Winners From The Mikael Granlund & Cody Ceci Trade

The San Jose Sharks traded their most significant assets, Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci, to the Dallas Stars for a 2025 first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick (which turns into a third-round pick if the Stars make the Finals).

With any roster move, a ripple effect occurs to the remaining players as to who takes on a more prominent role and who has a chance to take on more responsibility. Let's look at some winners from the trade:

Alex Wennberg

Without Granlund on the team, Alex Wennberg is the natural answer to pick up the slack. Wennberg has been a staple as the third-line center this season, and his most common linemates are Tyler Toffoli (now playing on the line with William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini), Luke Kunin, and Barclay Goodrow.

While Wennberg does face tougher competition on the second line, he will see an improvement in linemate quality with Fabian Zetterlund and Will Smith.

It's a small sample size, but Smith and Wennberg have generated more shot attempts than their opponents this season. While that may not seem very impressive, the Sharks as a team sit at 44.68 CF%.

Jack Thompson

With Cody Ceci also gone, 2020 third-round pick Jack Thompson now has a big opportunity. Thompson, who is in the last year of his ELC, should be an everyday player for the Sharks as he is one of two healthy right-handed defensemen on the roster.

In limited action, Thompson has been solid for the Sharks and should get an opportunity to help pick up the slack in Ceci's absence. His puck-moving and transition abilities are much needed to help take some pressure off of Jake Walman, who has struggled since his return from injury.

Thompson can use this time as an audition for next season to establish himself as a mainstay on the Sharks as they look to rebuild their defensive group with Yaroslav Askarov expected to take the reigns full time next year.

Fans of the Draft:

Without Mikael Granlund, the San Jose Sharks have to be the favorites to have the top odds to win the lottery. Whether they draft Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, James Hagens, or Porter Martone, there will be a debate for another day, but the Sharks should be in a great position to have their pick.

With another first-round pick in Mike Grier's arsenal, the Sharks could potentially have three straight drafts of adding multiple first-round picks into the NHL's best prospect pool.

2023 - Will Smith, Quentin Musty
2024 - Macklin Celebrini, Sam Dickinson

Or if GM Mike Grier wants to be aggressive, he can utilize it to trade for a young NHLer or a player who should be in the NHL soon. An extra first-round pick and an estimated $42 million in cap space gives Mike Grier flexibility heading into the offseason to do whatever he wants to do to help improve the roster.