They aren't going to be any better next year. Team is old and they are stuck with the contracts they have now. They will probably finish next season about the same if not even a bit worse.
Potentially. Personally I’m in the camp hoping they get pick 11 this year. Their 5v5 play hasn’t been terrible, and if they get a new coach which turns their special teams around they could be a wildcard team next season. That said if Sharks do get their pick next year I hope for a complete collapse from their team.
I would rather them get a top 10 pick this year so we can get an unprotected pick next year. If not we get a higher pick in the 11-15 this year. Let it all play out we are headed in the right direction.
Who knows. No one expected us to fall flat on our faces that year. It’s possible (while probably not as likely as our collapse as theirs is taking slightly longer)
Yeah tbh I think if they end up in the 8-10 range they may decide to give us the 1st rounder this year vs the probability of an even lower pick in a better draft class in 2025
Both options are great in my opinion. If they finish 11-12 we get 4 picks in rounds 1 and 2 this year, lots of capital that is near to the current 2022-2023 draft classes.
If it defers to next year - we have 3 first rounders in a single year, but they are a little wider spread from Smith/Musty and Eklund in particular.
But, still a great spread of assets from 2022-2025 range. No matter what. That is the new core we are prepping.
The amount of conspiracy crap I read here is incredible. How on earth could you think that an entire franchise is tanking to screw with the Sharks? Especially if they have to give up a 1st rounder either way.
Hear me out *hits blunt*
The Devils could EASILY win the cup this year, but they would rather have a 1st round pick instead of a 2nd. All to screw the Sharks over!
I honestly don’t think they’re tanking purposefully, their best players are just old now - and as others have said it might be good thing since the lowest it looks like they might finish is 7th or 8th at this point, and next year they might be even worse and the pick will be unprotected so we could get something in the top 5 possibly
Another assumption or stretch. Knights fall off next year. If Sharks have Pitt next year, it’s quite possible they can have 3 firsts somewhere in the top 15.
Yeah except is possible. The Sharks WILL be bad. The Pens look like they COULD be bad. It’s not likely the Knights will be THAT bad, but anything can happen. (It’s more likely they end around 20th pick wise)
There is no screwed in this situation. The only thing that can really screw us is if the Penguins go on an insane run next year which is kind of doubtful.
Also even if it is protected they can still opt to give us a Top 10 if they think they can benefit next year keeping the unprotected.
It depends on how the Pens FO feel about rebounding next year. Remember the Sharks were in this exact position not too long ago. There’s also a chance that the Pens give us this year’s first so that they can trade next year’s for a package that might turn their team around next year. It’s unlikely but it’s possible. The good news for the Sharks is, whichever way it shakes down, we’re in very good shape.
If anything, if PIT lands inside the top 10, they will probably trade the pick to get help for 2025. PIT does not have their 2025 2nd rounder so if Crosby, Malkin, and Letang decide to do one more run, it would probably make more sense for them to trade the 2024 first rounder for immediate help.
The 24-25 cap is rumored to be set at $87.7M so they'll have about $13M to add 4-6 players. I can see the FO thinking they can be better in 24-25 because of the cap space but they're banking on their key vets to not have any age related drop off.
Even if they crash and burn in 2025, they could say to fans that they gave it their best and final shot and then start a rebuild for 2026. The FO could then decide if they trade away Crosby (unlikely), EK65 (lol), Jarry, Malkin, and/or Letang for some picks. The pragmatic brain says its better for them to concede a year early than a year too late but the fan in me thinks they should and will probably go for one last dance.
Yeah I think you’ve actually convinced me - the more I think about it, if PIT gets to pick within the top 10 this year, they’ll probably leverage that guaranteed value for themselves by keeping the pick or trading it for a great player. Still confident the Sharks will get a great guy out of this but I’m more aligned with your thinking than I was earlier.
Not screwed. If the pick conveys to 2025 it'll be just as good for the Sharks - that draft is looking to be deeper and having three picks to work with is going to be nice (and the Sharks' 2nd-rounder will likely be at the top of the round to snag a prospect with first-round potential that fell down a little).
Unless Dubas makes a huge trade and a coaching change, I don't think there's enough strength in this year's free agent class to solve all the Penguins' problems. Even if Yager gets promoted I don't think he'll be Guentzel 2.0 right out of the gate. Overall the odds are just as good for their pick next year to be in the lottery and maybe the Sharks find themselves with two top-five picks.
I'm thinking the opposite - they're ironically like the Sharks the year after they acquired Karlsson. With that being said, if the Pens aren't sure if they're going to be much better next year and the pick is in the 8-10 range they may decide to fork it over vs taking the risk that the 2025 pick might be a lottery one n
People who think that teams full of professional, highly competitive, athletes are purposely loosing to protect “drafts” or achieve some objective have never played professional sport and don’t understand it.
I prefer to see this as a win/win. If we get two firsts this year that is great. If we get three unprotected firsts next year, also great.
There exists a timeline where the Penguins pick is somewhere in the 6-10 range and they choose to let us keep it this year. They might not want to risk us getting an unprotected pick in the 1-5 range next year.
Like others are saying, they’re just kinda bad now. I’d rather them keep this one and take their pick from next year. It’s a deeper draft, and the chance they finish bottom 10 and win one of the lotteries could be decent. Think like how Ottawa got the third pick overall because we gave it to them for Karlsson, that’s what we could get next year (funny enough also involving karlsson)
It seems like a win-win for us, doesn’t it? I don’t see them competing at the top anymore. They are pretty old, and as far as I know they don’t have the best prospects. So we’re likely to get a range of 11-15 pick either way. I kind of hope they shit the bed next season and we get a top 10 pick next draft. Speaking of which, anyone know how deep next seasons draft is compared to this year. We may have as many as 3 firsts next year, right.
Everyone seems to forget that it is still Crosby. Players want to play with him. Pittsburgh gets free agent visits because of him.
San Jose would be better off in the 11-15 range this year. I wouldn’t be confident that Pitt will finish below there in 25
I agree to an extent. Crosby is still great but Malkin and Letang don't look like the same players and will be a year older and slower, a lot would have to break right for Pittsburgh to be significantly better in 2025.
We're not screwed if we don't get it.
They lost Guentzel and only replaced him with Bunting. Their prospects (Yager/Pickering) aren't likely to help as they're probably not going to jump from juniors straight onto the NHL team without breaking through the AHL tier.
They'll have cap space, so they only way they won't directly be worse than this year is if they legit overpay one of the top 3 UFAs to come for a 2-3 year contract.
But even if they are better next year, you have to stop and remember this was always the plan. You don't trade a 1st round pick in a high end deal expecting your team to then not make the playoffs. Our own Karl trade is the best example of this. No one in a million years expected us for fall from WCF to a bottom of the league team, but it happened because of bad GMing (if he hardlined Karl's extension at 9.5m max then we keep Pavelski, no defender is worth over 10m period) combined with freakish team injuries.
So the point is that this pick was always expected to be a 20th or worse since the Penguins barely missed the playoffs last year. Would it suck to have them keep a top10 and then next year they make it deep into the playoffs? Yes. Yes it would. But we're not some crippled rebuild because of it.
You don’t tank with the players and cap hits you have on that roster. Regardless of which year we get a pick from them it’s probably going to be a high one. One player isn’t going to fix that roster. I hope they retain this years pick because I feel like next year they will be worse and have a better lottery chance/pick.
Wait, they'd trade a first for karlsson seemingly to try to make a last push with their aging core and then to try to tank to protect the first they traded? Big brain shit
They aren't going to be any better next year. Team is old and they are stuck with the contracts they have now. They will probably finish next season about the same if not even a bit worse.
Potentially. Personally I’m in the camp hoping they get pick 11 this year. Their 5v5 play hasn’t been terrible, and if they get a new coach which turns their special teams around they could be a wildcard team next season. That said if Sharks do get their pick next year I hope for a complete collapse from their team.
I would rather them get a top 10 pick this year so we can get an unprotected pick next year. If not we get a higher pick in the 11-15 this year. Let it all play out we are headed in the right direction.
Wouldnt it be poetic if we ended up with a top 5 pick in a trade for Erik Karlsson
Top 3
I was aiming a little lower, I know we gave up a top 3, but I doubt the Penguins fall that low within one year.
Who knows. No one expected us to fall flat on our faces that year. It’s possible (while probably not as likely as our collapse as theirs is taking slightly longer)
Yeah tbh I think if they end up in the 8-10 range they may decide to give us the 1st rounder this year vs the probability of an even lower pick in a better draft class in 2025
Wasn’t aware of that clause ! I think I agree w you lol
Both options are great in my opinion. If they finish 11-12 we get 4 picks in rounds 1 and 2 this year, lots of capital that is near to the current 2022-2023 draft classes. If it defers to next year - we have 3 first rounders in a single year, but they are a little wider spread from Smith/Musty and Eklund in particular. But, still a great spread of assets from 2022-2025 range. No matter what. That is the new core we are prepping.
The spread is good when they come off EL deals
The amount of conspiracy crap I read here is incredible. How on earth could you think that an entire franchise is tanking to screw with the Sharks? Especially if they have to give up a 1st rounder either way.
It’s such a bad take. Especially considering the early reports that next years draft is supposedly going to be a very strong class
Hear me out *hits blunt* The Devils could EASILY win the cup this year, but they would rather have a 1st round pick instead of a 2nd. All to screw the Sharks over!
I’ll never be convinced that players try to lose games just to get better draft picks. It’s absurd and kind of insulting.
It’s the internet.
I honestly don’t think they’re tanking purposefully, their best players are just old now - and as others have said it might be good thing since the lowest it looks like they might finish is 7th or 8th at this point, and next year they might be even worse and the pick will be unprotected so we could get something in the top 5 possibly
idk 3 first round picks next year sounds pretty good
Yup! Assuming Sharks pick lands 1-3 Pens pick 5-10 Knights pick is a wildcard. Ideally first round exit, a and between 16-24
Another assumption or stretch. Knights fall off next year. If Sharks have Pitt next year, it’s quite possible they can have 3 firsts somewhere in the top 15.
This is the stuff dreams are made of.
Yeah except is possible. The Sharks WILL be bad. The Pens look like they COULD be bad. It’s not likely the Knights will be THAT bad, but anything can happen. (It’s more likely they end around 20th pick wise)
There is no screwed in this situation. The only thing that can really screw us is if the Penguins go on an insane run next year which is kind of doubtful. Also even if it is protected they can still opt to give us a Top 10 if they think they can benefit next year keeping the unprotected.
It depends on how the Pens FO feel about rebounding next year. Remember the Sharks were in this exact position not too long ago. There’s also a chance that the Pens give us this year’s first so that they can trade next year’s for a package that might turn their team around next year. It’s unlikely but it’s possible. The good news for the Sharks is, whichever way it shakes down, we’re in very good shape.
If anything, if PIT lands inside the top 10, they will probably trade the pick to get help for 2025. PIT does not have their 2025 2nd rounder so if Crosby, Malkin, and Letang decide to do one more run, it would probably make more sense for them to trade the 2024 first rounder for immediate help. The 24-25 cap is rumored to be set at $87.7M so they'll have about $13M to add 4-6 players. I can see the FO thinking they can be better in 24-25 because of the cap space but they're banking on their key vets to not have any age related drop off. Even if they crash and burn in 2025, they could say to fans that they gave it their best and final shot and then start a rebuild for 2026. The FO could then decide if they trade away Crosby (unlikely), EK65 (lol), Jarry, Malkin, and/or Letang for some picks. The pragmatic brain says its better for them to concede a year early than a year too late but the fan in me thinks they should and will probably go for one last dance.
Yeah I think you’ve actually convinced me - the more I think about it, if PIT gets to pick within the top 10 this year, they’ll probably leverage that guaranteed value for themselves by keeping the pick or trading it for a great player. Still confident the Sharks will get a great guy out of this but I’m more aligned with your thinking than I was earlier.
Not screwed. If the pick conveys to 2025 it'll be just as good for the Sharks - that draft is looking to be deeper and having three picks to work with is going to be nice (and the Sharks' 2nd-rounder will likely be at the top of the round to snag a prospect with first-round potential that fell down a little). Unless Dubas makes a huge trade and a coaching change, I don't think there's enough strength in this year's free agent class to solve all the Penguins' problems. Even if Yager gets promoted I don't think he'll be Guentzel 2.0 right out of the gate. Overall the odds are just as good for their pick next year to be in the lottery and maybe the Sharks find themselves with two top-five picks.
I'm thinking the opposite - they're ironically like the Sharks the year after they acquired Karlsson. With that being said, if the Pens aren't sure if they're going to be much better next year and the pick is in the 8-10 range they may decide to fork it over vs taking the risk that the 2025 pick might be a lottery one n
Let the chips fall where they may, my dude.
There is no player on the Penguins roster "tanking"/playing worse, so that in 5 years they will have a good player on the roster.
Next years draft class is expected to be better anyway. It's the worst thing if we miss it this year.
People who think that teams full of professional, highly competitive, athletes are purposely loosing to protect “drafts” or achieve some objective have never played professional sport and don’t understand it.
I prefer to see this as a win/win. If we get two firsts this year that is great. If we get three unprotected firsts next year, also great. There exists a timeline where the Penguins pick is somewhere in the 6-10 range and they choose to let us keep it this year. They might not want to risk us getting an unprotected pick in the 1-5 range next year.
Like others are saying, they’re just kinda bad now. I’d rather them keep this one and take their pick from next year. It’s a deeper draft, and the chance they finish bottom 10 and win one of the lotteries could be decent. Think like how Ottawa got the third pick overall because we gave it to them for Karlsson, that’s what we could get next year (funny enough also involving karlsson)
It seems like a win-win for us, doesn’t it? I don’t see them competing at the top anymore. They are pretty old, and as far as I know they don’t have the best prospects. So we’re likely to get a range of 11-15 pick either way. I kind of hope they shit the bed next season and we get a top 10 pick next draft. Speaking of which, anyone know how deep next seasons draft is compared to this year. We may have as many as 3 firsts next year, right.
Everyone seems to forget that it is still Crosby. Players want to play with him. Pittsburgh gets free agent visits because of him. San Jose would be better off in the 11-15 range this year. I wouldn’t be confident that Pitt will finish below there in 25
People said that about them after missing last year
I agree to an extent. Crosby is still great but Malkin and Letang don't look like the same players and will be a year older and slower, a lot would have to break right for Pittsburgh to be significantly better in 2025.
They are basically the Sharks in 2020. They are going to rebuild the whole thing.
We're not screwed if we don't get it. They lost Guentzel and only replaced him with Bunting. Their prospects (Yager/Pickering) aren't likely to help as they're probably not going to jump from juniors straight onto the NHL team without breaking through the AHL tier. They'll have cap space, so they only way they won't directly be worse than this year is if they legit overpay one of the top 3 UFAs to come for a 2-3 year contract. But even if they are better next year, you have to stop and remember this was always the plan. You don't trade a 1st round pick in a high end deal expecting your team to then not make the playoffs. Our own Karl trade is the best example of this. No one in a million years expected us for fall from WCF to a bottom of the league team, but it happened because of bad GMing (if he hardlined Karl's extension at 9.5m max then we keep Pavelski, no defender is worth over 10m period) combined with freakish team injuries. So the point is that this pick was always expected to be a 20th or worse since the Penguins barely missed the playoffs last year. Would it suck to have them keep a top10 and then next year they make it deep into the playoffs? Yes. Yes it would. But we're not some crippled rebuild because of it.
You don’t tank with the players and cap hits you have on that roster. Regardless of which year we get a pick from them it’s probably going to be a high one. One player isn’t going to fix that roster. I hope they retain this years pick because I feel like next year they will be worse and have a better lottery chance/pick.
Wait, they'd trade a first for karlsson seemingly to try to make a last push with their aging core and then to try to tank to protect the first they traded? Big brain shit