Team Improvements

[googz]

By no means, am I saying the Sharks are playoff-bound, but over the last few games, with exception to the Kraken game, I'm starting to see some improvements. Specifically, the possession time in offensive zone, forechecking, and neutral-zone turnovers have gotten better. All this, while more injuries to "key" players.

The Sharks are still not going to score many goals, but at least the games are bearable to watch.

[Mr. T]

On Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 9:52:05 AM UTC-8, googz wrote:
> By no means, am I saying the Sharks are playoff-bound, but over the last few games, with exception to the Kraken game, I'm starting to see some improvements. Specifically, the possession time in offensive zone, forechecking, and neutral-zone turnovers have gotten better. All this, while more injuries to "key" players.
>
> The Sharks are still not going to score many goals, but at least the games are bearable to watch.

Agree all around. Blackwood is their best player so far. I'd like to see Granlund waived, he's terrible. Hoffman is a proven guy, and scoring a few now as you note they finally spend some time in the offensive zone.

I thought Bailey looked decent. First game in 4 years at NHL level? How can you be that big, pretty fast, and not utterly unskilled, and not have hundreds of games as a grinder on some teams fourth line? Weird, did he have character problems, injury?

[googz]

Granlund seems to have sporadic puck handling moments, but hasn't translated well to points on the board. i thought he was improving given he has more ice time as of late. But yea, he's not worth the contract. Can he be waived with his current contract?

Of the recent acquisitions, Blackwood and Hoffman seem to be the only ones with real trade value. Maybe Carpenter for 4th line depth as he's competent.

Let's hope Bailey can prove himself because with that size and speed, you'd think a 2nd round draft pick like that has upside but just needs a chance to prove himself.

What to do with Blackwood? Do the Sharks rebuild with him as part of the new core OR is the timing off --- by that i mean if the Sharks are not going to be competitive for 3+ years, would he want to stick around? Should the sharks not waste cap space on a top-tier goalie until they know they have a good enough team to justify it?

[Mr. T]

To my extremely limited understanding, nothing about Granlund to not be waived. He's played tons of games and years.

They have Blackwood for 2 years. They can reassess with where they are in 2025. Given the lack of big deals for goalies, I assume they just keep him and maybe get some minor asset at the deadline before deal expires