Sharks’ Net OVERHAUL Promises IMMEDIATE Impact | The Biggest Reason For Optimism?

Sharks’ Net OVERHAUL Promises IMMEDIATE Impact | The Biggest Reason For Optimism?

For the Sharks to improve this season, the goalending must be better. Will it actually be better though? You’re Locked on Sharks, your daily podcast on the San Jose Sharks, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to Locked on Sharks, the premier hockey podcast covering your favorite team in the Bay Area. My name is JD Young, caretaker at the Reef, also the co-host of Locked On NHL. I want to thank you for making the Lockdown Sharks your first listen, proudly part of the Lockdown Network. We cover your team every day or at least three to four days a week right now as we’re in the offseason. So, if you want to be an everyday, all you have to do is just follow along wherever you get podcast and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. And today we’re going to be uh we’re going to be digging into the goalending, right? um and trying to figure out right as as these Sharks are hoping to make some improvements and I think one of the big areas that will improve this year is the goalending uh as Yarov Ascarov is coming in and the Sharks acquired Auxner Nadulkovich and we’re going to be kind of exploring that comparing um you know what Ascrov to Blackwood what we saw from both them last year where Ascrov needs to improve and then why the Sharks made a massive improvement from uh Alexander Gorgv with acquiring Alexander Nadulkovich. So um let’s start kind of with the the asky thing, right? Um, and we this I kind of got thinking about it yesterday when we after we talked with some insult. Um, you know, and like why there should be some reasons for optimism and you know I don’t think people realize just one how poor the goalending was last year and two I think how much an improvement as expected to be um based on compared to what we saw last year for a majority of the season, right? And I was curious to see, right, because we hold the the McKenzie Blackwood, you know, kind of up on this pedestal, especially the way he played in his short time with San Jose, but especi, you know, kind of before he got traded, just how good he was for the San Jose Sharks, who, you know, he kept them in a lot of games. Yes, I know they they lost their first what was it 10 or 11 to begin the season last year especially after uh Mackenzie Blackwood got or not after uh Michael Celebrrini got hurt, right? Um but you know after Celebrity returned and he kind of got into the group like the Sharks team was was kind of solid and we we discussed yesterday like they had you know in that time from November 1st through the Blackwood trade on December uh 9th like they were at like 0.94 points per game uh type of team which puts them in that same amount of time puts them around like 23rd in the NHL which better than 30 seconds. So, can Asky, the big question is, can he replicate what McKenzie Blackwood was doing? And I dug into the numbers to see how, again, both players playing on this butt uh Sharks team last season with terrible goalending, so very similar situations. Um, and they played similar like close enough amount of games um during their time. So, of course, Mackenzie Blackwood, right, started the season um and was traded December 9th. Uh BT Vanichek, of course, gets hurt like right before Blackwood gets traded and he has to come up and start playing. Uh and he ended up playing 13 games for the Sharks. Last year, McKenzie Blackwood played 19. Uh so let’s kind of look at how these guys compared um in their time with playing behind the same uh relatively the same San Jose Sharks team. Um so Mackenzie Blackwood like I said 19 games last year goals against average three nice even three save percentage and this is at all situations. So, we’re going to talk about other situations here a little bit more later, but all situations goals against average three for Mackenzie Blackwood. This is only with his time with the San Jose Sharks. Uh, same percentage of 909. He allowed 53 goals in that time. Expected goals allowed was 58.64. So, he saved 5.64 goals uh saved above expected during that time with a high danger save percentage of 843. So, very solid numbers, right? And during especially again keeping in in mind uh how poor the Sharks team was last year, but during that kind of magical time of November through the beginning of December before he got traded, the Sharks were pretty competitive team during that time, right? Uh, you think about how they they blew out like the Kings and the Kraken like back-to-back games and they were playing, you know, they were playing pretty solid hockey during, again, small sample size, but we got to work with what we have to work with. Afterwards, of course, uh, you know, uh, McKenzie Blackwood gets traded. Um, VTEC Vanichek goes down with the weird puck, hits him in the face and breaks his orbital bone. So he’s out for, you know, I think it was about 6 weeks. Um, and then you have new goalending between McKenzie Blackwood and Alexander Gorgv. So, um, Gorggv or not, sorry, Gorgv, uh, Ascrov in his time with the Sharks posted again pretty similar numbers. So, he played 13 games, 3.10 goals against with an 896 state percentage, 37 goals allowed with a 39.16 expected goals. Um, and so he had 2.16 goals saved above expected with an 822 high danger save percentage. So, uh, again, nothing like nothing horrible. All those numbers are comparable, I would say, to to McKenzie Blackwood, right? And you know, I know Blackwood played more games in that time. Um, and but like this I’d say they’re at least in the same ballpark. like it’s not some massive drop off from McKenzie Blackwood to Ascrov uh last season. And you’re of course you’re right Ascrov who’s you know going into last year had played you what three NHL games um you know to his you know while Mackenzie Blackwood is a multi-year veteran. Um so of course there’s going to be some more ups and downs etc. Even even this year, right, going this year as Blackwood or as A as expected to be the starter for the Sharks and play a full season in the NHL, there’s going to be some ups and downs. Like I I’m I’m not trying to be delusional about it, but I I do think like those numbers should be somewhat realistic for the the Sharks to obtain uh or at least for Ascrov to obtain uh especially with what I think is an improved defense, right? So if ASCRA is anywhere kind of just close to those numbers, I think that’s that that is a area for I think that’s a win for the Sharks if and I think that is a big improvement for the Sharks is especially as we dig into uh Gorgv’s numbers later like if Ascrov is right around like if he’s around a three goals against and floating with a 900 save percentage and his goal saved above expected is positive Um that’s a that’s a massive win for the Sharks, especially compared to um what they have played behind the past couple seasons with the exception of McKenzie Blackwood and the way he’s performed with it with him. But um you know with with Blackwood right like he was a big reason for why the Sharks really played well especially when Celabbrini came back because they had the confidence in their goalending and because Blackwood was performing a better than expected right with with his goal save expected um and just again just that kind of confidence that swagger of having McKenzie Blackwood back there and I think as who we know is a pretty confident guy um who played well in his small time against a in a very bad Sharks team last year. Um who played extremely well with the bar much better Barracuda team last year. Uh we saw his performances in the playoffs uh where he was especially early like against the uh against Ontario Rain was just absolutely locked in. Um, you know, like he he played extremely well in the playoffs. Like he was not the reason why uh the Barracuda didn’t win against Colorado. They just ran out of scoring, especially with uh MVP Andrew Potoski missing. Like they just didn’t have enough scoring in the playoffs, right? It wasn’t Asgrov’s fault. like Ascrov Ascrov kept the Barracuda in a lot of games and you know they just they were trying to win every game two to one and they just ran out of firepower. But um I think with Ascrov like you you see the confidence in how players play in front of him because they know if I make a mistake most likely Askov’s got me covered and we we even when we talked about this last season when the Sharks acquired him and when he played his first couple games with the Barracuda just how much of a difference it makes having Yarlav Ascro back there and um I don’t see why that confidence and why that isn’t going to change uh jumping from the AHL to the NHL. I I think um as he gets more comfortable, you’re going to see that swagger and that confidence and almost cocky, borderline cockiness at times um return to and it’s infectious and I think it’s going to help um this Sharks team much like when we saw with Blackwood back there where as long as as long as 30’s back there, uh it feels like we have a good chance to win this and we saw it last year at times too. Think back to that Oilers game where Ascrov stood on his freaking head uh until the very very end and the Oilers uh won it very late and and over tied it very late and won it in overtime. Um I I think Ascarov will is going to help solidify the position. So where does he need to improve? I think is the big question, right? And how do you get those numbers closer to what Blackwood’s numbers were? I got the answer for you and we’re going to dig into that here in just one second. 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We’re probably going to have about one a week uh kind of for the rest of the summer here before training camp gets started. So u make sure you’re following along wherever you get podcast and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. All right. So we right the goal is to try to replicate Blackwood for Ascrov is to try to kind of replicate Blackwood’s performance as best you can. So what does Ascarov kind of need to do better this year? Right. And kind of as I was digging through the numbers and kind of looking at how they performed, right, all situations, five on five and then penalty kill. Um, this is where you you’ll kind of see where Ascro needs to improve. So, looking at their five on five numbers here, if you’re watching on YouTube, you’ll have it right here. If not, I’m going to explain it to you. Blackwood at five on five and played 8446. Ascar played 60246 uh minutes in their again five on five and the numbers are very very comparable. Um you know again I know Blackwood played a little bit more he faced more shots etc etc but the numbers are very comparable and in in some cases actually favor Ascarov. So Ascarov faced almost 300 shots. Blackwood a little over 450. Goals against average 298 to 269 in favor of Ascarov. Same percentage 909 to 908 in favor of Blackwood. So basically a wash there. Goals allowed 42 to 27. Again uh Blackwood played about 250 minutes more at five on five. Uh expected goals allowed 41.94 to 28.2. So Ascarov actually had a positive goal save above expected. Blackwood was actually a slight negative and again very very slight here. So you basically even but um and the high danger save percentage 833 to 824. So Ascrov clearly can can replicate what Blackwood did at five on five and we we saw it last year, right? Matter of times Blackwood, you know, played extremely well uh behind a again same team for the most part, right? uh as you know and it’s not like this team was uh major improvements or you know and even the team there was pieces kind of picked away from it go throughout the season but really wasn’t until kind of the right before the trade deadline when um everything went right with Walman and Zetland and even like the CC and Granland stuff which was a little bit out but I if I recall correctly Blackwood was kind of back to or I mean sorry not Blackwood Ascarov was was back to playing in the AHL that are pretty close to playing in the AHL at that time. So, um the the area though where Ascro really needs to improve, right, is the penalty kill. And this is I think this is going to be kind of that next step for him is uh right, what’s the saying is your best penalty killer is your goalender. Um and I I know the Sharks penalty kill really fell off a cliff, right? And whether it’s Nico Sturm who was out last year and again pieces kind of getting pulled away or whatever it was, right? But the penalty kill just wasn’t the same after Blackwood left. And I think you can easily point to Blackwood being the reason for it, especially again when you dig behind the numbers. Uh penalty kill minutes and that uh so 86 minutes to 47 uh for Blackwood. Uh Blackwood faced 82 shots. uh Ascar faced 44. So similarish kind of shots uh per minute I guess. Um goals against average though 557 and again this is just a PK. So like of course those numbers are going to be kind of fuel inflated to 1014 save percentage 9002 to 818 in favor of Blackwood. uh goals allowed. They both allowed eight goals, but Blackwood just more efficient penalty killer than Ascarov. Um you know, the expected goals allowed uh 13.32 to 9.78. So again, it’s not like Ascarov was horrible. Like the goal save above expected was, you know, 1.78, but for Blackwood, it was at 532. So he saved over five goals saved above expected just in those 86 minutes, right? High dangerous save percentage 864 to 813. So when when the going got tough there in those big penalty kill moments, Blackwood was at his best and Ascar just wasn’t. Like again, right, you have a 22year-old goalie who’s played, you know, 16 NHL games. Of course, like you’re go like he’s not going to be great in every situation. And that’s where that veteran ship of Blackwood who’s played in a bunch of games and just kind of felt it kind of knows the situations a little bit better. I think that’s this is a big area for improvement for for ASI this season is if you can get closer to what we saw from Blackwood on the PK that’s one going to help the Sharks penalty kill because the Sharks penalty kill was god awful last season but two that’s going to help your overall numbers is is kind of those critical penalty kill moments if you can play as well anywhere close to what Blackwood did last year you’re going to see again see improvement ment from the San Jose Sharks um because of you like you’re just not letting as many goals, right? And the penalty kill improves. Uh the hope is you’re not taking as many dumb penalties this season, but um Right. So if if Blackwood can play similar to what he did last year, which was again close, maybe a notch below below Blackwood uh or below Yeah, below Blackwood at 515. And if Ascrov can improve his shorthanded um play and again it if just play up a couple notches, those are the big reasons why I think the Sharks are going to improve and especially when you compare it to the other candidates that we saw last year, the other players that we saw last year play a big chunk of games, namely Alexander Gorgv. So, we’re going to dig into that and talk about why I think the goalie room is better with Ascarov Nelkovich compared to kind of what we saw last year post McKenzie Blackwood. So, uh we’ll dig into the rest of the goalies here uh in just one second. All right, before we finish up, do of course want to thank you for making Locked on Sharks your first listen. Uh when you’re done with this episode, go check out the Locked On NHL podcast. There’s no off season. Uh we’re still covering you guys daily uh with the NHL stories that matter the most with local coverage you love from Locked On. Find Locked on NHL on YouTube, wherever you listen to podcast. All right, so how bad was Gorggivv? Um it wasn’t great, guys. Uh let’s just bring up the numbers. So, Gorgiev played 31 games with the Sharks. And again, I know the Sharks team lost pieces as the season went on, but uh my eyes also tell me Gorggv just wasn’t as good as the other guys, right? Um so, Gorgv played 31 games, 388 goals against average. Remember, Blackwood Ascar right around three. Gorgiev, there’s a reason why they call him Forv. Uh 3.88. Save percentage 875, Ascrov 896, Blackwood above nine. Goals allowed 112 goals all situations for Gorgv. Expected goals allowed 96. So he basically let in 16 more goals than expected in 31 games. Not a math guy, but that’s what 31 games, 16 goal. That’s like half a goal a game more than you’re expected to give up. Again, the worst team in the NHL. Defense bad, etc., etc. I get it. High danger save percentage 820. So, Gorgv just just the right, we would make this joke about Martin Jones all the time. Uh, way for way back, right? that one co-orker where just isn’t pulling his weight and anytime he’s there you’re just like gh my day is going to be worse because now I got to do more right that’s probably the same kind of sentiment when Gorg is in there like not having Alexander Gorg play 31 games for you and again even if if if Ascarov is anywhere close to what we saw last year without making an improvement if he’s just closer to if He’s close to what we saw last year. If you just run out the same numbers, he ends up with an 896 save percentage. Uh right, goals against average 3.1 or whatever it was. Like if it’s anywhere, if that’s what you roll out for an entire season from, uh Ascarov, not, you know, not counting in uh improvements he’s going to make as he’s still a young player. Um, right. The improvements in the defense that we we kind of expect with Orlav um and Lety and Clingberg and Mukmadan just rolling that out and not having to have Gorg play 31 games for you. That right there is why I think the Sharks are going to improve there. Just the addition by subtraction of not having Alexander Gorgv on your team and credit to my career. Best way to tank having garbage goending. He was like, “Guys, I know I know Celebrity is fun, right? Will Smith’s fun, but let’s do this one more time. Let me get Gorggiv.” Um, right. Ascrov not going anywhere this season. Uh, maybe, maybe not. Is, you know, we’ll see, but like Ascarov’s not going anywhere this season. He’s signed for two years and he’s expected to be the long-term starter for the San Jose Sharks. Um, so just again basically having Mackenzie Blackwood. The hope is basically having Mackenzie Blackwoodesque uh in net for you with Ascrov and a player who should be improving throughout the season even though again might be some ups and down more ups and downs but you’re hoping by the end of the season he’s better than the player that he was to start the season. What about the other guys? Right. and and VTEC Vanichek was the other kind of main character for uh the Sharks last year and um his numbers uh pretty similar. 18 games, 388 goals against with an 882 save percentage. Um 63 goals allowed on a 53.4 expected goals. So he had basically minus 10 uh goals saved above expected playing in 18 games. Again, not like a big math guy, but that’s kind of similar to 0.5 expected goals given up per his starts or his games played. Uh, with a high dangerous save a percentage of 781. But what about this new kid? Right. So, the Sharks bring in they trade for Alexander Nadulkovich. Um, right. Well, what’s he walking into? Well, like Nadulkovich famously played for a bad team in the Pittsburgh Penguins and again Penguins slightly better than the Sharks last year, but still one of the like bottom feeders of the NHL. Um, and the defense pretty bad uh, as well for them as they gave up a ton of goals. And you know, of course, when you have Crosby, like the offense is just going to be naturally like better. But overall the defense um pretty similar state and the goalending was was off also for the most part pretty horrific for for the Penguins. But his numbers last year though still an improvement on what we saw from those guys. So if Nadulkovich can copy anywhere close to this. So he played 38 games last year which is probably what you’re going to expect, right? 35 feels about right for Nadulkovich this season. 3.12 goals against with an 894 save percentage, 112 goals allowed on expected goals of 104. So he had a minus 8 save goals saved above expected with an 801 high dangerous save percentage. But again, his minus 8 goals saved above expected that came in 38 games, right? Not uh 18 or 20 or whatever like his. So you had a less minus or le a smaller goals saved above expected at minus 8 compared to um Gorgv who was almost 16 and VTEC managus 10 while playing base you know he played more games than either one of those guys. So if Videlovic going to be in a similar situation if he can post those similar numbers like that’s still a massive improvement on VTEC Vanichek and what we saw from Alexander Gorg. So the goalending itself like that is the biggest reason why I think the Sharks are going to improve this year. And how many games did the Sharks lose where they had a one-goal lead late into the game and then they end up coughing it up, right? And then they lose, you know, they lose by two because of an empty net or something like that. What if your goalie just kind of closed things out here? And I think with Nadulkovich who I think is you know again like I’m not I don’t think Nadulkovich is a worldbeating goalie and you know like uh a franchise changing goalie but I think he’s an improvement on Vtech Vanichek and he’s especially an improvement on Alexander Gorgv and I think Ascrov is better than all those guys I just mentioned and if if he can replicate what we saw from McKenzie Blackwood that’s why I think the Sharks are going to be better this year because I just think they’re going to have more consistent, reliable goalending. And again, this this does not make this team a playoff team, but that minus 105 goal differential should drastically improve because I think the defense is going to be better with guys like uh Dimmitri Orof and with Nick Lei like we talked about yesterday with something soul. I think that those guys are going to be an improvement on the guys you had last year, right? Um, and John Clingberg definitely the wild card of the group, but a guy who can, you know, I think he’s going to show more offensive improvement. Um, and like he’s he’s still I think got some gas in the tank. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the the the teal color glasses, but and again, Muk McDullan who was playing very well before he got hurt. If Sam Dickinson can make the team, I do think the defense will improve. So yes, this isn’t like this is not a, you know, like an 80 point team or anything like that, but that jump from 50 to 65 if you’re a lot of those games that you lose by one, if the you win half of those because your goalending is better and because you’re not giving up four goals a game with Alexander Gorgov and then you’re not pressing for offense, I think the Sharks can kind keep things a little bit more close to the vest um and buttoned up. And I think Gorgia or I think Ascrov and Adelkovic um I think they can play at least kind of close to combined close to league average goalending compared to what we’ve seen recently. So uh yes, I believe in I believe in Ascrov like I I’ve been a huge believer in Asgrov. Uh, and I again I think Nadulkovich is an improvement on what we saw from especially from Gorgiev and I think he’s improvement on what we saw from VTEC Vanichek. So, um, that’s going to be it for me today. Uh, we’ll be back next week uh, as we continue to be back down to three episodes a week. So, we’ll be back Sunday night Monday. Uh, so make sure you guys are following along wherever you get podcast. Of course, you can watch on YouTube as well. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at Lockdown Sharks. Follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky Fryhole. Till next week. Bye, friends.

The episode examines the San Jose Sharks’ goaltending situation, focusing on how Yaroslav Askarov can replicate Mackenzie Blackwood’s performance. It meticulously analyzes their statistics, comparing performances at even strength and on the penalty kill. Areas needing improvement are highlighted, particularly emphasizing Askarov’s penalty kill numbers. The analysis extends to Alexandar Georgiev’s challenges from the previous season, exploring how his absence might positively impact the team’s dynamics.

The spotlight then shifts to Alex Nedeljkovic and his potential role in the Sharks’ lineup. The discussion suggests that if Nedeljkovic can replicate his previous strong performances, it could significantly boost the team’s competitiveness. This segment provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of how Nedeljkovic’s skills might fit into the Sharks’ strategy and potentially elevate their game to new heights.

The episode concludes on an optimistic note, speculating on the overall impact of improved goaltending on the Sharks’ performance. It discusses how the addition of defensive players like Dimitri Orlov and Nick Leddy could complement enhanced netminding, potentially leading to more competitive play. This final segment ties together the goaltending analysis with broader team strategies, giving fans a holistic view of the Sharks’ prospects for the upcoming NHL season.

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