The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!
It’s part 2 of a mega-2025 Draft Lottery mailbag!
Part 2 is all about what the San Jose Sharks should do with the 2025 No. 2 pick.
In case you missed it, Part 1 focused on how to improve the Sharks next year, especially on defense.
Let’s get to the questions!
Jeremy: What would it take to trade up to the No. 1 pick? (2:16)
Nick Valderrama: Who would Keegan replace Sheng with? Is there a trade for the San Jose Sharks’ No. 2 that we like?
Sam: Thoughts about Martone? (18:02)
Brad Fitzpatrick: Is Martone a much more serious possibility than we think?
Austin Dias: How interested are teams around the NHL in the No. 2 pick?
Ben: What does the package look like that would tempt Mike Grier to trade down?
Matt Harrison: Who should the Sharks dangle for defensive help? The No. 2 pick? Which prospects?
Astoverpix: Trade Musty for defensive help?
Dylan Smallwood: Would you make this No. 2 pick/Noah Dobson trade with the New York Islanders? (34:54)
GH: No. 2 pick for Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, or Bowen Byram?
David: Will the San Jose Sharks make any jersey changes this off-season?
Arch Mickel: What’s the plan for Sam Dickinson?
Beast: Offer Mitch Marner a short-term, max AAV contract? (52:48)
Lincoln Race: Pitch for Marner?
Boomer: Sheng’s hockey background?
Juan Rebollo: Do the San Jose Sharks pick more for need in 2026?
Zeke: How can you tell if Mike Grier is excited? Should the Sharks target Anthony Stolarz or Joseph Woll?
SwedeShark: How likely is it that the Sharks pick Victor Eklund?
Joseph: How hard will it be for the Sharks to fill their holes via free agency?
Tgraveline: How chaotic will this off-season be league-wide?
Chris: San Jose Sharks’ roster construction/needs next year? (1:12:43)
Just Steve: Which teams do you think that the Sharks are likely to leapfrog in the standings next year?
Matthias893: Keegan’s favorite book on his bookshelf? Sheng’s personal favorite basketball player?
Fin Coe: Thoughts on Leo Sahlin Wallenius?
James Barrett: What’s the most valuable surplus in the San Jose Sharks’ system?
rphillips19: Where would Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer be picked if they were in the 2023 Draft, 2024 Draft? Have all successful rebuilds actually drafted their top defensemen?
Stephanie k: Is William Eklund the Sharks’ most valuable (reasonable) trade piece? (1:37:53)
Kyle J from Australia: Where would Sam Dickinson be ranked in the 2025 Draft?
Chaz Marshall: Who goes to wing, Michael Misa or Will Smith? Should Misa stay in juniors, go to the NCAA, or the NHL next year?
Anthony: How about trading the Dallas Stars’ first for defensive help?
Shaun Abuzalaf: Offer sheet Fabian Zetterlund?
17 Comments
Draft Schaefer or misa at 2, simple
Not worth trading up for 1. We get either Misa or Schafer
I saw a trade proposal of #2 musty and Ferrero for #9 perterka and Byram. That could be interesting
Taking a bad Buffalo contract, Byrum who isn’t even that good of a defenseman, and #9 in a shitty draft for #2 makes zero sense to me I’m shocked Keegan said yes to that😂😂 how ab we just stick at 2 and pick misa
This feels like a pivotal decision for GMMG to make this draft, whether to end up with Schaefer or Misa.
It has that feeling of —> we could be looking back in 5-10 years at this very draft thinking we either nailed it, or we should have done something different (ie to guarantee ourselves Schaefer).
It’s easy to say yeah just take Misa at 2. But if we end up like the Leafs (all offense no D), we could be unhappy with that 5-10 years down the line.
This draft feels like a pivotal decision that could turn us from a perennial playoff team in 5-10 years into a repeat Stanley cup winner in 5-10 years.
Whether we take Misa but shoulda taken Schaefer, or whether we take Schaefer but shoulda taken Misa.
Thankfully, I trust Mike G to make the right decision, cuz he’s been 100% fire 🔥 with his decisions so far.
Martone is way too soft for a top 2 power forward.
The name of the game now for the Sharks is development, so I expect Mike Grier to draft according to which players they might develop to the highest level, which players have the basic tools and need to be developed, or those players who listen and learn rather than prima donna types. Player development is a code word for long term work on player work ethic and training and also involves preventing or avoiding injuries and steps backward of any kind. I doubt that the majority of Sharks fans have the pateince to watch 5 years of player developing slowly. Mike Grier has been GM for 3 years now and should be able to turn around a team in 5 years. Sharks need to make playoffs next year and become a Stanley Cup contender by the 2026-27 season or else Mike Grier will have proven himself not the man for this rebuild job. Sharks need to replace clutch performers like Logan Couture and Mikael Granlund, and that may require UFA option, not development. I hope that Sharks select the best power forward available (Porter Martone?), and pursue Aaron Ekblad on defence as UFA.
Trade Sheng…. please!!!!
Misa demonstrates 3 zone skills and 3 phase ability that he put on tape this season. The defensive side of his game is quite strong among his peers. That's not something we could say about Smith coming out of BC. I feel like Misa would be more NHL ready than Smith was last season, and they let it ride with Smith. I could see them putting Misa as the 3C (With Development days) and Wennberg as the 2C until later in the season then they can flip flop those two.
Dude has barely played and it not worth trading the #2 and Musty or Cherna. Maybe if he had a larger body of work. Laroques injury is still fresh in my mind. Shakir is injured again. Trading up to draft an injured D-man is a mistake.
Trading the #2 pick is absolutely NOT fine unless you get an established U25 top 2 D and AT LEAST another top 10 pick.
Byram + 9 is nowhere near enough … Would be if Byram was "that guy" but he's really not. We're not talking Lane Hutson here … it's just Byram.
I don't think we realize how insane a top 6 with Eklund, Celebrini, Smith and Misa could be. That's like "best top 6 in the NHL for 10 years" potential. There's so much flexibility on that top 6.
The only downside is that it puts the Sharks in a position where they HAVE to go for defense in the next few drafts (picks should still be pretty high – especially next year).
I dont want to touch Byram with a 10ft pole. Can't stay healthy and got absolutely buried when he was away from Dahlin. There's a reason Colorado moved on and now the same rumors are coming out of Buffalo.
Byram only comes here if the ask is cheaper than the #2. They need to make the heritage jersey with the modern logo but in retro styling, all black, non glowing eye, all that. Because the all black shark really contrasts with the teal and makes them both pop. Dickinson's contract is slide eligible right? So after his OHL season ends they can send him to the AHL and call him up for the 9 games when it's best. I agree on Smith possibly being trade bait in the future. I wonder if he might not figure out his play off the puck, or if he can't play his game in the hard environment of the playoffs. It'll be interesting to see if he adds more dimensions to his game or he becomes such a mind-bogglingly good playmaker in the playoffs that it all nets out as positive overall.
Pick the best player available with #2. I would trade up to get Fiddler if he falls into the 20's.
i think sharks fans are downplaying how good Schaefer is. the scouts i have talked to say hes the real deal no question the number one overall pick. elite defense man do not grow on trees you cant even trade for one. you need to draft one to get one or overpay in free agency for one leaving his prime. to answer your question sheng. do you really thing it would take all that to move up one spot? yes and our pick dallas pick and edmonton next years pick still would not get it done. scouts are comparing schaefer to a more physical quinn hughes you dont find those….
Craig Button next guest 1000%
The only way I can see Islanders would be okay in trading the number 1 for number 2 pick is if they are actually looking to draft Misa. Because they are probably 99% sure the Sharks wants to pick Schaefer. Then the Islanders would just get and extra draft pick or a prospect basically for free