San Jose Sharks 24-25 Preseason Review: Game 3 vs Ducks

Reviewing the third game of the 24-25 NHL preseason between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks.

[@RIS3N1]

I've been wanting Guschin to get a look for a few years now, hopefully this is the year!

[@MattHockeyGuy]

Honestly after watching that game I have never been more certain that musty should be sent back down. I would even say maybe to the OHL. He was absolutely terrible, with multiple terrible giveaways every time he stepped on the ice. And with the performances from cagnoni and especially guschin I just really can't see him being useful in the NHL right now. Speaking of cagnoni, I just keep being impressed by the guy. It was really amazing to me how many times that he made a pass that I didn't see even as a viewer, where I could see everyone on the ice. Multiple times I found myself saying out loud "holy crap how the hell did he do that?" And much like you said the only complaint I saw was multiple times he got burned by ducks players just shoving him off the puck on a rush. But that's really just the size thing and honestly you always need to put a defensive defenseman with an offensive defenseman like cagnoni. That's not new. I personally think that Cagnoni should get at least 9 games to start the season and I think he'll light up the AHL

[@tylera86]

It’s unfortunate that he’s a CHL player. He’s too good for juniors and really needs seasoning in the AHL. I think Haltunen has looked gradually better this preseason.

[@MattHockeyGuy]

@@tylera86 I thought this was halttunens first preseason game? I might be stupid I admit that, but honestly his specialty was always going to be one timers on the power play and that's why I thought his lack of one-timers on the power play was kind of disappointing. I just spent the whole time thinking if that was Celebrini on the power play for one-timers we would have blown the ducks out of the water. So what would that make haltunnen? The second power play guy? I don't think he played necessarily bad, but I did think he was rather invisible

[@insanum666]

Except that secondary assist​@@MattHockeyGuy

[@benwilson6559]

Musty has to go back to the OHL or make the team, he can’t play in the AHL.

[@tylera86]

@@benwilson6559 unfortunately. In some ways I wish they could at least send him to the SHL or Liiga. Somewhere where he can play against grown men. He’s just going to score a bajillion points in Sudbury and then come back next year not that much better imo.

[@mrguy1764]

It's the 3rd preseason game and you have nearly 1300 views in the first 18 hours of this video. So cool to watch your channel grow to the big leagues. Excellent content, as always

[@brandonreyes50]

Guschin should NO DOUBT make the team, musty has to go back asap, cagnoni will be the barracuda top d, and I know it’s way too early to say anything but I believe Dickinson won’t be anything special. His awareness is just frustrating

[@mukkman22]

You are jumping to the top of my must--watch Sharks content. Keep it up Prof!

[@professorhockey]

Happy to hear that!

[@knara6]

you are the man. bummer about dickinson, cagnoni is exciting

[@jaisannaidu9379]

Appreciate the recap Professor!!

[@phillipnguyen1178]

Ready for Gushchin to get a Top 9 role for the Sharks Ready to move on from Coe. Doesn't seem like he will ever put it all together despite his good size.

[@gbruins]

Detailed, concise content as always. Great

[@donganem8135]

Danil Guschin has been consistently impressive for the past two camps - and he's had two straight 20+ goal seasons with the Barracuda. So what's holding him back? Can't say for sure,but I think it's the NHL fetish around size- he's only 5'8',and both Wilson and Grier have a thing for big power forwards. But hey: there are plenty of little guys who've had impressive NHLcareers - Martin St Louis, Paul Kariya,, Johnny Gaudreau, Mats Zucarello, Brad Marchand etc etc Not saying that Guschin is headed for the Hall of Fame - just saying that there's no reason to believe he isn't ready for a stint in the NHL. It would be shame not to give him that shot this year: he's earned it.

[@professorhockey]

It’s definitely the size thing unfortunately, hopefully he is finally given the chance.

[@YariAzQuran]

Absolutely pleasure to listen to your analyses, Professor. Greatly appreciate you 🙏🏼

[@rickjamesdos2239]

I know it’s really early but man I really hope the sharks don’t regret taking dickinson over buium

[@professorhockey]

😬

[@phillipnguyen1178]

If buium does end up as the better player, let's hope cagnoni reaches his ceiling and makes up for it

[@HitmanHockeyCards]

I wonder if all the Grier/Will Smith lovers are finally realizing what a huge mistake not taking Michkov was... Gdamn hes been friggen amazing..... Not smith, the one grier passed on. Cant wait to see how the Buium mistake turns out too. BTW keep up the awesome work, you are by far the best Sharks hockey analyst on youtube and in social media groups. Pure honestly, no biased opinions, no sugar coating. Straight truths. So hard to find that from someone that covers the Sharks.

[@professorhockey]

Michkov has been amazing so far for sure. However, the feeling I got from that draft was that Michkov did not want to come to San Jose. I could be wrong, but that’s what I understood by reading between the lines of what Grier said. I don’t think it’s crazy to think so either, because two other teams passed on him inexplicably. With that being said, the Dickinson vs Buium one could definitely burn the Sharks.

[@HitmanHockeyCards]

@@professorhockey Personally the way Grier talked I dont think he ever had any intentions on even talking to Michkov. He has a thing for Boston players and he wanted Will Smith no matter who was available. It was pretty much released on what GMs actually contacted him and which teams he said no too. Sharks were never in any mention of either contacting or him saying no. And the whole "he will never come over" stuff is media BS to me, every top russian player comes over. I still stand by Grier is very bad at drafting when he actually has to make a decision. Celebrini was picked by default. When their is a choice, he makes the wrong one. When he passed on Michkov i said that day, this will be the biggest draft mistake in sharks history. Michkov isnt only scoring, hes making great passes, hes not getting knocked off the puck, hes been great in the corners, great with making something out of small areas to work with. I expected him to be good, but in this sample size of 3 preseason games, hes blown away my expectations - which were already high to begin win.

[@HitmanHockeyCards]

@@professorhockey Also, another thing. The whole rumors of it going to take Michkov 2-3 years to come over should have NEVER ad any impact on drafting him, cause the sharks arent gonna do anything for 4-5 years anyway and him developing in the KHL is way better than the AHL. Plus I dont really have much faith in SJs minor system in developing players.

[@tylera86]

Eric Pohlkamp and Jake Furlong don’t get enough love.

[@ponyboy9765]

Gush and Cags making a pretty tough sell to crack the lineup. Honestly been a little disappointed with Musty and even more so Dickinson. He definitely seems a bit more raw than I would have expected. I think another year to marinade will do them both well, which isn’t a major issue since we’re still projecting to be pretty bad. No sense rushing them. I’ll be interested to start seeing some training camp cuts and see where everyone ends up.

[@insanum666]

Dickinson wasn't expecred to make the NHL this year anyways. Give him another season in London and then he might be ready

[@ponyboy9765]

@@insanum666 Yeah I know he was never going to make the team this year, but I did expect him to maybe have a better showing in the rookie tournament/ preseason games he’s played.

[@insanum666]

@@ponyboy9765 roger that. I think he had a few good games here or there IMO. Definitely no need to panic yet though. I think most people have him making the NHL mext season which is good considering most defencemen don't take form until around 22 years old.

[@professorhockey]

He would need to take some pretty monumental steps forward this upcoming season to make the team next year. It feels like he’s more so 2 to 3 years out

[@insanum666]

@@professorhockey yeah, I think that's reasonable. I was just stating what the expectations were right after the draft. But now it seems expectations have shifted a bit. He has the size but he needs a lot of work on his ability to process the game at a higher level.

[@canucksfan9899]

You’re a beast, thank you for putting these out

[@kenjackson6256]

What do you think of the Sharks signing Aaron Dell to an AHL deal? Do they really need him as insurance against injury to Blackwood and/or Vanacek?

[@professorhockey]

I think it could mean a couple of different things. Maybe the Sharks are expecting to run 3 goalies in the NHL this year with Askarov/Blackwood/Vanecek and so they want Romanov and Dell in the AHL. It could also mean that they plan to trade one of the two vets at some point. Otherwise it’s a little weird if they wish to have Askarov with the Barracuda since Romanov is definitely ready to play, quite unfair to have him sit behind someone like Dell.

[@kenjackson6256]

@@professorhockey In-depth and incisive as always. My worst-case thought had to go to "Is Askarov's injury worse than the Sharks are publicly acknowledging?

[@professorhockey]

I considered that, but I don’t think this is really the time of the season to be downplaying injuries like that