The Nemesis
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You should go more often. Then get invested to the point where you'll go with all the other Everett fans that come up for the games vs the Giants (usually the biggest away crowd we get outside of Victoria)
Prospect Info: Sharks Prospect Info/Discussion Thread XIV
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You should go more often. Then get invested to the point where you'll go with all the other Everett fans that come up for the games vs the Giants (usually the biggest away crowd we get outside of Victoria)
CaptainShark
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Blichfeld with 2g, 1a, +3 in a 4-2 win, named 1st star
Gregor was named 2nd star yesterday in a 4-1 win despite not putting up any points
Gregor was named 2nd star yesterday in a 4-1 win despite not putting up any points
MegalodonOnIce
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Can we talk a little about Joachim Blichfeld? He's tearing up the WHL right now-- he's tied for 5th in the CHL in points per game and is 1st in the CHL in points entirely. Has anyone seen anything of him this year? Is there reason to be excited?
PacificOceanPotion
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From highlights ive seen hes got a deadly shot and really knows his way around the offensive zone, for what thats worth.
The Nemesis
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He's definitely got himself in the prospect conversation with his play this year. But it's worth noting that he's a 20-year-old in a league where over-age players can dominate more easily. Jayden Halbgewachs scored 70 goals last season and while he's having a respectable season for the Cuda, it's not like he's at the high end of the prospect pool.
Skill-wise, Blichfeld is quite good. He's an OK skater, but not a great one (he gets where he's going, but he lacks burst and he's not going to outrace a lot of guys). He has a good wrister, but no slapshot. He can make plays and make passes, and he's willing to play in is own end. The biggest knock against him is that he's not truly elite in any category and he's a string-bean. He is going to desperately need to add muscle moving up to the pros or he'll get pushed around far too easily. The positive is that adding strength is apparently a goal the team set out for him this year, so it'll be interesting to see how it pays off.
The real test for him is going to be next season when he, Gregor, and probably Chekhovich and Chmelevski all graduate to a Barracuda team that is rapidly running out of forward spots for everyone to play in. It could be easy for him to be buried down on the 3rd or 4th line where even if he ends up with skilled linemates, he could also be stuck with limited minutes as a matter of course.
Or it's possible that he, Chekovich, or Chmelevski end up as trade bait (though I'd hope not, because filling middle-6 NHL roles with homegrown skill players on reasonable contracts is a big part of how you win.
I think I'll have one more chance to see him play this season. Over the past 2/3 years I've probably seen him play at least 8 or 9 times and usually I come away either reasonably impressed or, at worst, kind of disappointingly indifferent. I've never really said "wow, he just had an awful game"
Schoenborn and Tim Clifton won’t be back with the Cuda next year. Chartier will be permanently with the Sharks as the 13th forward or 4C. Who knows what will happen with Praplan, but the Sharks will have Suomela, Gambrell, Letunov, Martin, Chmelevski, Chekhovich, Gregor, True, Halbgewachs, Blichfeld, Winderer and Perron on NHL contracts (Kotkov and McGrew will go back to juniors.) Viel, Fonteyne and Weinger on AHL deals. That’s 15 forwards for 12 spots. I’m going to assume there will be a couple spots open on the Sharks, 4C, 3C/3W for Suomela, Gambrell, True, Perron, Chekhovich, Chmelevski and Chartier to fight for, so as long as the Barracuda or Sharks don’t add anyone else there should be room for all those guys to play. The Barracuda are gonna be young again next year.
The Nemesis
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Shoenborn already isn't with teh Cuda. He's in Orlando. Cause he sucks. Big time.
But just looking ahead, here's where we sit with regards to 19/20 contracts that impact the Cuda:
RFA
Praplan
Suomela
Gambrell
Letnunov
Martin
Schoenborn
Perron
Chartier
UFA
Clifton
Under contract
Chmelevski
Chekhovich
Gregor
True
Halbgewachs
Wiederer
Blichfeld
Kotkov (technically still eligible for his over-age QMJHL season)
Cuda contracts
Under contract
Viel (unknown length. EliteProspects speculates 2 years (ending in 2020)
Expiring
McCarthy (per this)
Fonteyne (per this)
Status Unknown
Weinger (EliteProspects speculates it's expiring after this season)
So let's do a little speculating and say that of the AHL only deals, only Viel remains. From the Shark-level FAs, Clifton is gone, Shoenborn is gone, Martin is gone. One of Suomela/Chartier/Gambrell sticks as the 13th F (I say we go with Suomela given that he would be a bigger flight risk, but it doesn't really matter for this exercise) and Kotkov remains in the Q.
Perron - Gambrell - Halbgewachs
Chekhovich - Chartier - Chmelevski
Letunov - True - Blichfeld
Viel - Gregor - ???
You're right that there are enough spots. But my concern would be ice time. You're going to be hard pressed to get everything balanced. Either the guys who are already on the team like Halbgewachs or Chartier or True get hosed as they slide down the depth chart to give minutes to the bigger prospects, or the kids get the shaft as they have less minutes to work with in order to give the prime shifts to the veterans.
There's usually a reason most AHL teams are staffed with at least a few AHL-only contracts. Because you need guys who are happy to get the gig and play the less-important 4th line minutes.
They're going to kind of have to hope that there's at least a couple additional spots with the big club to free some prime lineup spots up at this level.
I agree with you and agree that balancing the lineup will be difficult. Chartier will require waivers, so he’ll be with the Sharks most likely. I expect Suomela to also be with the Sharks. So the Cuda would really only have to fill out the 4th line which they could do with AHL only guys. I’ll be most interested to see how Sommer works out the PP units. Guys like Chekhovich, Halbgewachs and Blichfeld need PP time since I don’t expect defense to be on of their strong points, and because they’re wingers. It’s gonna be exciting.
Used As A Shield
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Is it bad I still feel surprised the Barracuda are doing well with Sommer still there? For the longest time it seemed he could only coach grinders (granted the skill picks were few and far between). I really haven't watched any Barracuda games for a few seasons though, and am not completely up on the current crops skillset on the team, so it is my fault in not keeping up with the team.
KirbyDots
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For the longest time we would only draft and sign grinders. I think the Cuda's success has more to do with the personnel than the coaching.
LadyStanley
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Chartier has had a bunch of issues with concussions. Sharks may not choose to re-sign him.
Schoenborn I can't see the Sharks re-signing after his ELS.
Schoenborn I can't see the Sharks re-signing after his ELS.
KirbyDots
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hohosaregood
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Although this is the 2nd time in 3 years where Sommer's been given an above average team and they're knocking it out of the park. And this is a young team with no bonafide NHL talent too. We may have been unfairly roasting Sommer's handling of the Worcester team just because the teams DW gave him were garbanzo.
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
I dunno.
At season's end, Karlsson, Heed, and Ryan are all FA (Ryan RFA, the other two UFA). Heed seems likely to leave just because he's never really gotten a good shake. Ryan would be a safe bet to stay, but he also appears to have fallen out of the coach's favor. But probably at worst he'd be the #7. Karlsson is the wild card. If he leaves the Sharks need to fill at least 1 spot on the back end, possibly 2. Meanwhile in the AHL and amateur ranks, you have every signed d-man short of Merkley, Roy, and Middleton as RFAs. Wood, Donaghey, DeSimone, Brodzinski, Fitzgerald.
Brodzinski appears to be all but done. Dognahey is having a good year in the ECHL and maybe he at least moves up to be Cuda depth. DeSimone and Wood would probably be easy retention candidates too. The swing is Fitzgerald, who has never really impressed offensively, but might be acceptable as a depth option. Merkley remains ineligible for the AHL next season as he'll only be in his age-19 season.
For unsigned prospects, the only players the team has are Ferraro and Cukste. The latter is pretty much a total non-factor who I expect is non-tendered when his rights come up in a year or two. Ferraro has promise, but is having a down year. He probably makes sense to keep in college and watch for a rebound. So neither is likely a consideration for AHL duty. Maybe they surprise me and sign Ferraro, figuring he doesn't have anything else to learn in college, but I feel like you don't do that with a guy who's clearly taken a step back this season. Sign them as they come off a high point in their development cycle or when you have no other choice.
So at the end of all this, if we assume a Sharks D unit (barring trades) of Karlsson, Burns, Vlasic, Braun, Dillon, Simek, Ryan, the Cuda would shake out to have the following:
Middleton, DeSimone, Wood, Roy, Fitzgerald, Donaghey.
It's not great. Not deep like hte forward set would be, but in that order it seems like the makings of a reasonable depth chart from #1 to #6, provided Roy remains healthy. I wouldn't expect much in the way of NHL future out of the group though. The first two seem like #4s at the highest end, Wood might be a bottom-pairing specialist, and the jury is likely out on Roy unless he can put together a couple of uninterrupted seasons with no injury problems.
This is far less of a nuanced analysis than I had on the forwards though. I wouldn't take my word for it.
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Heads up:
You can catch Gregor on tv on NHL Network in the US and Sportsnet in Canada in half an hour.
I didn't realize this would be a tv game.
Gigantic contingent of scouts here tonight too.
Every person on that balcony above the flags and player cards is a scout.
I've never seen that many.
You can catch Gregor on tv on NHL Network in the US and Sportsnet in Canada in half an hour.
I didn't realize this would be a tv game.
Gigantic contingent of scouts here tonight too.
Every person on that balcony above the flags and player cards is a scout.
I've never seen that many.
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The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Also not in the Raiders starting lineup.
More deductions. Soon he's going to be approaching the Heed line for undesirable prospects.
More deductions. Soon he's going to be approaching the Heed line for undesirable prospects.
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
What's clear is that if the Sharks get the opportunity, they will try to trade a Cuda forward or two for a D.
Especially as they had luck with giving established players in their mid 20s from across the pond a shot, at low risk.
Would expect 1-3 forwards to get a similar chance to prove themselves on the Cuda again.
Especially as they had luck with giving established players in their mid 20s from across the pond a shot, at low risk.
Would expect 1-3 forwards to get a similar chance to prove themselves on the Cuda again.
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Gregor is #18 for Prince Albert (the green team)
Also worth watching are Raiders #20 (Leason, RW) and Giants #44 (Byram, D), #42 (Sourdif, RW), and #31 (Miner, G)
Also worth watching are Raiders #20 (Leason, RW) and Giants #44 (Byram, D), #42 (Sourdif, RW), and #31 (Miner, G)
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
Also there's some California content in the game. Giants #34, Brayden Watts, is from Bakersfield.
The Nemesis
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The Nemesis
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