Sharks hockey ops analysis: Who will return, and who might be done?
NHL: San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier to examine everything after a forgettable 19-win season
SAN JOSE — Before the 2022-2023 season, the San Jose Sharks took 27 players overseas for two regular season games against the Nashville Predators in Czechia. Three others had to stay behind because of injuries.
Of those 30 players, only 12 are still in the Sharks organization.
More departures are expected soon as Mike Grier completes his second full season as the Sharks’ general manager, an era mostly been defined by the departures of a handful of stars and a staggering number of losses.
“The initial phase of (the rebuild) and probably the most painful part of it is over with,” Grier said Saturday, “now we’ve got to build it up.”
As the Sharks begin their offseason after finishing last in the NHL standings with a 19-54-9 record, here’s a look at who will likely be back, and who might not, with the players mentioned on the NHL roster or on expiring contracts.
FRONT OFFICE
It would be somewhat shocking to see owner Hasso Plattner and president Jonathan Becher make a change in hockey operations leadership right now.
Since his hiring in July 2022, Grier has so far done exactly what he said he would do when he interviewed for the job: beef up the front office, build out the scouting and player development departments, create more cap flexibility, and restock the cupboards with higher-end prospects.
Nobody expected the Sharks to make the playoffs this season, but the team’s 41-98-25 record these past two years was worse than expected, and that record, among other things, has hurt attendance. Still, the next phase of the rebuild will be key, and it appears the organization’s leadership has the patience to see what that looks like.
COACHING STAFF
Everything has to be examined after a brutal 19-win season and Grier said he wants to gather more information before determining whether coach David Quinn and his staff will be back for a third year. That likely involves, at least partially, combing over the feedback he received from players about how this season went.
The Sharks were last in the NHL with 326 goals against and were blasted by five goals or more 11 times. On the other hand, players mostly stayed on the same page instead of splintering, as keeping up morale became a large part of Quinn’s job.
This season could have been better had the Sharks, particularly if captain Logan Couture, been healthier. Still, given the chance to say Quinn will be back, Grier didn’t. A clue, perhaps, that some changes within the staff will be looked at? Or is it just an indication that nothing had been finalized?
If these two years were the most painful part of the rebuild, it would be a surprise to see a coaching change now, given internal expectations. But if those expectations are increasing after this season, then Quinn and his staff have to be on notice.
FORWARDS
WHO’S LIKELY STAYING: Logan Couture, Luke Kunin, Nico Sturm, Klim Kostin, Filip Zadina, Collin Graf, Thomas Bordeleau, William Eklund, Givani Smith.
WHO’S GOING: Kevin Labanc, Mike Hoffman, Alexander Barabanov, Oskar Lindblom, Jacob Peterson.
TOUGH TO SAY: Justin Bailey, Ryan Carpenter, Jack Studnicka, Brandon Coe.
ANALYSIS: Among pending RFAs, Kunin might be in line for a multi-year deal that buys up a UFA year or two, and bringing back Zadina, who had 13 goals, would seem to be a low-risk investment. With his contract and current injury, Couture is not going anywhere as the organization hopes he can return to full health.
Pending UFAs Labanc, Hoffman, and Barabanov will not be brought back, Grier said, and we can safely assume Lindblom and Peterson’s time in San Jose is over.
Grier had positive things to say about pending UFA Bailey, so a return could be in order. The Sharks, though, also have to ensure they have enough center depth if Couture is not healthy by the fall. That could lead to UFA Carpenter or RFA Studnicka being offered contracts to return.
DEFENSEMEN
WHO’S LIKELY STAYING: Matt Benning, Kyle Burroughs, Ty Emberson, Mario Ferraro, Jan Rutta, Henry Thrun, Marc-Edouard Vlasic
WHO’S LIKELY GOING: Jacob MacDonald
TOUGH TO SAY: Calen Addison
ANALYSIS: While most of the Sharks’ defense corps is signed through next season, it’s hard to imagine things staying mostly the same for 2024-2025. Grier wants his team to be harder to play against, and the defense corps is included in that, so how does that manifest itself?
Vlasic said he is not concerned about having the final two years of his contract bought out, and it’s debatable whether the Sharks would want to, anyway. Vlasic is also the only Sharks defenseman with any trade protection, so it’s not inconceivable to suggest Rutta, Burroughs or Ferraro might be moved if the Sharks feel they can upgrade.
Addison, a pending RFA, showed flashes this season and his 11 assists were third-most among all blueliners. Is that enough to bring him back and have him compete for a spot, along with Nikolai Knyzhov, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and perhaps Jack Thompson?
GOALIES
WHO’S LIKELY STAYING: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, Magnus Chrona, Georgi Romanov.
WHO’S LIKELY GOING: Eetu Makiniemi
TOUGH TO SAY: Devin Cooley
ANALYSIS: Grier likes how his NHL goalie tandem sets up for next season with Blackwood as the No. 1 and Vanecek, assuming he’s healthy, a potentially capable veteran backup. Chrona and Romanov both received NHL experience this season, with Romanov improving in the final few weeks.
Makiniemi is set to become a Group 6 free agent and it appears the Sharks will go in a different direction. Grier said it’s possible that Cooley, who played in six Sharks games and is a pending UFA, could be brought back as a third minor league goalie to help push Chrona and Romanov. Grier also hinted that the Sharks will look at drafting a goalie.