The San Jose Sharks reached the 20-win mark this week, officially surpassing their points total from the previous season. While the bar was low, the hosts highlighted the tangible progress being made as the season enters its final stretch.
The “Eastern All-Star” Upset: Sharks vs. Maple Leafs
The highlight of the week was an improbable 6-5 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- The David vs. Goliath Matchup: Paul noted the absurdity of the Sharks beating a roster whose top power-play unit alone earns roughly $50 million.
- Skills Competition Success: Despite Aaron’s typical distaste for shootouts (calling them a “skills competition”), he admitted the Sharks showed more skill than the high-priced Leafs stars in the end.
Colin Graff: The AHL Path to Success
The hosts spent significant time praising Colin Graff for his complete 200-foot game, drawing comparisons to team captain Logan Couture.
- Special Teams Impact: Graff scored a shorthanded goal against Toronto, the first by a Sharks rookie in roughly 17 years.
- Earning Trust: Ryan Warsofsky showed immense trust in Graff, giving him the most ice time among forwards in the first period of a recent game.
- The Message to Prospects: Graff’s success—built on working on his defensive game in the AHL—serves as a blueprint for other prospects like Danil Gushin, who the hosts suggest may be “stuck” due to a lack of defensive consistency.
Cam Lund’s Impressive Start
The episode also highlighted Cam Lund, who made an immediate impact upon his call-up.
- Two for Two: Lund scored in each of his first two NHL games, including a goal against the Kings shortly after stepping out of the penalty box.
- Greer’s Draft Success: Lund became only the fourth player drafted by Mike Grier to reach the NHL, joining Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Luca Cagnoni.
The “Calderbrini” Case
The hosts engaged in a deep dive into the Calder Trophy race, defending Macklin Celebrini against competitors like Lane Hudson and Matvei Michkov.
- Holistic Value: While acknowledging Hudson’s advanced stats and Michkov’s goal totals, Paul argued that Celebrini’s responsibility at center and his defensive reliability make him the more complete player.
- Points Per Game: The hosts noted that when adjusted for games played, Celebrini remains ahead of Hudson in points-per-game efficiency.
