Prospect Info: 2023 draft thread: Sharks tank miss, now we’ll get Smith.

[Kcoyote3]

Interestingly, think I heard somewhere the sharks Russian scout is in the Ukraine. Was that your pod with Sheng and Marchant @Kcoyote3?

Yeah he lives there. Didn’t get much more info than that about his connection with the Russian prospects though. Michkov was the talk of the town at the prospect media availability though. Every reporter was asking all the other prospects about him…during their interviews. Super awkward. Like why would Will Smith have any information on Michkov’s situation lol. Felt like trying to bait the kid into a bad answer.

 

[Jargon]

Yeah he lives there. Didn’t get much more info than that about his connection with the Russian prospects though. Michkov was the talk of the town at the prospect media availability though. Every reporter was asking all the other prospects about him…during their interviews. Super awkward. Like why would Will Smith have any information on Michkov’s situation lol. Felt like trying to bait the kid into a bad answer.

I find many hockey reporters to be really bad at the whole “reporting” part so they end up asking really bizarre questions.

 

[matt trick]

There are always shitty questions in any sports interviews.

 

[Lebanezer]

Was he JTR?

No, he uses JTR's model in his player cards.

 

[Jargon]

It would be wild to end up with Carlsson.

 

[mogambomoroo]

It would be wild to end up with Carlsson.

Love this so much since we need a serious 1st line center! I love the idea of Carlsson - Bystedt - Hertl - Sturm as centers

 

[Hodge]

It would be wild to end up with Carlsson.

This is gonna be a nerve wracking 24 hours.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Sadly I couldn’t talk with Carlsson today. Did listen to Will’s availability and asked him a question. JD should have an article out soonish about it.

 

[Jargon]

It would be wild to end up with Carlsson.

…that said, while Carlsson sounds awesome and like a great 2C at absolute worst, I’m kind of more into taking a risk on Smith or Michkov — purely because I love how potentially exciting they are as players. Carlsson feels like the same player the Sharks have drafted for the last 20 years. I’d love to see a new type of guy on the team.

 

[Sendhelplease]

Love this so much since we need a serious 1st line center! I love the idea of Carlsson - Bystedt - Hertl - Sturm as centers

I do like the idea of having a bunch of 6-2 and larger centers who are all defensively sound. That is a good way to build a team down the middle.

 

[Pavelski2112]

…that said, while Carlsson sounds awesome and like a great 2C at absolute worst, I’m kind of more into taking a risk on Smith or Michkov — purely because I love how potentially exciting they are as players. Carlsson feels like the same player the Sharks have drafted for the last 20 years. I’d love to see a new type of guy on the team.

I've said it before, but the way I see Carlsson is that he's the player that Tim Burke always saw in certain players but real this time

 

[gaucholoco3]

I worry Carlsson becomes prime Hertl which is a great player but not a cup winning 1C.

Meanwhile Michkov can be like Kucherov.

I still would not be upset passing on Michkov for Carlsson.

 

[mogambomoroo]

I do like the idea of having a bunch of 6-2 and larger centers who are all defensively sound. That is a good way to build a team down the middle.

I think MG is trying to make this team very hard to play against, by getting size. I hope it works like the way it worked for Vegas and St.Louis (that I hate with all my heart, but would love Sharks to be that)

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

…that said, while Carlsson sounds awesome and like a great 2C at absolute worst, I’m kind of more into taking a risk on Smith or Michkov — purely because I love how potentially exciting they are as players. Carlsson feels like the same player the Sharks have drafted for the last 20 years. I’d love to see a new type of guy on the team.

I’m with you. But if they’re gonna go the risk route then take Michkov and don’t think twice. If they want a safer pick and Carlsson’s available, then take him.

 

[Hodge]

I worry Carlsson becomes prime Hertl which is a great player but not a cup winning 1C.

Meanwhile Michkov can be like Kucherov.

I still would not be upset passing on Michkov for Carlsson.

Hertl is probably Carlsson's floor or at least on the lower end of his range of outcomes. The only first time draft eligibles who were more productive than Carlsson in the SHL were the Sedins, Elias Lindholm and Nick Backstrom. And only the Sedins scored more playoff points in their draft year.

 

[mogambomoroo]

Also that add to my last point (if Carlsson is added) I think MG is trying to build a good team for playoffs that every other fanbase will absolutely hate. Would be cool to see how it would work on the other side of the table for once.

 

[Sendhelplease]

I worry Carlsson becomes prime Hertl which is a great player but not a cup winning 1C.

Meanwhile Michkov can be like Kucherov.

I still would not be upset passing on Michkov for Carlsson.

The way I see it, Hertl is around the 50th percentile outcome for Carlsson. His 99th percentile is Barkov. Michkov's 99th percentile outcome is Kucherov and his 50th percentile outcome is around Jordan Kyrou (I am not sure if he is a good example but he is who I thought of off the top of my head) and you can't go wrong with either player.

 

[themelkman]

I think a Hertl without the knee injuries would be a fantastic get for this team. I don’t think Will Smith would ever be that impactful for a team, even if he scores more

 

[SjMilhouse]

I think a Hertl without the knee injuries would be a fantastic get for this team. I don’t think Will Smith would ever be that impactful for a team, even if he scores more

It's a good thing Brown is retired or this would 100% be a jinx

 

[STL Shark]

I worry Carlsson becomes prime Hertl which is a great player but not a cup winning 1C.

Meanwhile Michkov can be like Kucherov.

I still would not be upset passing on Michkov for Carlsson.

And neither of them are winning Cups on their own. Kucherov without Hedman, Point, Vasy, Stamkos, etc. doesn't win a Cup. There is no such thing as a Cup winning player. Not even the greatest player of our lifetime in Connor McDavid is a Cup winning player based on the fact that as good as he's been (best to ever do it), he still has not even won a game in the conference finals (8 years into his career).

 

[themelkman]

It's a good thing Brown is retired or this would 100% be a jinx

I don’t want Carlsson going anywhere near that ugly statue outside the LA arena..

 

[one2gamble]

I think a Hertl without the knee injuries would be a fantastic get for this team. I don’t think Will Smith would ever be that impactful for a team, even if he scores more

yea, I think Hertl was hurt more than we like to believe by the knee injuries.

 

[Jargon]

Smith just seems like he could be wildly exciting to watch. Intellectually, I think Carlsson’s the better choice — Carlsson - Hertl - Bystedt down the middle sounds like an absolute nightmare to play against… but emotionally, Smith/Michkov just seem so fun to watch.

 

[fasterthanlight]

Carlsson drops to 6, we pick Leonard. book it.

 

[Jwec]

Carlsson drops to 6, we pick Leonard. book it.

Do not even dare say something like this!

My preference is Carlsson/Smith or trade down and then draft Leonard/Benson and Reinbacher.

Between Carlsson and Smith it is difficult to say which I want more. Carlsson seems just so sure thing to be at least top 6 center but Smith would be such a fun player to watch if he hits his projection and I really would love to see flashy centers in our roster.