Watching Hockey: The Hockey Guy Part 3

Watching Hockey: The Hockey Guy Part 3

Nadulkovich from Pittsburgh and Ascarov from inside the Sharks organization. Seems like that’s going to be the the one-two goalie tandem for the Sharks this year. How do you feel about that? Obviously, we saw enough of Ascarov last year, certainly in San Jose with Nadelovich. We don’t know about him firsthand yet, but how do you see that goalie tandem? Uh it it is going to be interesting to see if Ascrov is ready to play say 50 plus games, right? Uh Nadulkovich is a decent middle- of the road backup. He is capable of starting 25 games, I would say, during a season. I think if you stretch Nadulkovich a little too thin, then that’s where some of his his issues may come up. So, Escar Ascarov looks like he’s going to be the real deal. This is a good test for him and for San Jose’s rebuild because if he is, obviously, that’s a huge piece of your team for the next 5 10 years. Uh, so he’s going to be the starter I would think on opening night and as long as they don’t play Nadulkovich too much, they’ll be okay. I think the goalending will be the strongest they’ve had in a while. You know, there was a pretty strong reaction to when Ryan Reeves was acquired by the San Jose Sharks a couple weeks ago in that trade with Toronto. Look, the move was calculated. This was a move made by San Jose. This was this was a very intentional move uh despite what fans might think of it for or against. How do you see Ryan Reeves coming to San Jose? What’s your big picture take on that? He Reeves is an interesting one because he doesn’t fight as much as he used to. I think he only had one fight this past season with the one, but he doesn’t have to. Like Reeves Reeves is basically that guy that can walk into a crowd and go, “Is there a problem?” And everybody will say, “No, sir. There’s no problem. I don’t have Do you have a problem?” I don’t have a problem. We’re We don’t have a problem. Um, I I think that some of the edge maybe went off of his game in Toronto. Maybe he can refine that in San Jose. And again, he’s an older player. He’s played a lot in the NHL. He would have a lot of information to pass on. Uh, and I I think that’s underrated sometimes by fans where I don’t know why you pick up that player. You need those veteran players. You need those guys who’ve And for him too, he’s been through so many different organizations. There’s definitely going to be times where he’s able to help. I don’t think he’s going to drop the gloves very often and I don’t think he’ll play more than probably maybe 50 55 games. But for San Jose, they don’t have to worry about the cap hit. They don’t have to worry about any of that right now. I think for veteran leadership, it’s not like Thrron was in their long-term picture. So I I don’t think there’s any risk to it for San Jose. Plus, I mean, with so many young players like the Sharks are bound to have, whether it is a Misa, but also an Eklund and a Smith and a Celibbrini and a graph and, you know, you got players that and Canon eventually got young players that you care about, isn’t a 35 plus year old like Reeves just being around like you’re saying, his presence, there is some like security about that. Like there is some protection feeling about that even to your point if he doesn’t drop the gloves. And I’m not I’m I’m not also not saying that’s all he’s expected to do. I’m just saying that part of it makes a lot of sense to me at least. Yep. As long as he’s deployed properly, I I don’t think it it hurts their game any. Yeah. And you know, having a veteran like Reeves, I I think will help those young players. And he he still he still chirps. He’s still prominent when he’s when he’s out on the ice. I I don’t see how he hurts like when you’ve already when you’ve got a team that’s been at the bottom of the league for the last few years. Yeah, I don’t think bringing in a fourthliner who can be an enforcer, I don’t think that’s a bad idea. Between Dickinson, Musty, Halton, Canyone, I could go on and on with this list. There’s so many young players in the the pipeline for San Jose with with kind of the almost ready type scenario. And you know what’s going to happen, you just don’t know when their opportunity is going to happen. How do you know? And I know neither of us are general managers here nor scouts, but in in your view of of how good timing has happened for young players, what are the key indications that a young player is ready for that that big step? The things that I usually look for, I know if I’m watching preeason, like the goal scoring is fine and and all the flashy stuff is fine. It’s it’s how they handle the physical game. Do they take retaliatory penalties where they don’t need to? Right? Do they have that maturity to turn the other way? Do they come back and play defense? Do they show that intensity? Like they don’t have to body check necessarily, but have that ability to come back and play. So that for a general manager, you can look and say, “Okay, this kid’s somewhat ready. We can put him in a bottom six role.” But if he’s not showing that willingness to come back, like I remember uh watching a game, it was a preseason game for Vancouver and Jordan Suban I think had two or three goals in that game and and yet watching that game live I remember noticing he was never in position. So I was like, okay, the offense is there, but because he’s never in position, he’s not making the team. And that’s that’s one of those things that you’ll notice more that’s where the eye test makes although I guess analytics would say hey wasn’t in position either right but it it is it is tricky like I think Dickinson is ready uh having watched a couple of Dickinson’s games. Um I I think Dickinson is 100% ready for his time with the Sharks and I think he is exactly what they need on the blue line. Um, the others, Musty probably needs a little more time. Uh, couple others probably need a little more time, but I I think Dickinson’s the real deal. Just And there’s that feeling that, you know, when you watch a game and you go, “Yeah, I think he’s” and you can’t really articulate necessarily, but there’s just the way they handle themselves. The thing I always say with defenseman is they don’t look like a rookie where you’re not looking at the play and going, “Well, but he’s young. Yeah, he screwed that up, but he’s he’s young.” And when you’re not saying that about them, that right there says they’re probably closer to ready. With Dickinson, I obviously watched his OHL season with London and and that was great, but it was it was the smallest thing. It was watching him skate at development camp and and the confidence and the way he was skating and playmaking that sold me as much as watching anything he did all last regular season, which is crazy, but to your point, it’s the eye test even more than the numbers in production. Hey, last thing I want to touch on here. Joe Joe Thoron headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in November. He’s going to be officially inducted. No surprise, right? But the fact that he’s the first ballot, uh, literally the only thing he didn’t get to do in his career was hoist the Stanley Cup. But, uh, what what stands out to you as as it as it being an obvious thing for Jumbo to be in? Uh, Thornton was such a great pure passer. He was very unselfish on the ice. I don’t I don’t think him not having a Stanley Cup is necessarily I I remember that era for the Sharks and how many people piled on Thoron and Marlo, but I never felt like it was their fault. No. Like I I’m not one that blames one or two players if a team doesn’t win a cup because it does take a team of 20 players. Uh Thornton was just he was a great guy. I never heard any complaints about him on or off the ice and he played forever and in a supporting role later in his career he was still effective. So to me it was it was obvious that he should be a first ballot hall of famer. His time in San Jose was absolutely fantastic and I’m I’m glad the Sharks are keeping him in the organization. It’s always smart for a team to take their their their their legends and find a way to keep them incorporated in the organization. And I think it’s it’s great from top to bottom. You know, technically right now, Joe Thornton and I are co-workers. There you go. There you go. I mean, who who would have thought it? That that is not proper life. That is not how life is supposed to work, but that’s how it is. So, there you go. Yep. It’s like u I’ve had I’ve had occasions where uh I know there was Mo I met in in Chilowak years back. Uh he passed last year, but um I met him and he was like, “Oh, I watch all your videos. Can I get a picture with you?” And I said, “No, I grew up watching you play hockey.” I asked for the picture with you, not the other way around. That’s weird. So, we got a picture taken together. And it is weird. It is really strange when you have that experience that this person knows who you are even like like the realization that they’re actually hockey players that I watch on TV that know who I am. I I don’t even think about that. I put that aside cuz that’s just my brain can’t process that. Well, you do a great job. You are so fun to watch on your YouTube channel. I want to invite everybody if they’re not already there, which I imagine they are, but tell a friend, get everybody on the hockey guy, also the entertainment guy. I’ve heard of him. I don’t know if he’s related to you. Uh he’s he stirred up some controversy with his opinion on Happy Gilmore, too. He’s I did a video on that as well, too. He’s a he’s a separate entity, a separate commodity, but the hockey guy and the entertainment guy are both great. Shannon, I really appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Have a great rest of the summer. You too.

In the third installment of Watching Hockey with Brodie Brazil featuring guest The Hockey Guy, they wrap up the conversation by discussing the Sharks new additions from free agency.