Équipe: 2021-22 Sharks de San Jose

Date de création initiale: 19 sept. 2021

Publié: 19 sept. 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

All signs point to Kane playing so lets just get used to it. We need him if we want to be competitive in a very chippy western conference.

I think Dahlen at some point will get a chance in the top six but we can easily cycle Meier back to LW and have Barabanov or Balcers cycle up. But I really like the 3rd line as it can score, forecheck and take d zone draws with Bones. Leonard is waiver exempt and I think he might start the year in AHL and probably get called up/sent down often. But I have high hopes for Dahlen as an offensively creative but 200 ft player. Also would be ideal if Chmelevski got some time on Bonino's wing to learn the position a little more as I suspect he will be the next 3C in SJ.

As for 4C I predict that it will be a carousel until someone takes it permanently. Pederson has more offense than Gambrell and he's better in the dot. Gambrell has more experience but his offensive upside is rather limited. Weatherby and Reedy are waiver exempt so I expect to see them cycle up every now and again. Weatherby has strong net front play while Reedy possesses a strong shot and more offensive creativity. Pederson is not waiver exempt so I think he edges out Gamby to start the year at least.

As for the D pairs, I think they stay roughly the same. Knyzhov did a good job with Karl last year and I expect he'll only get stronger and faster due to his high work ethic this summer. Ferraro and Burns is also a permanent pair I suspect. The third pair is where it gets a little tricky and that depends entirely on Simek's healthy and Vlasic's play. We could see Meloche get games, Hatakka, Pasichnuk and maybe even Kniazev down the road. The real dark horse on defense is Merkley who has looked really good in the Rookie tournament. It's a really important year for Merkley and I think he'll get a shot at some point even if its short.

The goaltending will be improved because Martin Jones is not there (sorry Philly but he is terrible) I think for year one Hill and Reimer will be a 1A 1B style tandem and maybe Hill can run away with it in year 2. I'm less concerned about the goaltending future than I have been in recent years with Gaudreau in the pipeline, I think he is going to be a really good starter in just a couple years.

Eklund should play one more year in Sweden IMO then maybe make his debut next year. Wiesblatt is also not ready imo.

Taxi Squad are just my likely call-up predictions.