The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

San Jose Sharks senior advisor and director of player development Todd Marchant gives us a system update! (31:37)

But before we get to Todd, we talk about head coach Ryan Warsofsky, goaltending coach Thomas Speer, video coach Nick Gialdini, and Will Smith winning the World Championships. (4:23)

Then, we chat a little about the only San Jose players still playing, Sam Dickinson and Kasper Halttunen of the London Knights. And what do we think about Dickinson playing for the San Jose Sharks next year? (14:22)

Our current thoughts about what the Sharks should do with No. 2 pick of the 2025 Draft. (21:40)

And now, Todd Marchant! We talk about Sharks prospects, from the OHL to the KHL, Igor Chernyshov to Joey Muldowney to Yaroslav Korostelyov and more, just skipping San Jose Barracuda prospects. (31:37)

We go league by league, starting with the OHL!

Is Sam Dickinson NHL-ready? (31:58)

Kasper Halttunen is stepping it up in the playoffs.

Quentin Musty had a chaotic year. (38:40)

Where does Marchant think that Igor Chernyshov will play next year?

Areas of growth for Carson Wetsch? (44:34)

Where’s Nate Misskey playing next year?

How’s Colton Roberts coming along?

Moving on to the NCAA, Joey Muldowney exploded this past season. (49:02)

What’s next for Eric Pohlkamp? Where will Muldowney and Pohlkamp play next year?

How’s Reese Laubach getting better?

How is Brandon Svoboda handling his role? (54:09)

Why did the San Jose Sharks sign Noah Beck?

Is Timofey Spitserov still part of the organization?

What’s next for Eli Barnett?

Is David Klee a sleeper prospect? (57:42)

What compelled the San Jose Sharks to sign Mattias Havelid? (58:45)

What was up with Leo Sahlin Wallenius’s chaotic season? (1:00:19)

Where’s Axel Landen playing next year?

Are the Sharks keeping Theo Jacobsson in the organization?

How’s Yegor Rimashevsky coming along? (1:03:40)

Is Yaroslav Korostelyov coming to North America?

Where will Christian Kirsch play next year? (1:05:48)

What’s the latest on Michael Fisher?

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Craig Button joins the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast to talk about the 2025 Draft! (41:39)

He makes his case for Porter Martone for the No. 2 pick.

But before we get to Craig, we discuss the San Jose Sharks’ pending agreement to stay at SAP Center until 2050. (3:20)

We talk about Egor Afanasyev and a hidden drawback about being the worst team in the NHL. Also, a mid-May heatcheck on the Sharks’ RFAs (14:44).

And does Keegan still want the San Jose Sharks to sign Mitch Marner after another Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff disappointment? (25:34)

And now, Craig! (41:39)

Button talks about Martone over Michael Misa for the San Jose Sharks in his post-Draft Lottery mock draft. (43:25)

We talk about drafting for need vs. Best Player Available. (45:50)

Could Matthew Schaefer drop from No. 1? Sheng brings up a historical comp in defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, consensus 2002 No. 1 pick, who dropped to No. 3. (56:00)

Thoughts on Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, who maybe went lower in Button’s mock draft than expected?

Button is really high on Sam Dickinson, and thinks that he’s NHL-ready. (1:16:50)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

It’s part 2 of a mega-2025 Draft Lottery mailbag!

Part 2 is all about what the San Jose Sharks should do with the 2025 No. 2 pick.

In case you missed it, Part 1 focused on how to improve the Sharks next year, especially on defense.

https://youtu.be/LJPWjFPxZUg

Let’s get to the questions!

Jeremy: What would it take to trade up to the No. 1 pick? (2:16)

Nick Valderrama: Who would Keegan replace Sheng with? Is there a trade for the San Jose Sharks’ No. 2 that we like?

Sam: Thoughts about Martone? (18:02)

Brad Fitzpatrick: Is Martone a much more serious possibility than we think?

Austin Dias: How interested are teams around the NHL in the No. 2 pick?

Ben: What does the package look like that would tempt Mike Grier to trade down?

Matt Harrison: Who should the Sharks dangle for defensive help? The No. 2 pick? Which prospects?

Astoverpix: Trade Musty for defensive help?

Dylan Smallwood: Would you make this No. 2 pick/Noah Dobson trade with the New York Islanders? (34:54)

GH: No. 2 pick for Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, or Bowen Byram?

David: Will the San Jose Sharks make any jersey changes this off-season?

Arch Mickel: What’s the plan for Sam Dickinson?

Beast: Offer Mitch Marner a short-term, max AAV contract? (52:48)

Lincoln Race: Pitch for Marner?

Boomer: Sheng’s hockey background?

Juan Rebollo: Do the San Jose Sharks pick more for need in 2026?

Zeke: How can you tell if Mike Grier is excited? Should the Sharks target Anthony Stolarz or Joseph Woll?

SwedeShark: How likely is it that the Sharks pick Victor Eklund?

Joseph: How hard will it be for the Sharks to fill their holes via free agency?

Tgraveline: How chaotic will this off-season be league-wide?

Chris: San Jose Sharks’ roster construction/needs next year? (1:12:43)

Just Steve: Which teams do you think that the Sharks are likely to leapfrog in the standings next year?

Matthias893: Keegan’s favorite book on his bookshelf? Sheng’s personal favorite basketball player?

Fin Coe: Thoughts on Leo Sahlin Wallenius?

James Barrett: What’s the most valuable surplus in the San Jose Sharks’ system?

rphillips19: Where would Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer be picked if they were in the 2023 Draft, 2024 Draft? Have all successful rebuilds actually drafted their top defensemen?

Stephanie k: Is William Eklund the Sharks’ most valuable (reasonable) trade piece? (1:37:53)

Kyle J from Australia: Where would Sam Dickinson be ranked in the 2025 Draft?

Chaz Marshall: Who goes to wing, Michael Misa or Will Smith? Should Misa stay in juniors, go to the NCAA, or the NHL next year?

Anthony: How about trading the Dallas Stars’ first for defensive help?

Shaun Abuzalaf: Offer sheet Fabian Zetterlund?

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

It’s part 1 of a mega-2025 Draft Lottery mailbag!

Part 1 will focus on how to improve the San Jose Sharks next year, especially on defense.

Part 2 will center on what the Sharks should do with the 2025 No. 2 pick.

Let’s get to the questions!

Falco5: What stats/measurables equate to a “winning” player? (3:25)

Gary To: Would any 2025 or 2026 Draft prospects make the San Jose Sharks this fall?

James R: Thoughts on Mattias Havelid? Guess on whether Joe Pavelski or Logan Couture re-join the Sharks as development coaches or front office staff?

Brucellus: Should Sharks trade for…Erik Karlsson? (23:55)

Ty Comes: What were Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith’s Draft Combine interviews with the Sharks like?

SJShorky: Are there any goalies worth grabbing in the 2025 Draft? Thoughts on Tom Willander?

Connor: Why are there no Draft night trades of players after they get drafted in the NHL a la the NBA?

Joshua Carey: Is there any defenseman that the San Jose Sharks could sign to an offer sheet either this year or next? (47:41)

Daniel Almaraz: Could the Sharks trade for one of the Chicago Blackhawks’ top defensive prospects?

free_slice: Of the “available” defensive trade targets, who do you like, Noah Dobson, Simon Nemec, or Brandt Clarke?

Patrick: What’s the Sharks’ best pathway to upgrading the top-four of their blueline? Trade or free agency? (1:04:45)

CeleBeauty: Who are some 2025 Draft prospects with some snarl?

Steven: If the San Jose Sharks knew how good Mackenzie Blackwood would end up being, do you think they still would have made the Yaroslav Askarov trade?

Miguel Lenhart: Should Sharks target Matt Duchene in free agency? (1:24:54)

Rothgar: Any top European free agents that Sharks can target this off-season?

Chris R: Two dream (but realistic) trades for Mike Grier this summer? Would Mario Ferraro take bottom-pairing money to re-sign with the Sharks?

Part 2 is coming soon!

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Keegan, Sheng, and JD Young team up to form a three-headed GM monster! (28:01)

We discuss the next step of the San Jose Sharks’ rebuild with the Locked On Sharks host.

But before we get to JD, we talk about the San Jose Barracuda’s playoff run and preview their series against the Colorado Eagles. Patrick Williams of the AHL and FloHockey shares insight on Barracuda-Eagles. (16:55)

And now, JD Young! (28:01)

What’s the strategy if the San Jose Sharks get the No. 1 pick?

Who would we pick at No. 2 or 3, if the Sharks lose the Draft Lottery? (44:45)

Should the Sharks chase big UFA fish Mitch Marner? We each have a different opinion. (58:30)

How should the San Jose Sharks improve the defense? JD has a smart under-the-radar suggestion. (1:17:12)

What about in goal? Who should San Jose pair with Yaroslav Askarov? Sheng offers a fun (but wildly improbable) scenario. (1:31:40)

Are there any sneaky trades that this three-headed monster would pursue?

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Mike Grier knows that the San Jose Sharks have to be better next year.

We discuss Grier’s end-of-season availability, and the direction of the Sharks this off-season (3:12).

If the San Jose Sharks get the No. 1 pick in the Draft Lottery, could they trade it? Grier revealed on Friday that he got massive offers for the 2024 first-overall that became Macklin Celebrini. We also made up huge offers from the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes last year…would you have taken them?

What’s next for the Sharks' free agents? (36:18) We discuss why Alexandar Georgiev didn’t work, besides the obvious, and what free agent goalies could make sense to pair with Yaroslav Askarov? Keegan had a good one.

What do we think about the Nikolai Kovalenko situation? (57:00)

What do we think of Grier being in no hurry to name a captain for the San Jose Sharks?

Does moving Will Smith back to center preclude the Sharks from signing a center in free agency? Sheng doesn’t think so. (1:15:08)

Speaking of, did Grier take the Sharks out of the Mitch Marner sweepstakes by saying that he’s not excited to offer seven or eight-year contracts to a free agent? (1:20:30)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Logan Couture’s playing career is over.

Sheng and Keegan discuss Couture’s legacy in an emergency podcast!

We touch briefly on the San Jose Sharks’ cap situation and why Couture is not officially retiring.

Sheng shares some anecdotes from Couture’s farewell press conference and elsewhere, including telling insights from Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe. (4:20)

Keegan has a fan’s perspective of Couture, and how happy he was to see the San Jose Sharks captain smile again in his good-bye presser -- it’s been a long time! (16:14)

Who does Keegan think will be the next captain of the Sharks? (18:50)

Couture’s legacy as a Shark is probably being an all-time great playoff performer. (21:20)

Who does Sheng think will be the next captain of the Sharks? (27:28)

Sheng talks about Couture’s last game and post-game media session as a Shark in Jan. 2024, it was in Anaheim and he was there. (35:10)

What about Couture missing the playoffs in the last five years of his career? (42:21)

Sheng shares his thoughts about the media breaking the news of Couture stepping away, instead of letting Couture do it. (43:35)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Quentin Musty (and Igor Chernyshov?) are coming to San Jose!

OHL expert Brock Otten of McKeen’s Hockey joins the pod to talk about the seasons of these top San Jose Sharks prospects. (1:33:16)

But before we talk about Musty, Chernyshov, Sam Dickinson, Kasper Halttunen, and more?

Let’s talk about the San Jose Sharks’ recent play, including the end of Shakir Mukhamadullin’s season and their lack of response to Frank Vatrano. (5:13)

Let’s be honest, Lane Hutson has moved ahead of Macklin Celebrini for the Calder Trophy.

Our thoughts on Cam Lund and Luca Cagnoni’s NHL auditions. (30:32)

Keegan is upset that Nikolai Kovalenko, Danil Gushchin, and Thomas Bordeleau haven’t gotten enough of a shot with the San Jose Sharks. We also talk about Barclay Goodrow, Zack Ostapchuk, Ty Dellandrea, Noah Gregor, Patrick Giles, and Carl Grundstrom in the bottom-six. (40:13)

Logan Couture made waves by following and unfollowing the San Jose Sharks on Instagram. (1:10:55)

We also talk about the San Jose Barracuda and Yaroslav Askarov’s return. Sheng also shares his thoughts about Musty’s trade request earlier in the season. (1:16:04)

And now, Brock Otten and his OHL expertise! (1:33:16)

We talk Musty and Chernyshov, their NHL comps and ceilings, and why Otten is more excited about Chernyshov at the moment. Who’s more ready for pro hockey? (1:34:07)

What’s Dickinson’s ceiling? Otten is a big fan, but he’s also aware of Dickinson’s possible shortcomings. (1:56:56)

How much has Halttunen’s overall game grown?

Otten is super-high on Matthew Schaefer. Who does he have at No. 2 or 3 for the 2025 Draft? No. 3 is a surprise! (2:09:22)

Otten also shares some under-the-radar OHL prospects in the 2025 Draft.

Check out the McKeen’s Hockey 2025 Draft Guide, coming soon! Their Prospects Report is also coming soon…the San Jose Sharks rank high there!