Who are our top-10 San Jose Sharks prospects, post-Trade Deadline?
Before we share our rankings, we talk about the San Jose Sharks’ week that was, and the performances of Klim Kostin, Magnus Chrona, Devin Cooley, Thomas Bordeleau, and William Eklund. (3:05)
What do we think about the Tomas Hertl trade, one week later? (30:08)
We make sense of reassigning Ozzy Wiesblatt to the Milwaukee Admirals. What about Sasha Chmelevski’s NHL future? What was the hidden message from GM Mike Grier’s candid comments about the San Jose Sharks firing Igor Eronko? (40:22)
Also, thanks to all those who have helped Sheng travel this year! (1:08:30)
Finally, who are our top-10 San Jose Sharks prospects? Where do new additions David Edstrom and Jack Thompson fit in?
From No. 10 to No. 6, where do Luca Cagnoni, Ethan Cardwell, Kasper Halttunen, Jack Thompson, Cam Lund, Henry Thrun, Thomas Bordeleau, and Danil Gushchin fit in? (1:15:26)
Between David Edstrom and Filip Bystedt, who ranked higher? (1:37:32)
How did our top-three of Shakir Mukhamadullin, Quentin Musty, and Will Smith shake out? (1:45:00)
We also touched on some honorable mentions like Eric Pohlkamp, Jake Furlong, Mattias Havelid, and more. (1:55:42)
4 Comments
Though some prospects are still in junior, or playing in European leagues, it is an undeniable fact that the Barracuda are not competitive because they are 31st out of 32 in AHL standings. Until the Barracuda are at the top of the AHL and winning in Calder Cup playoffs, Sharks fans should not think that the Sharks prospects are much better than other NHL teams or raise expectations for the NHL team. I am hopeful than long shots like Jake Furlong can develop over next three years into NHL players, but all I can observe in the whole Sharks system is a losing trend rather than their prospects being in deep playoff fights and contending. Sheng is right to think about "comfort food" for any fans witnessing the end of this Sharks season, let's say that Mike Grier is a human pretzel and fans are going to start biting into him if this team does not straighten out and fly right or improve faster.
Planning five years at bottom of league standings in order to get many high draft picks (if that is the "re-build" plan, it probably isn't because it is too simple) will alienate many Sharks fans rather than win new fans. Those higher picks really matter as Will Smith demonstrates and if Sharks get 5 more draft picks in the top five in next 5 drafts and scout players more effectively, fans will become happier in about 10 more years. But just look at the records for players drafted in 2023 draft and observe that only 4 players (Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli and Zach Benson) have played in the NHL 2023-24 season (this means overall pick #1, #2, #3, and #13 made the NHL rosters in first season or age 18).
If Sharks don't upgrade their scouting staff and improve lower round luck in the draft, they will never become contenders. I hope that Mike Grier gives up on using UFAs to hoard draft picks, as the draft picks that really matter (top 10, first round) almost never get traded so he is really only going to get lower picks for UFAs in current market.
According to NHL media online, opening rosters in October 2023 had only 12 players that were teenagers (18 or 19 years old). Only 18% of players were age 23 or younger also. There were twelve 20 year olds, and twenty-five 21 year olds in whole NHL at start of season. These stats prove that 18 to 21 year olds don't dominate the NHL, and re-building through the draft is a very slow process which will torture fans with waiting if it is compounded with multiple dismal losing seasons or dwelling at bottom of standings for extended time. Because Sharks have never had a #1 overall pick, this lottery will be tense or stressful like any lottery for desperados. According to NHL, Sharks opening roster in 2023 had second fewest first round picks on it (5 players) while Buffalo had the most first round picks (14).
As journalists or podcaster pundits, the thing to remember is that there will be many slow development stories over 5 years as all these new faces grow and new team chemistry bonds them into lines or pairs. I am hoping that Joe Thornton joins the Sharks development staff. Sharks really need power forwards and an outstanding goalie to get on right track, and both take much development so we are years away from satisfaction and theme song for Sharks fans for next few years is I Can't Get No Satisfaction. A future story on how the Sharks prospects not in NHL or AHL who do well in junior or European or KHL playoffs this spring would also be good. Sheng being on the road to cover such a Sharks team is doing great journalism even if it is painful to witness. Most of the new faces next season will move on, and a new core of star players will evolve in next 5 years which should surprise everyone except maybe David Quinn or Mike Grier who will have an inside track and see it first.
I really enjoy this show – thank you for doing this guys!
Btw, the return for Hertl is NOT two first round picks! The return is better tank this year and next and next 🙂 so the return is two firsts and higher chances of getting 1st overall picks! 3D chess 😉
Love the content guys! 🦈 Can’t wait until draft day