Should we be concerned with Will Smith’s confidence and Shakir Mukhamadullin’s development?
Also, Sheng and Keegan share their post-Trade Deadline San Jose Sharks’ top-10 prospects!
It was a fascinating road trip, full of highs and lows.
We discuss San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s controversial comments after the Edmonton Oilers’ loss (14:07), benching Will Smith, and playing Nick Leddy over Shakir Mukhamadullin. (29:23)
What’s the latest on Igor Chernyshov’s concussion? And why isn’t Sheng worried about Smith’s confidence?
We also talk about Yaroslav Askarov’s injury, recalling Laurent Brossoit, and re-signing Ty Dellandrea. (1:13:05)
And now, Sheng and Keegan’s top-10 San Jose Sharks’ prospects! (1:24:31)
10) Haoxi (Simon) Wang / Carson Wetsch
9) Cole McKinney / Kasper Halttunen
8) Eric Pohlkamp / Cam Lund
7) Luca Cagnoni / Leo Sahlin Wallenius
6) Sahlin Wallenius / Cagnoni
5) Lund / Pohlkamp
4) Filip Bystedt
3) Quentin Musty
2) Josh Ravensbergen
1) Igor Chernyshov
Also, we discuss a handful of honorable mentions!
19 Comments
Kegan entirely too emotional about Mukh and it’s exhausting 😅
Sheng's points on Mukh are exactly the reason Mukh will ask out from the Sharks and why Warso/the staff have completely mismanaged him all year. The way Sheng describes it about how the Sharks prefer to play Leddy over him in the most important game of the season, you are just killing any confidence Mukh has in himself and showing you do not value him at all. Defense is the glaring weakness for the Sharks and they should be trying to properly develop Mukh as he desperately fills a need. As Keegan said, Mukh is easily better than the likes of Klingberg and Leddy and could potentially be a part of the future. Instead Warso and the Sharks are making it absolutely clear they do not care at all for this player which is baffling considering the reasons I listed above. Now the player doesn't want to be here anymore, and other GMs know you do not believe in the kid anymore and now tanking his trade value. Also Warso scratching Mukh knowing it is controversial decision and refusing to give a proper reason as to why is amateur stuff. Warso just has biases against certain players, it is obvious. Who knows maybe what Kovalenko said about the Russian hate is possible, where there is smoke there is fire.
10000% with Keegan about the Mukh situation! There was NO world in which it made sense to scratch Mukh and call back LEDDY who we had waived. If you’re between what you perceive as a rock (Mukh) and a hard place (Leddy) it makes 1000% more sense to stick with Mukh who is a young defenseman whose ceiling we aren’t sure of and who is slowly developing than throw in a slow, useless Leddy.
Did I miss a couple of years of the "development" Warso mentioned? Cuz, the vets clearly aren't it. The only reason the Sharks are in a playoff race is because of the young core of players. Smith is still the 2nd-best player on the team; he doesn't need to earn his ice time. Did Leddy earn his icetime? Did Klingberg? Fire Warso!
Hey Sheng.. “maybe there’s something they didn’t like about Mukh?” Yeah MAYBE but we won’t know cause he refuses to tell us why. Why are you making assumptions about what the front office sees behind closed doors to defend Warso? How about you do YOUR job as a journalist to hold his feet to the fire and not let him weasel his way out of a seemingly boneheaded decision.
SJ really have the worst reporters.
Hats off to Keegan. You’re right on. Just speak with more conviction in your opinion. You know hockey like the rest of us fans. The eye test is better than just blindly trusting management like Sheng is doing. Dude barely criticizes them but claims to be unbiased.
All I'm going to say toward Sheng's point about the "the bar is low to take jobs from Klingberg", be on the roster or PP1/2, is does it really matter? The Sharks are mediocre at defense, and their PP is extremely dodgy at best. What's the worst that could happen if you try a Mukh, or a Dickenson on the PP, or even a Cagnoni on the lineup? The bar is low as you said, and there's nothing to lose. I'm not saying to put Cagnoni right now in the lineup obviously, I think he'll be more in the conversation for next year, but my point is – would it really hurt to try something else? Try to give this team a spark? Being content of the mediocre and running the same thing over and over again do not lead to success.
The defense needs a big overhaul, but that's not something that can be properly address until the offseason. PP1 needs a full overhaul as well. The moment teams figured out that covering Celebrini really hard will completely nullified the whole unit, no matter if it's Orlov or Klingberg just isn't fun especially when seeing no result on the ice.. and that's true even with team with terrible PK
And we're talking about straight numbers, but Klingberg and PP utility is incorrect and that's just straight facts. Klingberg is 0/26 since the Olympic break, he was on the ice for a single goal in those 26 PP, and it was PP2, and he wasn't even close to being involved. The last time he was directly involved, and I'm not just talking about points, it was January 27th, when he got 1 goal and 1 assist against the Canuck.. which isn't that high of an accomplishment to begin with. Since then, it's been 0/39 althogether. And that's not just my opinion, that's just actual numbers. Of course, I am not JUST blaming Klingberg, but like I said earlier, I think the whole PP1 needs a change, not just Klingberg or Orlov. Klingberg fits better with the PP2, I fell he's more natural there because that unit is more "simple plays" and I think he's more natural there than defaulting to just passing Celebrini. Klingberg still has a good shot, but never utilize it on PP with Celebrini
Tl;dr, this team need a shake up line wise, a spark, because being content with mediocrity does not lead you anywhere, and this team right now success, and failures all goes through Celebrini – and right now, Celebrini has 13 points in 11 games, 7 of them coming from the 2 Montreal games, otherwise he's 7 points in 9 games
I do like Sheng, this is why I listen to the pod every time, but this point I do not agree, and like he said at the begining of the pod, it is good that the fanbase is actively more concerned about stuff like that, it's just showing where we are as a team now moving foward and not just talking about being worst team of the salary cap lol
The issue all the fans are mad about is that the phrase “you have to earn your ice time” only applies to players under 25 years of age. Those players get in trouble and have to earn things, anyone older can make infinite bone headed game costing mistakes and they keep getting rolled out 25 minutes a night.
Not going to agree that Warso is mismanaging this. Before I say that. There have been moments that us arm chair managers say "what the hell are they doing?" Me? "Why are we going into protect the lead with 15 minutes left? Different conversation. Here's the real problem! Us fans! Us Arm Chair Mangers. "Playoffs, playoffs, playoffs! Grier and Warso have improved this team in record time. Look at the Ducks, Colorado, Dallas. It takes time to built the right chemistry. Is the defense the best (Sharks), no! but… they do have a bunch kids in front of them. And yes, they do make big mistakes at times. Maklin! Everything you'd want; future Captain of this team. He! makes mistakes that put the puck right in the Sharks net! If the Sharks get into the playoffs? I don't see the learn in getting absolutely hammered by Colorado. In my estimation it will be 3 more years before they have a chance to truly compete for the cup. That pursuit starts with a Top 4 D coming to San Jose. That will be nothing short of a miracle. The big dogs simply don't want to deal with the taxes, living expense in San Jose, Hoping he can somehow pull this off. In my mind, the objective is to build the D next season. Not that you don't shoot for the moon (playoffs), but that thought clouds the build IMO. Sherwood, exactly what the Sharks needed. Warso, on Smitty? He's being the parent. Love Smith, but he can't not show for games at a time like he has been. He has to learn and bring a top tier game because he's playing on the top line. That matters. The big teams are consistent in the game they bring. Lastly, Grier has a plan. That is why the D was signed to short term contracts. Go Sharks! Go Sharks!
The Sharks have only 2 defenseman on the current roster that have any long term future with the Sharks: Dickinson and Muk. The rest are likely gone in two years. This is still a developing team, so play your top two developmental D. See what they got. Get them valuable experience. They’re going to make mistakes, but those are learning opportunities. Giving ice time to players like Leddy over Muk is just a waste.
If Muhkmadullin was half as good as all you commenters think the Sharks would be in a playoff spot
If you see this season as a 'get to the playoffs' season, then you make 'get to the playoffs' decisions. If you see this season as a 'development' season, then you make 'development' decisions.
If you want development, Mukh plays more. Smith separates from Celebrini. They may make the team worse — or better — in the short term, but they make the team better in the long term.
I have to say, Sheng, it feels like you are trying to have it both ways. If you are playing Klingberg even after a bad game or series of games because he is better than Cags and apply that same logic to Muk vs Leddy you have to start Muk even though he has not played as hoped.
To me it seems like as soon as the team has a little adversity, whether its getting down by 2 after the first or having a shit game, Warso tries to galaxy brain shit instead of riding it out. I think he really needs to mature and calm down a bit rather than being frantic whenever there's adversity. The team is still punching above its weight class, there will still be shit games. Hell, Colorado just had an embarrassing loss to Pittsburgh, and you can look at what Mackinnon said about chemistry after the game. I think he needs to be an assistant coach again to learn a bit more
If ice time has to be earned then why are Eklund and Orlov safe? They have a way worse plus minus than the other guys at their positions. Is it because they signed real contracts?
Fans have access to visual and statistical evidence that Warso should play Mukh over Leddy. Warso's statements, or non-statements, are contradictory to his own prior statements and/or the evidence. The only response to this seems to be (1) there is evidence of which the fans are not aware, and (2) it is not Warso's job to explain. As to the first point, it is entirely possible that the coaching staff has some other information fans do not have, and it is certainly their prerogative to play who they think they need to play based on their information. It is equally possible that they are making mistakes and would never admit to that, and as humans they are doubling down on their mistakes. Secondly, if Warso steps in front of the camera and gives answers to questions, he is accountable for what he says. That IS his job, to represent the team, otherwise, don't make him available to the media. The fans are the customers, and fan feedback matters because if we do not feel heard, we will stop buying tickets or watching the games. Keegan's criticism is entirely valid and directly on point.
Get rid of warso
I usually agree with and defend Shang but the gas lighting on nick leddy is a too much.
He doesn't pass the eye test or the analytics.
I dont hate warso and i dont think he should be fired but his defender irl are starting to shrink. I'm starting to think Warso might be intimated by the older players tbh.
All of social media losing their minds making sense of player management, and I'm here thinking it makes perfect sense cause we're probably stealth tanking to sell tickets but still insure a high pick.
I think theres a lot more assumption in shengs point of view. He spends too much time speculating based on the idea that he thinks he knows warsofsky better than I think he does. I agree with keegan on the hypocrisy of warso’s methods with the vets vs the young guys, but personally watching warsofsky try to play puppet master over coach is getting old fast. Based on the guys in the lineup and their deployment, this balding ginger with an attitude wouldn’t know if he was being stole from or worked for