Defensive Talent And Goaltending The Center Of The San Jose Sharks Recent Issues

11 comments

1. Walman is the only plus D we have

2. Missing Blackwood

3. Mcdavid is a +14 the numbers do matter

4. The sharks need to get another top scoring winger in the off-season and get another top 4D d man and upgrade that defense a lot since Askarov is going to be a full-time NHL goalie because you don’t want to put him out there in front of terrible defense and offense

5. The D has been garbage the past few games. Don’t know how much it’s really goaltending that’s the issue

6. A coach does a lot more than pick the lines, my man. You talk about Warsofsky like his only failing is not putting together winning lines, but it's the way they play under him that's the problem. The way he mismanages players' talents by running guys into a system that takes them away from their strengths, and lets Ulmer completely ruin their powerplay potential. Granlund solo manning their blueline when he's arguably their best powerplay goal scorer as the ONLY man that can rip a clean shot from the circle area–especially on the right side. But they stick him in a complete zero-threat position and tie his feet to the blue line. Meanwhile, Toffoli who does his best work down low or in the slot has no one to give him space as a threat on that right side so the sharks are left working the puck up and down the right side while the oppoent's PK overloads the left knowing that they only need to cover the slot and left with the sharks' main threat on baby monitor duty.

   But let's call it for what it is. He was put there because the ownership KNOWS he is a bad coach that they could fire after this season without anyone asking why. The same role Quinn played before him, when they tanked for two straight years trying to win the draft lottery. They wanted to tank, and they wanted a scapegoat.

   They knew this year wasn't going to be good, but it COULD have been a lot better than it has been. Again, this is just ownership/GM creating a scapegoat for an intentionally losing season. I said it when he was named, and I've seen it in him since day 1. He was second in command to David Quinn, one of the worst coaches the NHL has ever seen, and he coaches like a man who David Quinn knew wasn't good enough to take his job.

7. This team is almost done with the asset gathering stage of the rebuild. Once that part of the process is adequate then we can worry about wins and losses tbh. As long as Celebrini, Eklund, Smith and the rest of the young guys are improving then this season is progression

8. Phins up!!!! Being a dolphins and sharks fan is tough man!

9. The defense and the defense pipeline are not in a good place.

10. Cant fault goaltending even when analyzing save percentages. doesn't tell the whole story especially when you have a bad team in front of you. just take the game against the Panthers:

    1st goal – DZ turnover – Vlasic’s backend pass should have been along the boards, instead he passes across the middle
    2nd goal – DZ turnover – Thrun was being pressed hard by their forecheck but his pass should have ben along the boards. Dont remember if it was deflected or what. I’ll have to watch the replay
    3rd goal – Geogiev should have had that
    4th goal – OZ turnover – Ceci fans on a shot from the point
    5th goal – Nice PP Goal, little chance to make a save. Wallman could have had better positioning
    6th goal – Liljegren could have blocked the cross slot pass better
    7th goal – DZ turnover – Ceci terrible breakout pass

    maybe a couple of these could have been a no goal with a better netminder, but doubt it. Dont think goaltending is the problem. For the last 4 years, it's been team defense (turnovers, oddman rushes, etc).

11. Walman is still enough of an asset right now to deserve a penciled-in spot on this "improved" future roster outlook. The question for me is whether there is anyone else in that lineup that deserves an extension to stay. What is Ferraro actually good at that we should be excited about moving forward? It feels like his future is best served on a winner where he can play sheltered shutdown minutes with Toronto or somewhere else. The pipeline is average at best:

    Dickinson – No RHD
    Mukh – No RHD
    Thrun(?) – Thompson

    Cagnoni (high upside, possible long development plan)

    Unknowns: Havelid (hopefully Cuda save him next season, Landen, Roberts Laroque (probably AHL only at best)

    Schaefer really looks like a must pick if we win this lottery, even though i really think Porter is a great consolation prize.