LilLeeroy
Registered User
- Dec 14, 2013
- 677
- 806
I mean you have to burn the year of the ELC whether you sign him now or sign him after BC's season is over, just like every other NCAA prospect.I definitely get your argument. It's possible, but I don't think Smith holds the cards. The gauthier thing is not good for either team or player. Smith is not so cut and dry, and I dont know if he would want to rush into the lineup if the team isnt going to really compete again.
I suppose, if they lose the lottery, there is a chance the sharks may draft Levshunov and give him a look in camp to make the team. He has NHL size already and will be 19 at the start of the year so if he and smith both go pro, then maybe.
I just dont really see a big reason to burn an ELC year on Smith if the sharks arent going to be any good. I see Mack as the key determinant in whether 2024-25 or 25-26 is the first "go for it" year.
Either way, Grier's tenure is make or break this summer. He has a projected nearly 40M in space this summer and 65M next year. How that money gets deployed coupled with how he handles the transition to pro from all the top prospects, along with his choice of coach will shape the next generation of sharks hockey. If he F's it up with another army of Lindbom, Sturm, Knyshov, Benning, Kunin, G. Smith, Burroughs, etc, then he will crush the kids' development. If he adds smartly and gets a good coach, they should be WAAAY better as soon as this coming year.
You're crazy if you think this team is going to be way better soon. A team this bad won't be able to get desirable free agents without massively overpaying, which is something they shouldn't be doing.