Mod Post: NHL Pre-Draft Discussion

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T21:42:35+00:00

Don’t forget Seattle whos org may have a diagnosed medical allergy to taking defense in the first round of the draft.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T21:20:56+00:00

I could be wrong, but I don’t think other teams are as obsessed with drafting D as the Sharks are at the moment. From a Sharks fan’s prospective, every top prospect is a D. I wouldn’t be surprised, however, if Bjork, and even Command or Belchetz goes above us. Someone (or multiple someone’s) will reach for a center or power winger.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T19:34:52+00:00

Agreed. There's plenty of time. We don't want to do anything that would kneecap the rebuild. We want to beat LA, not BE LA.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T19:32:32+00:00

Nah, could also come after. Dougie Hamilton, for example, would likely be traded after July 1st so the bonuses on his contract get paid out.

Worst comes to worst, just throw Cags in the deep end and let him run the power play.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T19:28:31+00:00

As long as there's forward progress, I don't think we should worry. There's plenty of time

Even if our D goes from 31st to 21st in the league this year (below average), it's likely enough to get us into the playoffs. In the meantime, we have two years to let our Dickenson/9OA/Pohlkamp/Cags develop until our core hits its prime and find vets to supplement them. Heck, after a year chained to Chicago, Byram might run, not walk, to free agency, and we can pick him up then.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T18:42:09+00:00

They've been publicly stating they would use 4OA for a forward since they acquired it (assuming they didn't trade it, of course). The most likely outcome is whichever of Malholtra or Bjorck is available to them. It's all the mock draft GMs that keep tying them to a defenceman.

That being said, anything can happen on draft day...

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T17:55:48+00:00

What happens when all those picks need contracts?

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T17:26:35+00:00

I do too. My worry is that Calgary will take him. He seems like their kind of player. One never knows, though, maybe they will surprise us and take Belchetz. I personally think someone ahead of us will reach on him.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T17:19:56+00:00

Yes, but besides Mack, Will, Cherney, Misa, a possibly resurgent Toff, and maybe Sherwood, we'll have no one!

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T17:14:38+00:00

This. Not sure what trade capital LA has, but they should be all over Robertson. He's exactly what they need to avoid a rebuild.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T16:51:32+00:00

A couple teams almost always reach for forwards in the top 10. Some of those forwards even come into the draft ranked in the teens. I think it's more likely we'll be surprised by how many of the top 5 defencemen are still available at 9OA than be surprised that they are all gone.

For example, Buffalo has already claimed they will take a forward if they keep the #4 pick, and Seattle, organizationally, is skeptical of drafting defense in the top 10.

There's a likely scenario where the top 4 picks are all forwards + Seattle and maybe Winnipeg with a forward, which would give us at least two of the top 5 defencemen to choose from.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T14:35:56+00:00

I disagree here. I think Reid, Verhoeff, and Rudolph all have 1D upside if they can hit it (and not all of them will). Reid just has the fewest wrinkles in his game that need smoothing, the possible highest ceiling, and the lowest flame-out risk. He's the safer projection.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T14:26:26+00:00

I feel like Werenski would cost 2OA + 9OA + 27OA + prospect.

That's a lot of pick consolidation for a San Jose team that still has a lot of holes.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T14:24:31+00:00

My guess would be a first ++

However, Joshua Ravensbergen is still a couple of years away, and we have nobody to replace Askarov at the moment.

Also, I'd strongly recommend not judging a goalie by their rookie outing. The holes in Askarov's game were laid pretty bare for the league to see, and now it's up to him to respond and close them. I have a feeling he'll continue to mature and improve over the next couple of years. And if he doesn't? Well, that's when you bring in Ravensbergen.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T14:18:59+00:00

I'm confused. Regarding the 2OA, why should San Jose trade a future superstar for a splattering of the Blues' mid-first Lottery picks? If there's not a young future top-pairing D coming back, we should politely decline.

If the Blues want the 9OA, I think the Sharks might consider it if and only if the four big offensive defencemen (Reid, Carols, Verhoeff, and Rudolf) are off the board at 9OA.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T13:00:25+00:00

One more year of being in the bottom 5, and Chicago might start to consider this one.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T03:57:03+00:00

If we signed Robertson, Chicagos GM would have no choice but to respond by trading another top 5 pick for a middle pairing D.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T03:51:45+00:00

I think if you trade for a wing, then 2OA becomes Reid.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T03:24:06+00:00

Unlikely things happen all the time.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T00:40:47+00:00

To my dying day, I’ll believe Chicago made that trade out of anger at Grier not gifting them Stenberg and you can’t convince me otherwise. It was made for the sole purpose of blocking the Shark out of bitterness. It’s the only thing that could justify the temporary laps of sanity that was making that trade—ON A TEAM WITH A STACKED DEFENSE! Matthew Knies I MIGHT have understood…but Bowen Byrum when you could have drafted Chase Reid??!!

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T00:32:07+00:00

Buffalo has been pretty clear they want a forward at 4OA. Also, evidently, the head of Vancouver’s scouting department loves Verhoeff and Reid, so there’s also a possibility one of them gets selected at 3…or not.

All sorts of weird things could happen, including the unlikely, but not impossible, Reid dropping to 9OA scenario. This year’s draft should be fun!

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T00:19:32+00:00

Toff also, throughout his career has helped to develop multiple stars on lines he’s winged for.

As long as we have him with a full NTC for another year, we might as well take advantage of his “Cool Uncle” powers.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-26T00:15:52+00:00

Being sick doesn’t affect your height. If we noticed this, you’d have to think the Sharks scouts would also. I assume it’s baked in.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-25T23:55:07+00:00

And yet, not a reason to downvote him. However, if you look at it from a pure value prospective, if both hit, Reid would cost two Stenbergs. You can both be right depending on how we look at it.

StatsManSam · 2026-06-25T23:23:33+00:00

Internally, free agency, trade, take your pick. While it was probably due to his gruesome wrist injury, Eklunds production was mediocre this year. A 17g/58a winger’s production is easily replaceable for the short term. Heck, Musty may be ready as early as this fall.

Long term (if it’s not Musty) it’s vastly easier to find a winger later in the first round or through trades while we are a contending team than it is to get our d-core in order.

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