The Fin Factor is a weekly podcast series where we discuss the San Jose Sharks NHL hockey team. Our episodes are hosted by Paul Sunseri and Aaron Sholl, two avid Sharks fans. Support our show by shopping for merchandise and join the email list on our website. Like, subscribe, and sign up for alerts to new episodes!
For some of these vets like strum, kunin. They’re playing for trades. Joining a playoff team if play is good. Win, win. Sharks will get a pick and vet experience up to trade or prospect and experience. Some mix of either. Team gets a depth piece for playoff run. If all works out to plan. We see how jumping the gun like Detroit can set you back. Proceed as the teams skill determines. We took a huge step this year. Like Montreal/chicago insulate the youth. But don’t skip steps. It’s a process. To many good vets or bad vet contracts can hurt you. Ala Walmart and a 2nd for me. I like what griers doing, I think a right D trade or wavier claim is in the future. Otherwise he’s banking on ok offense, not enough skill defenders to get next top pick. That’s good imo. Another top pick will only help fill out the future or add an ability to trade top end value for what you need. Ala Boyle and burns.
I take it not going live for Day 2 or at least, the 2nd & 3rd round? Would luv to get your guys thoughts, on who the BPA is, at # 33. Great Coverage guys!
I was literally behind you guys lol (saw your Hannah interview "live") Was gonna say "hi" and "where's devereaux!?" Y'all seemed busy and I didn't want to be rude. I'll catch y'all at "the tank" next time!
Don't want any part of Marner. Perimeter player not good for playoff hockey. Not that we are making the playoffs any time soon but I don't want a team leader setting the example for the younger players. Especially for that price. The only upside is that he will sell some tickets
Couldn’t agree more about the Mack questions, by the third question or so I was starting to cringe. I get that they played against each other a lot this year, I think one question about that is perfectly fine, but man they just kept coming. Felt a bit disrespectful; this is a monumental day for not only our own highly touted prospect but for a young man becoming a professional athlete and you’re asking him questions about another player. Didn’t like it at all.
I want to see a 2nd or 3rd line of C-Celebrini, LW-Will Smith, RW-Kappo Kakko!… send over 2024 42nd overall and a mid prospect (ozzy wiesblatt?) for Kakko
Ha! I don't think the Rangers would go for that but who knows? They can pay Kaapo (pending RFA) a shorter bridge deal for now, but next year will get slightly more interesting with the Breadman with one year left until a UFA.
Malkin went to the finals in his second year, won it in his third year, won it again in his ninth and tenth year. Leon Draisaitl has now played in his tenth year in the NHL and hasn't been to the finals. Malkin had three cups at this point.
@@TheFinFactor I know that’s what I’m saying. He’s been comfortable in the shadow because he’s got rings. I would think Draisaitl would be more comfortable in the shadows if he had something to show for it. I honestly think our team is going to be too young for him and he’s looking for a chance to win a cup in his prime.
I think it would be the perfect time for him to come. He would be THE man in San Jose with a young crop of very good up and coming players. He wouldn't be an old vet going to a team and being a cog in the wheel yet it wouldn't be a rebuilding team either.
Hey Boys, Thanks for the cool show. Unfortunately I was out of town and at the time of the show was in Arizona Cardinal's stadium to catch The Rolling Stones which is another story. (I got a million of 'em hehe) Thus I could not join in as per my usual but, I will tell you that all day my mind kept reminding me about the lottery and I did not check to see what happened until I got home Thursday night (about 3 hours ago) and put on The Fin Factor so your episode banner was the first I heard about how we had done at the lottery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Full disclosure I want so badly to disregard the family friendly ethos of the show right NOW!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our day has finally come and we get the player every other team desires! What a great day for Sharks fans. I would agree with you guys. I think if Celebrini signs Will Smith will likely sing and perhaps some others will push to follow? I think this stroke of fortune will likely help us in our coaching search and will also help in our pursuit of appropriate free agents this off season! Basically, regardless of where you are on the NHL radar right now you know that there is a strong wave of young skill coming to the Sharks and more importantly: You won't have to do all the heavy lifting on your own if you are a quality NHL free agent. Thanks SPJ for sweating the details and making this possible. None of us outside the show probably have any idea how much strain this puts on your talents and for you taking these live shows on thank you! I look forward to the next show boys and I wish you and all Fin Factor Faithful nothing but,the best! We got Celebrini, we got Celebrini, We got Celebrini and you can't have no Celebrini....hahaha Cheers, Pete Clovis, CA
Greetings Paul, Aaron, Great Producer Jason, and the great family with The Fin Factor!! GO SHARKS!! Sorry I missed the live stream. Everyone have a wonderful week, weekend, take care, and stay healthy!!
Sorry I missed this live! I texted my brother when it happened. Hype! As long as we don't end up like the Leafs after they got AM34. I have no reason to feel better about Grier than Lou/Dubas/Shanaplan, but here's to a FREAKING FIRST OA my fellow sufferers wooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The thing about Warsofsky is he was focused on coaching the defense this past season and it's the area on the team that needs the most improvement. Making him head coach would be like failing upwards. I think the Sharks are fine with letting him walk.
Luke Kunin’s contract will be interesting; do they qualify him or decline and let him become a UFA? He’s got arbitration rights, but given his offensive totals, I doubt he gets the $2.75M cap hit ($3M cash) contract he’s coming off of from any team.
The Sharks front office and coaching staff act like Kunin is a Marchand clone (he isn't). They have the cap space to make the offer, but it just seems like they should sign a more talented forward with that money.
Just FYI; Marc edouard vlasic’s contract is pretty much ‘buyout proof’. Why? Because the signing bonus money of any NHL contract IS NOT included in a buyout. Therefore, in Vlasic’s case, the remaining $4.5M in signing bonus due for 24-25/25-26, is not included. His cap hit and salary portion of his contract would be reduced by a buyout, but not signing bonus component. No way SJ sharks owner Plattner would approve that buyout even if Grier asked, especially with how much dead cap money Plattner is already on the hook for the next few seasons.
There's no real reason to either unless they were up against the cap and desperate to sign another player (they are not). Better to let him play it out for two more seasons of being the 7th d-man.
Coach Q can only come back to the league if/when Bettman and the NHL give him their blessing. This has been widely reported the past year or so as rumours have swirled that Coach Q wants back in the league and would like to be at least given the chance to interview for some of the recent head coaching vacancies.
30 mins is all I could withstand of the insane big brain theories in here. And Aaron, buddy, you don't see the Sharks getting a 1st round pick back on anybody we could theoretically move next year but you DO see the GMs deciding to add a 4th retention slot within the next 365 days because the Sharks are the ONLY team in the NHL with more than 1 retention slot currently occupied beyond the 24/25 season? Seriously though? 🙄
They are currently the only team in two years but that won't mean they will continue to be the only team. Three other teams are full now, seven more teams have 2/3 slots. Just some food for thought that the GMs could amend/change rules for themselves whenever they see fit, not necessarily that specific one will be changed.
adding a retention slot(s) is a CBA amendment issue; can’t be done without approval of the NHLPA and therefore won’t be even looked at until negotiations begin for the next CBA in 2026-27. So, NO, GM’s can’t just change rules “whenever they see fit”, CBA is structured so that any changes like these need NHLPA collaboration and joint approval.
I appreciate the comment, but it’s not quite accurate. Though we didn’t get to a “Sharks topic” until the 5min mark when Peter had a superchat comment, the “infomercial” wasn’t 5min in length. I get it. You want to just jump right in to what’s interesting for you. Most do. The thing is, we do rely on fan support to help run the show. Most of the expense comes out of pocket, but if spending a little time reminding folks that we appreciate their support helps subsidize that, then I hope you don’t mind suffering through it. Additionally it actually does help the late-comers not miss something they wanted to talk about. When jumping right into a main topic at show start, oftentimes we’ll have folks hop in and ask about something we’ve already talked about. But again, I appreciate your comment, I understand it, but I hope you understand the reasons we do it. ❤
If Luca Cagnoni can have a career like, say, another short player, Daniel Brière, I will take it! He was solid with the Coyotes. Use to have season tixs for the Coyotes when he played with them. He was not only a fan favorite, he was also a leader on and off the ice. Had a knack to score, when the Yotes needed it.
Sorry I missed when you guys went live. Listening, while I am at work. Great content, as always. Always getting to the point, and staying informative. Agree with your take on Grier. Grier, is looking to build a dynasty. He is not looking to just try to win one Stanley Cup. Unlike his brothers' strategy with the Dolphins, who, they believe, can just sort of "buy a championship".
newest sub hey guys, I was around for the first season in the Cow Palace so I'm old school Please consider putting in chapters that highlight the topic. For example 25 minutes in and you are talking about the writeoff of a season. Don't get me wrong, its great to be a fan but I came here to listen to a take on the prospects shining which is in the headline.
Hope Grier uses all that cap space to continue to accrue draft capital. Taking on some money to facilitate trades and getting picks I think is better than signing free agents to make the team better. No signings are going to make this team compete this next year.
I don't think next year would be a significant change, but bringing in some veterans to help lead the up and coming rookies will be key, along with signing some guys to then flip at the deadline like this season.
