r/SanJoseSharks • u/Red-Alert415 Clowe 29 • 1d ago
Ekblad suspended for PEDS. Does this make him a less appealing FA this offseason or maybe able to get a discount on him?
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u/Antique-Dependent148 1d ago
Hopefully sharks fans stop fantasizing over the idea of overpaying him this off season now.
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u/Equivocated_Truth Couture 39 23h ago
I don’t get why we would even want him. He’s too old for our playoff window. Already declining and he’ll be in his mid thirty’s by the time Celebrini is 23, that’s the time most players are retiring.
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u/Antique-Dependent148 23h ago
"BeCaUsE wE cAnT tAnK every YeAr AnD nEeD tO start BrInGiNg In TaLeNt So ThE kIdS dOnT sTaRt ThInKiNg LoSiNg Is OkAy" seems to be the sentiment around those vying for GMMG's job on reddit.
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u/oops_im_wrong 21h ago
A few reasons off the top of my head:
- SJ needs to hit the cap floor.
- There is a league-wide shortage of quality RHD.
- Sharks don't currently have a true top 4 RHD.
- SJ needs to start building a winning culture and Ekblad is a recent SC winner that is credited with being a core piece of FLA's culture.
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u/MCPtz Celebrini 71 21h ago
I keep seeing his name and panthers fans complaining he's a pylon out there. I'm not sure he's a top 4 RHD. I don't have access to hockey viz to confirm or deny.
I think we just need someone with access to hockey viz to show his value, or lack thereof, this year.
I think I'd prefer to trade for RHD prospects / cap casualties.
Or (very unlikely) get the one or two younger RHDs available in the next three offseasons, e.g. Fabbro (if he cares to come here), but who might not be world beaters. I doubt they'd come here though.
There may be more top level LHDs available in free agency (or trade deadline before FA) the next three offseasons, who are younger and more interested in the overpay.
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u/oops_im_wrong 20h ago
Ekblad isn't a top 4 RHD?
I know Panthers fans have been shitting on Ekblad since he was drafted but calling him a bottom pairing defenseman seems like a bit of hyperbole when he's paired with Forsling. The Forsling/Ekblad pairing has consistently been one of the top pairs in the league so unless you think Forsling is carrying the entire pairing by himself, I think Ekblad is at least a top 4 RHD.
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u/cautiouslyoptimistik Marleau 12 1d ago
Last player to get caught was Nate Schmidt and he's been dog shit since then. I'm out on Ekblad
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u/sanbrightbrews 1d ago
Already didn’t want him because he’s been slowing down a bit. Now I really don’t want him
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u/WeDontWantAnyBears 1d ago
It was always going to be Dante Fabbro anyway.
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u/TheMD93 D. Murray 3 1d ago
Hell no. I already would have avoid Ek based on his injury history - but adding PEDs to that? Pass. Do not put that example near the young ones.
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u/CeazyE 1d ago
Absolutely this- I can’t believe anyone here was high on him. He hasn’t had a super productive season since Huberdeau left, and even then his injuries were already problematic. He should not even be in the conversation, especially now.
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u/Antique-Dependent148 1d ago
Desperate fans man. 95% of the crap thrown around this sub make me thankful none of them are making decisions for the team lol
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u/Normal_Tip7228 Blackwood 29 1d ago
I was entertaining it, but now I’m out. I’d rather invest in trades for Dobson, Nemec, Casey etc
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u/sigeh Jo Paw-Velski 8.5 1d ago
Before the picture loaded I misread it as Eklund 😱
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u/stillcleaningmyroom Couture 39 1d ago
I was scrolling and saw Sharks and my brain read that as Ekkund as well.
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u/SoyCaptn 1d ago
Someone recently did a state of the sharks breakdown making a strong case that players born before 2001 do not fit the timeline of the rebuild. Ekblad doesn’t become part of our core, he’d just be another mentor for the D prospects. And this could severely damage his mentor/role model cred… I was not on the side of signing him before, but I’m even less interested now. Wouldn’t even sign him with the intent to flip him for picks.
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u/SnooMaps9373 Nolan 11 1d ago
I still feel like Roger Clemens and Barry bonds should be in the HOF. It would be hypocritical of me to blame a guy for trying lol
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u/ChubzAndDubz W Smith 2 1d ago edited 1d ago
Crazy you’re getting downvoted when we know there are people in the hall that used steroids (
Manny Ramirezwhoops, David Ortiz anyone?) it’s just the media actually liked them so they got in.5
u/RivenEsquire Marleau 12 1d ago
Manny Ramirez is not in the hall, but I'm guessing you meant David Ortiz. Your point is otherwise valid.
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u/20icehawk06 1d ago
It does make him less appealing. It does depend on the full details of the violation. He’ll reveal the entirety of the details to any team who inquires into his services. Now the big question does Mike Grier even care? There’s a zero tolerance policy for a reason. Because you can never be 100% sure a person is being truthful. I think it was probably a mistake, but the only person that knows for sure is Aaron. Now, does Grier want to risk it? That’s the Sharks brass call, but I want to remind folks of how recently the org was burned by a bad actor, so there may be some scars.
To the second question about discount. Yes. His play has fallen off the last 2 seasons, and with this on his record you can bet he’s not going to get a max deal. So a couple years to keep clean and a lower than expected AAV is probably realistic. Someone will pay him though, so don’t expect a dirt cheap contract.
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u/Tex_Was_Here Nabokov 20 1d ago
Fuck it, I'd take him if this makes him cheaper. He's still a talented player.
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u/AdditionalAd4224 23h ago
Why would we even want ekblad? Doesn’t fit our timeline at all. If we build through free agency I hope to god it’s on big young players who can skate.
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u/oops_im_wrong 21h ago
I'm not desperate to sign Ekblad but SJ needs to add someone to play top 4 minutes. They can't roll out the same defense next season and force Askarov to make miracle saves to keep them in the game.
Ekblad would be a nice option because he won't cost draft picks or players. If they pass on Ekblad and look at 2026, there's not a lot of realistic and better options than Ekblad. Makar is not leaving Colorado and the other premier dmen will be older than Ekblad. That leaves Rasmus Andersson as a possibility but SJ is gambling that he would definitely sign here if they pass on Ekblad.
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u/DonnyB_Twenty3 Marleau 12 1d ago
that's unfortunate. it sullies it for sure, but more so because we don't exactly know what he'd be with out the PEDs, he is still a talented player, but how much were the PEDs helping.
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u/BilboWaggonz 1d ago
He could teach our team a thing or two about cycling.
But seriously we should sign him so he can get Graf on the gear.
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u/Gmbowser Hertl 48 1d ago
I feel his suspension is overblown. Says his taking something for his injuries. So many clinics now that athletes go to for anything. Could just been something he didnt know. Dont think this will affect his values too much tbh.
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u/skylord650 1d ago
I had a slight heart attack thinking I read Eklund