Craig Button joins the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast this week!

The TSN draft guru thinks Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith might make a Crosby-Malkin like impact on the San Jose Sharks, who he’d consider for San Jose at No. 14, and an underrated Sharks prospect that he really likes. (1:22:52)

But before we get to Craig, Keegan and I talk about the San Jose Sharks coaching search. (2:18)

Then, we chat about four positions that the Sharks should target this off-season if they want to be more competitive, and discuss J.G. Pageau, Dakota Joshua, Dylan DeMelo, and Sean Walker as realistic possibilities. Sheng also suggests a couple more intriguing names in this middle class of the free agency market. (15:49)

We discuss the San Jose Sharks signing Luca Cagnoni. Are Sharks fans perhaps overrating Cagnoni? And is he better suited to start next season in the AHL or go back to the WHL? (44:24)

Have Sheng or Keegan changed their minds about whether Will Smith will sign with the San Jose Sharks for next year? (1:10:18)

Finally, before we interview Craig Button, we discuss his recent, perhaps controversial top-64 list (1:12:22) on TSN. By the way, we talked with Craig before he released these rankings:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/craig-s-list-konsta-helenius-tij-iginla-push-into-top-five-1.2124326

And now, Craig Button! (1:22:52)

What is Macklin Celebrini’s ceiling? Why is Craig so high on him? (1:23:30)

Button draws parallels between Smith getting drafted a year before Celebrini…to the Pittsburgh Penguins getting Evgeni Malkin in 2004 and Sidney Crosby in 2005. Whoa! Button calls Smith a difference-maker. (1:28:40)

Button compares Celebrini to Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli. (1:30:12)

He discusses the recently-concluded U-18’s. (1:32:00)

Who could the San Jose Sharks pick at No. 14?

Button gives his thoughts about Trevor Connelly (1:36:35), Tij Iginla, Terik Parascak (1:42:25), Adam Jiricek (1:51:19), EJ Emery (1:54:10), Stian Solberg (1:54:47), Charlie Elick (1:55:10), and Dominik Badinka.

Button doesn’t see a big difference between Anton Silayev and Emery!

Button discusses the goaltending in the 2024 Draft. There’s only one goalie that he’d considered in the second round.(1:56:10)

Button talks about how Will Smith has “wowed” him for a long time and if he’s ready for the NHL. (2:00:37)

Button shares his thoughts about Quentin Musty (2:06:55), Kasper Halttunen (2:08:55), and Luca Cagnoni. (2:11:45)

Button shouts out a now under-the-radar San Jose Sharks prospect. (2:12:25)

This week on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, we welcome back Nico Sturm! (57:15)

We ask Nico all about the David Quinn tenure and his recent firing by GM Mike Grier, what Nico thinks about Quinn's coaching style and the 2023-2024 season in general. We also ask him about his likely future San Jose Sharks teammate Macklin Celebrini!

But before that, we cover just a few topics in what was a light few weeks for the Sharks. (01:33)

Who has been interviewed, or who has been rumored to be considered for the San Jose Sharks head coaching job so far? (03:20)

What do the coaching candidates so far seem to have in common?

We enter yet another week of Will Smith Watch! What did Will Smith say about his upcoming decision, stay in Boston College or sign with the San Jose Sharks for next year, at the World Championships? (12:17)

What can Will Smith learn by leaving the NCAA and breaking away from his long-time linemates? (18:45)

Sheng talks about an interesting dynamic that could form if both Celebrini and Smith leave college at the same time. (22:30)

We transition to the playoffs of Kasper Halttunen and Luca Cagnoni. Halttunen had 17 goals in 18 playoff games, leading the London Knights in goals in the postseason. (30:35)

The ultimate speculation: Leon Draisaitl to the San Jose Sharks in 2025? (35:00)

What do Sheng and Keegan think about moving up from the No. 14 pick to take a defenseman in the 2024 NHL Draft? (42:20)

Sheng dug deep and contacted local media members from each of the teams at No. 5-12 to get their thoughts on trading down to the Sharks, check out the article here! (43:20)

https://sanjosehockeynow.com/san-jose-sharks-2024-draft-defenseman-trade-up/

Finally, we talk about Brodie Brazil's interview with Jason Demers, who also shared his thoughts about firing David Quinn. (53:00)

Nico Sturm joins our show for the second time, this time from Czechia and the World Championships! (57:15)

Sturm talks about the San Jose Sharks winning the Draft Lottery. (58:20)

Sturm discusses Macklin Celebrini as a responsible two-way player and just how rare that is for a 17-year-old. (59:05)

Sturm on David Quinn's firing, was it a surprise? (1:02:25)

What did Nico think of Quinn as a coach? (1:04:15)

Why does Sturm think Quinn was fired? (1:06:00)

Does Nico think that Quinn lost the locker room? (1:08:00)

Does Sturm think there could have been more structure in the San Jose Sharks' game last year? (1:09:40)

Was there a way that this 2023-24 San Jose Sharks team could’ve realistically been better last year? How much better? (1:12:40)

Sturm has also played for former Minnesota Wild coach Dean Evason. He's a potential coaching hire for the Sharks, what does Nico remember from his time with him? (1:15:15)

Nico Sturm hasn't played for Marco Sturm, but Marco's name is making the rounds as a coaching candidate for the San Jose Sharks, what does Nico think about his fellow German countryman? (1:19:00)

How’s Sturm's summer look after the World Championships? (1:21:10)

Welcome to a post-Draft Lottery victory mailbag!

Congratulations, San Jose Sharks fans! You deserved this win.

Thanks for all your questions!

Sharksmustbealways asked if the Sharks were waiting for the Draft Lottery result to help them lure a better head coach candidate? (3:10)

Amorris209 wondered generally how Macklin Celebrini affects the process for the coaching search? (4:20)

Jigglz brought up Tim Kawakami’s recent criticism of Sharks owner Hasso Plattner: Would the franchise be better if Plattner was seen or heard from more? (6:10)

Jamnjon asked if the Sharks should target smaller prospects like Alexander Zetterberg or Justin Poirier in the mid to later rounds? (17:00)

Rob S wondered how Sheng was selected to witness the actual Draft Lottery? Also, who’s the San Jose Sharks’ goalie of the future? And will the Sharks ever host a Sharks game at Tech CU Arena? (22:08)

David Gotlieb loves pets! He asked about Mushu's favorites and if Keegan has pets. (37:09)

Josh Frojelin wondered if Ethan Cardwell could make the San Jose Sharks out of camp next season? (41:35)

Mike suggested perhaps trading the No. 14 pick for a more NHL-ready young defenseman? (45:42)

James R wondered what it would take for the San Jose Sharks to land Mitch Marner this summer? (1:01:30)

_sharkzilla_ asked when San Jose Hockey Now would get scout opinions on the Sharks’ post-Celebrini prospect pool? (1:10:10)

Stephanie K wondered what the last straw for David Quinn was? She also wondered about how Sheng feels about going into the 2024 Draft, getting to cover the No. 1 pick. Finally, how does Celebrini stack up versus other recent top prospects? (1:14:47)

Timorous me asked what was Sheng's reaction to the Sharks winning the Draft Lottery? (1:24:02)

Nimrod wondered if Luca Cagnoni is better served playing his overage season in the WHL or going to the AHL? (1:33:05)

Zeke discussed the possibility of trading the no. 33 pick for a 2025 first-round pick? (1:38:47)

Alaskan_ice checked in on Sheng and Keegan’s relationship. (1:44:50)

Michael K wondered if we go out of our way to deflate expectations of San Jose Sharks prospects? (1:51:24)

Splash114 asked how the Sharks should go about adding a true No. 1 or 2 defensemen to the organization? (2:02:11)

Chris Braun wondered if the Sharks should add a veteran center to help mentor Celebrini, especially if Couture is still injured? (2:07:51)

KuperKris suggested some theoretical additions to the team: Could the Sharks push for the wild card? (2:12:40)

Fin Coe checked in on the Sharks’ Russian scout situation and the Kevin Whitmer investigation. (2:17:43)

Alex Genadinik wondered where William Eklund would go in a 2021 re-Draft? (2:19:05)

Blue Science asked if the Sharks should go for a defenseman no matter what at No. 14? (2:27:43)

Recycle Shark wondered how the Sharks should improve their defense next year and if Thomas Bordeleau or Danil Gushchin are destined to get traded? (2:32:52)

Lakshya Jain asked if we think the Sharks will sign both Will Smith and Celebrini this off-season? (2:40:00)

Matthias893 wanted our thoughts on how Cagnoni stacks up compared to Olen Zellweger? (2:43:30)

Tony asked who Mike Grier should target at UFA forward this summer? (2:44:52)

James wondered if Hasso would stomach another tank in 2024-25, this time for James Hagens? (2:46:10)

David Rowley asked if the Sharks would target a more offensive defenseman in this year's draft? (2:49:35)

Patrick wondered what the Sharks’ greatest positional needs are going into the Draft? (2:50:45)

Matt Railo asked, after winning the Draft Lottery, if the San Jose Sharks should have the core of a playoff team soon? (2:53:08)