Locked On Sharks - Daily Podcast On The San Jose Sharks Locked On Podcast Network

Will Smith is expected to sign his Entry Level Contract and start his National Hockey League career with the San Jose Sharks this summer. Discuss why it makes sense for Will Smith to start playing NHL games this season compared to playing another year with Boston College and why Smith will be a better player a year from now for it. Then, how do the Sharks navigate having two players 19 and younger on the team? Examine why Mike Grier needs to be aggressive in adding pieces to the roster who can help the development of Celebrini and Smith. Finally, what does the Sharks lineup look like with Smith and Celebrini on the roster?

The San Jose Sharks have something that many National Hockey League General Managers covet: plenty of cap space. Can Mike Grier turn some of his cap space into future assets by taking on bad contracts from cap-strapped teams? Start by looking at the New York Islanders' cap situation and why they are priming themselves to move Jean-Gabriel Pageau before the draft. Then, look at why Pageau would potentially bring to the Sharks. Next, Ilya Mikheyev's time with the Vancouver Canucks might be coming to an end despite the Canucks cap space. Could Mikheyev be a worthwhile gamble? Next, despite Barclay Goodrow's playoff heroics for the New York Rangers, the Rangers will need his cap space soon. Could a Bay Area reunion be in the cards? Finally, the Philadephia Flyers cap situation isn't very rosy for a team in their position. Could Cam Atkinson be on the way out to make room?

The San Jose Sharks 2020 National Hockey League Draft Class has added some new members over the past year, thanks to Mike Grier's trades. Look to review the members of the 2020 draft, how their 2023-24 seasons went, and what is next for these players. Start with Shakir Mukhamadullin, the jump he made playing for the San Jose Barracuda this season, and why he looks NHL-ready. Also, discuss Ozzy Wiesblatt's future and why Thomas Bordeleau looked more comfortable in the NHL this time. Then, Tristen Robins' season was robbed thanks to a preseason injury, but why does he look to be a key cog for the Sharks, and is Danil Gushchin ready to break into the NHL? Next, why Jack Thompson could be on the Mukhamadullin plan for the Barracuda next season. Finally, check in on the NCAA players in Alex Young and Timofei Spitserov.

San Jose Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni officially signed his National Hockey League ELC after a historic season in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks. Start by reviewing Cagnoni's season and how he has seen his stock rise this year. Then why is he ready to jump to the AHL and play with the San Jose Barracuda next year as the Sharks look to grow their defensive group together. Then, use this time to review the Sharks' defensive prospects like Shakir Mukhamadullin, Jake Furlong, and TyEmberson and where they place into the tiers of replacement level, below NHL average, NHL average, quality players, and franchise cornerstones.

As the San Jose Sharks continue their search for a goalie of the future, could they look to add one in the upcoming draft? Greg Balloch of Elite Prospects joins to profile some key names expected to be called at the National Hockey League's Entry Draft. We start with a rundown of the overall thoughts of the draft class and why Greg has Ryerson Leenders as his number-one goalie in the class. We examine some of the other top goalie prospects, including Eemil Vinni and Kim Saarinen, and why Greg is a bit lower on Mikhail Yegorov than others. Finally, we discuss the goal-tending development of European Players vs. NCAA vs. CHL and try to find a goalie who fits Mike Grier's mold of big athletic goalies.

If Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks wanted to be aggressive with adding talent to the roster this offseason, who are some of the names on the market? Start with Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and why he would be an aggressive move for the Sharks but would add some help for Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Then, examine why the Sharks can't offer sheet Martin Necas from the Carolina Hurricanes and why working out a trade would be doable for San Jose. Finally, look at two more realistic options in Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators as both franchises might be forced to make changes this offseason.