini-Peterka would be magic. Drafting Misa and having a second line of left side with either Chernyshov or Ekland-Misa-Smith. Sign Suter and pair him with Tofoli. Trade Weinberg and get off the 5 million salary. Trade Liljwgren and Ferrero. You save about 6.25 million between those two players. Get draft capital for those three players. Signing Ehlers at 8.5 AAV, Peterka at 7.8 AAV, Suter at 4.5 AAV is a total of about 21 million. If You trade Weinberg, Delandria, Ferrero, and Liljegren saves you about 12.5 million. You can sign or trade for 3 new D-man. Musty, Goodrow and Graf on the 4th line is a good start to having a a super solid team.
Not a fan of this lineup, looks worse than last year's group to start. No proven 2C is a huge mistake it's hope Smith sticks or play a 3C there which leads to the 1 line team we ended with much sooner this year.
all these FAs and no Granlund???
Worth mentioning that Afanasyev was signed to a one-way NHL deal as a free agent. Good chance he’ll be on the roster instead of making NHL money on the Cuda even if he’s in and out of the lineup.
Some good pickups except i don’t see the need for Suter. Just go with Wennberg as the 3C. Also don’t see SJ as a fit for Quinn, he’s a one way winger who’s very much inconsistent.
I think you were a little conservative in free agency, but to be fair I think we’re not gonna have the best option so we’re gonna have to look for hidden gems or players that may have been underutilized with the previous team
This approach is Grier saying hey, we are not done tanking and we want a serious shot at McKenna, very possible and maybe summer 2026 things get serious
I'll take almost any outcome as long as liljagrin is off the roster
I am fully on board with Quinn; he provides a lot of potential upside. Plus, worst-case scenario, he moves down to the third line, and Wennberg has someone who the puck won't die on their stick, unlike every Shark last season on the third line.
Dreidger went to the KHL today
Cool we are getting Gavin Mckenna