The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Hello from Buffalo!

Sheng is at the Draft Combine and we talk about what the San Jose Sharks can learn from the Buffalo Sabres’ forever rebuild with Bill Hoppe. Hoppe has covered the Sabres since 2002, check out his work at Buffalo Hockey Beat! (43:38)

But before we chat with Bill, Keegan and Sheng talk about Sam Dickinson and Kasper Halttunen winning the Memorial Cup, and the increased chatter about Dickinson making the San Jose Sharks full-time next year. (05:30)

Why was a one-year contract for Shakir Mukhamadullin ideal for both sides? But could the Sharks regret it? (10:55)

William Eklund and the San Jose Sharks have begun contract extension talks. Why is that a good sign? (15:00)

With the Dallas Stars getting eliminated, we know the Sharks have the No. 30 pick of the 2025 Draft.

What’s the latest Combine gossip? (22:30)

And now, Bill! (43:38)

Looking back at the 14 years out of the playoffs, what can the San Jose Sharks learn about what not to do in a rebuild from the Buffalo Sabres? (50:40)

What went wrong in the Jack Eichel era?

Before Eichel was drafted in 2015, the Sabres had missed the playoffs with more competitive teams…what went wrong there? (59:30)

How did the Sabres lose Sam Reinhart’s loyalty?

Breaking down the Sabres’ 14 years in the wilderness, the first stage out of the playoffs was the last stages of an older, formerly winning team…the second stage was the Eichel era…the third era of the rebuild was post-Eichel and Reinhart, the Kevyn Adams era.

How does Bill see the San Jose Sharks’ rebuild coming along? (1:17:30)

Speaking of the Sabres today, what’s going on with defenseman Bo Byram? Why did Buffalo put him on the trade block? (1:30:10)

Is there a chance that defensemen Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power could be made available? (1:37:10)

What would the Sabres want in a trade for a Byram, are the San Jose Sharks a good trade partner?

What’s the importance of stability in management and behind the bench? Bill thinks Mike Grier is the man for the Sharks’ job…if they stick with him.

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The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

San Jose Sharks senior advisor and director of player development Todd Marchant gives us a system update! (31:37)

But before we get to Todd, we talk about head coach Ryan Warsofsky, goaltending coach Thomas Speer, video coach Nick Gialdini, and Will Smith winning the World Championships. (4:23)

Then, we chat a little about the only San Jose players still playing, Sam Dickinson and Kasper Halttunen of the London Knights. And what do we think about Dickinson playing for the San Jose Sharks next year? (14:22)

Our current thoughts about what the Sharks should do with No. 2 pick of the 2025 Draft. (21:40)

And now, Todd Marchant! We talk about Sharks prospects, from the OHL to the KHL, Igor Chernyshov to Joey Muldowney to Yaroslav Korostelyov and more, just skipping San Jose Barracuda prospects. (31:37)

We go league by league, starting with the OHL!

Is Sam Dickinson NHL-ready? (31:58)

Kasper Halttunen is stepping it up in the playoffs.

Quentin Musty had a chaotic year. (38:40)

Where does Marchant think that Igor Chernyshov will play next year?

Areas of growth for Carson Wetsch? (44:34)

Where’s Nate Misskey playing next year?

How’s Colton Roberts coming along?

Moving on to the NCAA, Joey Muldowney exploded this past season. (49:02)

What’s next for Eric Pohlkamp? Where will Muldowney and Pohlkamp play next year?

How’s Reese Laubach getting better?

How is Brandon Svoboda handling his role? (54:09)

Why did the San Jose Sharks sign Noah Beck?

Is Timofey Spitserov still part of the organization?

What’s next for Eli Barnett?

Is David Klee a sleeper prospect? (57:42)

What compelled the San Jose Sharks to sign Mattias Havelid? (58:45)

What was up with Leo Sahlin Wallenius’s chaotic season? (1:00:19)

Where’s Axel Landen playing next year?

Are the Sharks keeping Theo Jacobsson in the organization?

How’s Yegor Rimashevsky coming along? (1:03:40)

Is Yaroslav Korostelyov coming to North America?

Where will Christian Kirsch play next year? (1:05:48)

What’s the latest on Michael Fisher?

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Craig Button joins the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast to talk about the 2025 Draft! (41:39)

He makes his case for Porter Martone for the No. 2 pick.

But before we get to Craig, we discuss the San Jose Sharks’ pending agreement to stay at SAP Center until 2050. (3:20)

We talk about Egor Afanasyev and a hidden drawback about being the worst team in the NHL. Also, a mid-May heatcheck on the Sharks’ RFAs (14:44).

And does Keegan still want the San Jose Sharks to sign Mitch Marner after another Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff disappointment? (25:34)

And now, Craig! (41:39)

Button talks about Martone over Michael Misa for the San Jose Sharks in his post-Draft Lottery mock draft. (43:25)

We talk about drafting for need vs. Best Player Available. (45:50)

Could Matthew Schaefer drop from No. 1? Sheng brings up a historical comp in defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, consensus 2002 No. 1 pick, who dropped to No. 3. (56:00)

Thoughts on Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, who maybe went lower in Button’s mock draft than expected?

Button is really high on Sam Dickinson, and thinks that he’s NHL-ready. (1:16:50)