I've been saying this about Viel for a couple years now. Give him a real shot at least. He's young and can inject some energy into your 4th line.

I don’t think there’s any reason to:

Not use Sasha on 3RW
Send down all of Merkley, Santeri, Leonard
Not give both or one of Raska/ Viel a job

I doubt we see these all 3 things happen but still. Eklund is pretty much looking like he’s gonna make it (but I’d rather he goes back to Sweden to develop more). For Dahlen; being a safe assumption to make the team and he’s got some upside deserving of playing LW in the top 6. I don’t think Leonard, Chmelevski will gain anything from being sent down either. I’d also like to give Merkley some confidence and give him a NHL debut opening night, with Santeri joining him.

Just my thoughts on the lineup


He’s a ton of fun. I liked him last year but you can tell he’s a lot more ready this time around. He looks great and you can see he’s playing with confidence as well as Raska seems like a great linemate for him.

Raska YES. He is ready now. I like Viel but I don't see Booger playing him over Cogs at least not consistently.

I genuinely do like Viel but he was given the opportunity last year for a decent amount of games and didn't impress me whatsoever. He's decent when he focuses on things other than just beating the piss out of other dudes though. Just not sure we're gonna see that version of him in the NHL ever.

Raska could be okay though. I like Raska's motor a lot and he's quite skilled too actually.

Raska really has looked fantastic in preseason but it seems like his current energy wouldn't be sustainable over and entire season, bright future tho

Barely above a point per game in the Q last year

I've been watching a ton of sharks preseason because of Merkley Eklund Dahlen (also pasichnuk is my dude) and Raska has been one of the highlights for sure

It'd be perplexing to see the 5 of those bottom 6 guys lest Bonino given priority over Gambrell tho as he really seems to be the most thoroughly good

His puck control, poise, lateral mobility have looked superb in preseason whereas I think the other players are putting in more effort to try and get a spot

Also he has the most experience and best AHL scoring numbers... though terrible possession numbers at NHL level so hey who knows ultimately...

Maybe Gambrell is just entering his prime now

I'd give him another chance while they're rebuilding

I think Gambrell will see time but there’s a log jam throughout lineup. Which isn’t bad. But each player is gonna have such a short leash (as we’ve seen with Gregor for example already being assigned to the AHL).

We may not be a good team but if this team wants to succeed, this internal competition is great for both the teams growth and also us fans; a new sideline story to cheer for because we ain’t gonna make it to playoffs easily/ at all.

It will be interesting to see if anyone claims Ryan Merkley on waivers in the next 24 hours.

Dahlen is making this team quite easily.

That’s Nick



I didn’t even realize I forgot him, yeah mb - which leads to me wanting Eklund to develop more because I’d rather let Eklund cook a little longer and get some size that way we don’t have to send down Leonard or Viel (as Dahlen would take line 1 in this moving Eklund to Sweden since I forgot to add Dahlen).




Forgot to reply earlier mb

I think it looks like Viel has realized what you mention tho. You see him making more plays with the puck and trying to be a threat overall opposed to being a physical threat. He just tryna to play good now it looks like, whereas you mention with Raska; it seems Raska has already hit that stride of playing as a threat overall. But Raska still is very gritty/ grinder haha, but he’s quite good. He won’t be a top 6 guy I’d think it’s safe to assume, but he looks like with some growth he could become a useful 3rd line checking guy if he reaches his full potential. Viel seems about to same but I’d just love to see them on Weatherby’s sides. I think that’s a super fun line.

I’d rather see Dahlen on the second line and Leonard starting on the top AHL line.

See comment above
(Forgot to move Dahlen, which will do)