What NHL scouts and coaches think about new Sharks Toffoli, Wennberg originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more about their coverage at Hockey in San Jose nowlisten to it on San Jose Hockey Podcast Nowand follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
It’s obvious what Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg can bring to the Sharks on the ice.
But what they bring off the ice, especially young guys like William Eklund and Will Smith and hopefully Macklin Celebrini, appears to be just as important for the Sharks.
Multiple NHL sources — including three scouts, an executive and a coach, none from San Jose — shared outside perspectives on the newest Sharks.
(Hint: they love Toffoli!)
Toffoli, 32 years old, signed a contract with a four-year, $24 million contract with a full no-trade clause on Monday. This is the richest total and per-season contract the Sharks have ever handed to an outside free agent.
Toffoli is the most expensive contract #SJSharks have already distributed to an external UFA (not an internal signature à la Karlsson in 2019):
$6k AAV (previous high: Rob Blake, $5k AAV in 2008)
$24k total (previous high: Paul Martin, $19.4k for 4 years in 2015)-Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 1, 2024
Toffoli is coming off a 33-goal campaign, his third 30-goal season and eighth 20-goal season. The right-hander immediately becomes the Sharks’ leading scorer.
“He’s not a great skater, but he puts himself in the right places. Solid addition,” said the No. 1 scout. “Good senior who can score. Needs a driving center to get the puck.
All-star Mikael Granlund, or hopefully Celebrini, should be able to feed the right-hander on a consistent basis.
Toffoli should also be the perfect role model for Celebrini, Smoth and company, and that’s no exaggeration.
“He’s a professional,” said a league source.
“Toffoli is a really nice guy. Lot of fun. It will be good for the kids,” said one executive.
“Great room guy,” said Scout #2.
“He’s the best guy ever,” Scout No. 3 said via text message. “Amazing HUMAN for young people to be around.”
For the Sharks, deficient in both scoring and leadership last year except perhaps for stars Steven Stamkos or Jake Guentzel, there may have been no better free agent option than Toffoli.
So while four years and a full no-movement clause could be rich for the 32-year-old sharpshooter, the Sharks have plenty of cap space in the immediate future. There is nothing more important to the future of San Jose than taking some of the burden off Celebrini and Co.’s shoulders.
We hope Toffoli continues to score – we know he will continue to lead.
Wennberg, 29, was signed a two-year contract worth US$10 million. He has a full no-trade clause in the first year of his contract and a limited NTC in his second year.
The 6-foot-9 center reached the 20-assist mark for the seventh time in his career last season with the Seattle Kraken and New York Rangers. He is responsible defensively and stood out on both the power play and the penalty kill.
“Smart 200-foot center and playmaker. Mainly a distributor rather than a shooter. Good size and reliable in all three zones. Good choice for the middle of your lineup,” said Scout #1.
“A really good, athletic, skilled defensive center should be able to play against another team’s top lines,” Scout No. 3 said.
That being said, Wennberg may leave fans wanting more.
“Really talented player,” said the executive. “There’s a lot of jam missing in his game.”
“Skillful, but a little soft,” a league source shared.
“He has next-level skill and ability,” the coach said of a center who has established himself in a third-line central role in recent years.
Regardless, Wennberg should be a very positive, off-ice addition to the Sharks.
“Good boy. Calm down”, offered the executive.
“Good guy,” said a league source.
“A good professional,” said the coach. “It will be good for the children when he feels comfortable in the room. A cool family guy.
