Which Sharks Summer Moves Are DELIVERING and Which Are FAILING Expectations

Which of the Sharks free agents have lived up to expectations and which have left you wanting a little bit more? We rank them. 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 Locked On Sharks your first listen, proudly part of the Locked On Network. We cover your team every day. And if you want to be an everydayer, 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 taking an early look at the Sharks free agency class uh and which players have kind of lived up to expectations. Uh which ones leave you a little bit wanting and just you know kind of how everybody’s panning out to start. So um we’re going to be starting with the the disappointment guys and then kind of working our way up to uh who I think is the best free agent SL movie move of the the of the summer. So, we’ll be looking at players who the Sharks either acquired through trades, uh, signed, picked up off of waiverss, all those players that have like moves that happened during the summer. Uh, Vince Aorio, who the Sharks acquired in the off during the season here, he’s not counted because he wasn’t really part of the plan, so to say. So, um, but before we get to all that, do want to let you guys know that today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Uh download the game time app, create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. So uh one also like asterisks and stuff. Um I am off the grid Monday, Tuesday, and the majority of Wednesday. I’ll be back for the actual game Wednesday night, but so I’m recording this before Sunday’s game. Uh, so if somebody has like a hat-tick or if uh, you know, Nadelovich poops pants against the Red Wings or whatever, like none of Sunday’s stats are counted toward the towards this, unfortunately, just because again, I had to kind of record ahead of time. Um, so that way you guys would have content. There’ll be so Monday there’ll be the there’s, you know, there’ll be the Red Wings breakdown. Uh this episode will be uh is Tuesday’s episode and then Wednesday’s episode will be Wednesday night after the Sharks uh game there because uh again off the grid uh like literally off the grid for a couple days here. So um but let’s start with with the player who I think has been the most disappointing for the San Jose Sharks to start this season. I think it’s pretty easy. It’s it’s Nick Ley here. Uh so Ley who the Sharks acquired off of waiverss from the St. Louis Blues is in the final year of his contract worth $4 million. He’s played seven games, has zero goals, two assists with one shot on goal. His average time on ice is playing 1712 a night. Corsy for when Leetty is on the ice, the Sharks are taking 37.57% of the shot attempts. When Nick Ley is on the ice, this at five on five, the Sharks are scoring 27.27 27 of the goals for uh Nick Ley has not had a good start to his San Jose Sharks tenure. Um and is a player it’s it’s no coinc coincidence I think that once Ley got hurt and has been out of the lineup. The Sharks defense has looked much better so far. Uh I think the structure’s been there much better. I think just the the personnel on the ice has been better. and Lety, who again the Sharks acquired via Waivers because the St. Louis Blues uh were basically they wanted to try to trade him to the Sharks. He had a no trade clause, so they put him on waiverss and the Sharks uh or were able to acquire him that way. This is a guy who I think it’s fair to say probably doesn’t want to be here, right? And yes, he’s a professional. he’s going to do um you know still continue to try and stuff but it has been a a very disappointing start for a guy who again last year was dealt with a lot of injuries and wasn’t himself at the end of end of the year coming back from those injuries. you know, he’s been well at least he was healthy coming into camp, right? And I know he’s dealing with a a shoulder injury from a check um you know, happened the other night, but uh just looks late on some of his decisions. Just kind of looks passive. Doesn’t really hasn’t really kind of been, you know, it feels like engaged uh with with, you know, kind of the task at hand. And um you know this is the gamble when you acquire players this way. Some players see it as a fresh start especially younger players. Some players see it as a punishment and I think Lety probably feels like this is a punishment to come from a Blues team which was good last year and the Blues have been off to a horrible start to start this season. But um you know he again like it just it looks like he doesn’t want to be here and it’s not uh has not been a good start and there’s still plenty of time. Um but I you do wonder if there might be a mutual uh decision to try to kind of separate ways and just be like this isn’t working out for either party here. though. Um anyway, but uh the the next most disappointing player uh would have to be John Clingberg. Uh so Clingberg who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million. Uh he has a no trade no move clause until the end of January and then it opens up uh where basically he can kind of still pick his team if he wants to get uh traded uh at the trade deadline. Clingberg scored uh he’s played six games. He scored a goal, has two assists with 11 shots on goal, playing 21-22 a night. Cory4, so when he is on the ice, the Sharks are taking 34.04% of the shot attempts. Goals for 38.46% of the goals scored when Clingberg is on the ice. Um, so Clingberg dealt with some injuries. I know he had a concussion in preseason and then I think he had a little bit of a kind of a setback from that after playing beginning of the season. Has gotten back and has been given the kind of the reigns to the first power play unit. And um with with Clingberg like you know with John Clingberg like what you’re getting right he is an offensively driven defenseman who’s going to help you try to create more offense and you’re going to have question marks in the defensive zone. Um the problem is we’ve had the question marks in the defensive zone and we haven’t really he hasn’t really kind of jelled with the offense yet especially on the power play. Um, you know, with with Clingberg out, Orlav was kind of given the reigns to the power play and it felt like a more natural fit, especially with the pieces that the Sharks have where, you know, you have Tofoley and you have Smith and you have Celibbrini and you have Ecuin, all four guys who have played together a lot um and and really kind of built up this chemistry over the past year. And Olive was more of a kind of a point guard or distributor. With Clingberg, it it kind of feels like he’s more of trying to insert himself a little bit too much with it and not his job should be more of just get the puck moving instead of just like keep shooting. Um, and I I think that that part as well with some of the uh issues in the defensive zone, right? You think back to the Anaheim game, right? just like his inability to tie up players um in those situations and that led to two goals and what a game that you lost seven to six in overtime. A game that you scored six goals and you still lost this game because your inability to just tie up a 19-year-old kid in Beckett Senica uh like that stuff like that, right? and you know he had a couple giveaways um against the Avalanche that you know luckily Ascarov was able to to kind of bail him out in these situations but uh the Clingberg experience I think he’s definitely gotten off to a rocky start and that’s not to say like Clingberg can’t you know kind of get back into it and you know a guy like Clingberg who’s you know said he’s healthy and wants to kind of use this opportunity to springboard you wonder if maybe he’s trying a little bit too hard especially in the offensive zone to try to kind pump up some numbers here and that by and not letting them kind of come naturally. So hopefully he can kind of get into the groove of things here because I still think Clingberg can be a big time addition especially on the power play, but it so far it’s just been a little bit rocky uh to kind of start. And when you’re not kind of driving the offense that we expect you to and plus your defensive numbers are bad, that’s where you you know like if you’re at least driving offense, you can point to that like the old Eric Carlson thing, right? Yeah, Eric Carlson’s defense wasn’t the greatest, but look what Eric Carlson could do in the offensive zone. Clingberg, it’s it’s you’re supposed to be driving offense and it looks like you’re kind of trying to take over the offense instead of driving the offense and letting these other guys kind of especially guys like Celibbrini and Smith and Tofoley and Ekan. Uh, let them kind of do their thing and it feels like you’re trying to kind of take over. I think there needs to be a little bit him just kind of taking a little bit of a step back and let let the offense come to him. So, um we’re going to look at a bunch of forwards here who have uh you know kind of all made some impact here in one way or another. Uh plus we’ll look at Nadulkovich as well. Uh so we’ll get to that here in just one second. Let’s be honest, most of us can’t even name all of our financial accounts, let alone what we’re worth between 401ks, savings, and investments. It’s easy to lose track. That can mean leaving money on the table. So, I started using Monarch, an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or on your phone. Uh, it’s great because you can organize all your accounts, track your spending, get a better handle on your investments without ever having to touch a spreadsheet. Monarch’s visual database and smart tools make it easy to understand where your money’s going and how it to make it work harder. It’s like your own personal puckedia. Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code locked on NHL at monarch.com for 50% off your first year. That’s monarch.com. code locked on NHL for half off your first year. All right, before we continue, uh do of course want to thank you for making Locked on Sharks your first listen. Uh for your second listen, go check out the locked on NHL game night every game, every night until Stanley Cup champion is crowned. Get local analysis on a national scale. find NHL game night unlocked on NHL on YouTube wherever you listen to podcast. So, uh the next player who a player I was uh very not super happy with when the Sharks acquired him, but I I will admit has been a pleasant surprise. Uh that would be one Ryan Reeves. So, Reeves uh was traded for this off season. Uh he has one in the last year of his deal at $1.35 million. He’s played 10 games, has two goals, zero assists with six shots on goal while playing 643 a night. Yes, 6 minutes and 43 seconds. Corsy4 3905%. So when he’s on the ice, the Sharks are taking 39% of the shots. Goals for 28.57%. So when he’s on the ice, the Sharks are scoring 28% 29% of the goals that are scored. So, um, like Reeves is is you knew exactly what Reeves was going to be. I like I think he’s lived up to the expectations so far, right? He’s, uh, got, you know, he’s shown some toughness. He’s gotten to a couple fights here. Um, he’s scored more goals than I think any of us expected to start the season. But when he is on the ice, the Sharks have also like not done well, right? uh when you give up that many shot attempts, when you give up that many goals for and you know so I I think it’s with Reeves it’s very much the like picking your spots with him because he he has shown to make some impact plays here but I think like the usage which is a big question of like well is it worth playing a guy less than seven minutes a night for him to you know unfortunately for the Sharks to kind of get caved in while he’s But, you know, he has, like I said, he has had some big moments. He’s had some, you know, he had a a couple fights and has, you know, kind of added some of that toughness and like that fourth line in general has been pretty solid to start this season. So, um, again, it’s not, you know, like I said, I think Reeves has done better than than what I’ve expected, but those underlying numbers are also not pretty, right? And again, for a team, you know, most the Sharks do get outshot most nights and and do give up more goals than than they typically uh score. But um it’s just when you’re you’re playing that amount of minutes again under seven minutes and then your numbers are that bad as well, just it’s not a great combination. So, uh but again, he does fight some people. So, um, the next guy on the list here, um, is one Adam Goddet. And the these next groups here is re like really hard to kind of, uh, figure out who is stacked up with who, but Godet, uh, who’s been playing bottom six minutes. He’s signed a two-year deal worth $2 million. Has played nine games. He’s currently injured right now, but does have three goals, one assist with 12 shots on goal. Playing 1042 a night. Cory4. So when he is on the ice, the Sharks are taking 42% of the shots and when he’s on the ice, the Sharks have scored 40% of the goals. Got is a player who’s I think also kind of lived up to expectations and he’s a player I think where we kind of want to see a little bit more of, right? Because I think you have seen some really positive things from him. You know, his ability to score. I think his addition on the PK has also been a nice kind of rotation piece there. Um, he’s had some, like I said, he’s had some big-time goals for for San Jose. And what you’re paying him at $2 million, like that’s that’s a, you know, feels like a very fair contract and a guy who could potentially get you doubledigit goals on a contract for $2 million. Like that that is a and a guy who again like scored 19 goals last year. Um, but I think he’s been very effective in his minutes, but you kind of want to see you hope to see his minutes kind of grow a little bit here. But the problem is where are you taking those minutes from, right? Because some another forward that we’re going to talk about later is playing a bunch more minutes has been very effective in those um, you know, you expect Misa to start hopefully getting some more minutes here as well soon. Like you’re not taking minutes from Celebrating, you’re not taking minutes from Smith. like it’s so it’s it’s very much like you’re you’re trying to figure out where to to kind of grab a couple more minutes for Godette. Um but I think he’s really filled that role and he’s really helped to kind of prop up this bottom six which has been kind of dreadful the past couple years and when God’s out there on the middle six he’s been been a very effective player and especially uh like on that third line playing with Colin Graph like he’s been a really good PE uh really good addition there. So, I think when he gets back and he can kind of, you know, get back into that that position playing on the third line, uh, you’re going to be I think he’s going to be in a good spot. So, um, the next guy, another forward here, uh, that would be Jeff Skinner. So, Skinner’s played 11 games. Uh, he signed a one-year deal worth $3 million. His three goals, two assists, 23 shots on goal, playing 1315 a night. Goal, uh, Corsy47.41. 41 goals for 33.33%. So, um, Skinner started out with with an absolute bang and has kind of been a little bit quieter here. Uh, but you’re seeing like he’s doing a lot of positive things and as with all goal scorers, right, they’re can be a bit streaky and you do wonder if Skinner’s about ready to explode and kind of score like two and three games or three and five and and kind of get that goal production because he’s had some really great opportunities and just hasn’t been able to to kind of uh, you know, finish them off here. So, but Skinner, I think, is is kind of lived up to expectations. I was a little surprised with the the minutes played there. Uh because I do think that he’s been um you know he’s been effective when he’s about been out there, but I guess like I I kind of thought he was up closer in the 15 16 minute range, but playing on the third line as of late like he is he’s only playing 13 minutes at night and especially for a guy who doesn’t play um on the PK and he’s on the second unit of the overplay like I it kind of made more sense. But I I do think so far like so good w with um with Skinner and kind of where he’s at. But you kind of feel like he’s he’s a player that maybe you can get a little bit more out of here, especially if you can another guy where maybe if you get him closer to like 15 minutes, but again, where are you taking those minutes from? Because I think he’s been um like he’s he’s very very much especially at this age kind of a specialized player, right? where you need to put him in a good position to succeed and give him a talented center to play with. Um and hopefully he can start to uh get some more get some more production for for the Sharks here. So um we are going to uh finish up here in a minute um by looking at um you know so we have Olaf uh we have Kurishv and we have Dulkovich. So, we’re going to look at how these guys have kind of stacking up here in the Sharks free agency class and which ones have had the most impact. Uh, so we’ll get to that here in just one second. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel is live bets on everything from who will score uh next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So, head over to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. And if you want to get tickets to catch an NHL game, because uh there’s nothing better than being in the arena for hockey games. Uh but we know getting tickets can be a real pain sometimes between waiting and cues, surprise fees, uh prices that jump right before checkout. It’s easy to get frustrated when all you want to do is cheer on your team. That’s where Game Time comes in. The app that gives fans the advantage. It’s your ultimate life hack for scoring amazing NHL deals fast, easy, and stress-free. Uh we use Game Time whenever we go up to San Jose to get Sharks tickets. I know we’re going up in December for as a holiday tradition. We always go catch a Sharks game right around Christmas time. Use FanDuel uh got uh great tickets of course with their zone deals. You can pick a section in game time. We’ll pick you the seats to help save you big. Take the guess work out of buying NHL tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app. Create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. That’s code locked on NHL. L O C K E D O NHL for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. All right. Uh let’s finish up here by uh starting with uh the goalie Alexandelkovich who the Sharks traded a third round pick for to the Pittsburgh Penguins to acquire. Uh I think he’s been the third most impactful player for the San Jose Sharks to start this out of this free agency class. Um one year left on his deal at 2.5 million. He’s played five games. The G goals against average is uh not the prettiest at at 3.60. Again, this is before his start against the Red Wings. So, if he has a shut out or if he gives up seven, I I’m sorry. Same percentage at 887. Goals allowed 15. Expected goals allowed uh sorry, goals allowed 18. Expected goals allowed 1507. Uh so, he’s goals saved above expected is minus 2.9 with a 833 high danger save percentage. Um I think yes, he’s had some moments uh playing the puck and you look at the Vegas game, right? and he just lost his mind for for five minutes there. But I think overall Nadulkovich has played pretty solidly behind a defensive group that’s especially starting to kind of figure things out. And over the, you know, the past couple games here again pre-D Detroit where I feel like the defense is starting to kind of figure things out and starting to kind of gel a little bit. I think Nadulkovich is also starting to play some of some solid hockey here as well. Um, and this may be also kind of projecting a little bit, but I think Nadelovich is going to continue to play well, uh, and kind of continue to get better for the Sharks here, uh, as the season goes on. So, you know, and he’s been a player where if the season goes well or at least, you know, the first part of the season goes well, he’s a player I’m very much advocating for the Sharks to try to resign uh before the trade deadline or before you get to free agency because uh one, I don’t want to play the merrygoround of of goalending, especially kind of taking a peek at next year’s goalending like free agency class. It’s not super great. and two, he’s still, you know, he’s only 29. He turns 30 this year. Like, he’s a player where you can, you know, see him being here for a couple years and I think can be a really nice um asset for a guy like Ascrov ascar kind of goes through his ups and downs. Nadel Kovich, who’s basically kind of been there, done that with it, right? A guy who was in the Colder conversation as a rookie, a guy now he’s been traded multiple times. Like, this is a a player who, you know, has been through the ups and downs. I think could be a really good kind of uh you know shoulder to to lean on for for Ascrov and also play well which is I think just as important. So um yeah like I I I think Nelkovic is really kind of hopefully starting to kind of figure things out here and especially again as the as the defense starts to kind of clamp down a little bit and starts to gel a little bit more. So uh next would be one Philip Kersev. So, Kersev, who signed a one-year deal at $1.2 million. He’s played 10 games, has five goals, three assists with 22 shots on goal, playing 1806 a night. Uh, Corsy4, so when he’s on the ice, uh, 44.24% of the shots, but when uh, the goals for Kersev is on the ice, the Sharks have scored 62 and a half of the percent of the goals. Uh this Kersha Wenberg Eklan line has been uh an outstanding uh find by uh the San Jose Sharks here where you know I think all their their skill sets can kind of come together and we see Kersev you know with his speed and his goal scoring ability working with uh you know Wenberg who’s so defensively responsible and ekin who can kind of do everything and kind is such a creative player like Kersev has really benefited from from kind of finding a spot with these guys and Kurv You know, there’s some questions like what is his role? Where is he going to fit in with with the Sharks and, you know, especially with all the additions that they made this off seasonason with the young players coming and can he get back to the guy he was two years ago. Well, so far so good with him and you know, I know a lot of it’s kind of spurred over the last couple weeks, but um you know, like Kersev is looking more and more like the you know 50 point player that he was with the the Blackhawks two years ago than the you know team the I think he had like 14 or 15 points last year and what was an injury plague season. So, um, and again, like he’s not playing, you know, he’s getting a little like PK, he’s getting some PK time, getting some power play two time, but he’s not getting like prime prime opportunities. It’s a lot of it’s, you know, having to play against top opposition as the Winberg line usually gets matched up with, you know, some of the other best lines and they’re still producing and he’s a big part of of being able to to produce. So, we’ll see how long he can kind of continue to keep this streak up and and but uh it’s been a great great start for him, especially after kind of the preseason where he was kind of wandering around. They were playing, you know, he’s starting with Celibbrin and Smith and didn’t really work out, but he’s really found a home playing with Wenberg uh and with Equin and, you know, I think, um maybe potentially just being partnered up with Wenberg for the foreseeable future might not be the worst thing for for Kurishv here. So, uh, and finally, uh, I think it’s pretty easy. Dimmitri Orv, uh, has been an absolute beast for the San Jose Sharks, signing a two-year deal at $6.5 million. He has 12 game in 12 games, he has nine assists, uh, with 18 shots and goal, playing over 23 minutes a night. Corsy4.14% as one of the highest on the San Jose Sharks. Goals for 56.25%. Um, I think Orla, right, I mean, it’s a question I asked multiple times this offseason. Can Demetri Orlav be the guy for the San Jose Sharks on the blue line? And so far so good for for Olaf. Um, you know, I think the preseason and kind of very much early in the season was still trying to kind of figure out kind of the Shark system and where he fits and all that stuff, but um, ever since then like the he’s just been stringing together some really great hockey. Um, you know, like that ABS game just some had some really great kind of stick checks to uh, you know, like thwart some opportunities, especially on the penalty kill where it’s just kind of like last minute gets a stick out of there out there to stop a play. Um, you know, you you think to like it’s just some of the physical games that he’s had as well. Um, like Olaf has been and yes, he got the biggest contract, right, the the $6.5 million a season. Um, but he’s he’s doing what you expected to him to do as as kind of being that guy who’s getting that type of money, kind of taking on that responsibility. He’s the guy who’s who’s really been, you know, I think one of the big reasons why the Sharks defense is starting to kind of figure things out because of of um Orlav’s play, right? And you know, it’s funny where two of the the defensive additions have been disappointing and letting Clingberg and Orav I think it’s fair to say, has exceeded expectations, right? And he’s still producing. It doesn’t even feel like like Orlav is doing much offensively, but he’s still producing offensively. And I think that’s a sign of things that might be, you know, like we we might potentially get like an oroff hot streak here where uh if he kind of continues to jump into the offensive rush a little bit more and is able to, you know, like kind of hit like a nice like, you know, seven points in in three game or seven points like four or five games uh situation here. So, uh, but yeah, Orlof, I think, is has easily been the best Sharks free agency acquisition this off seasonason. And, uh, looks like he can, you know, kind of help bridge this defensive group as they’re, you know, getting pieces like Dickinson and hopefully Ken Yoni and and some of these other guys, uh, and Mukuma Mullan up to speed here. Like I think Orv looks like he might be a really nice signing by by Mike Greer. So, um, but that’s going to be it for me today. Like I said, uh we’ll if there’s any news or anything like that, we’ll we’ll get to it as soon as I get back. Uh but you know, off the uh off the grid here for a couple days. Uh so make sure you’re following along wherever you get podcast and of course you can watch on YouTube as well. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on Tik Tok at locked on Sharks. Follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky Fryhole. Uh until Wednesday. Bye friends.

The San Jose Sharks’ offseason spending spree brought in veterans on bargain deals, but are they delivering value or dragging down a young roster trying to find its identity?

Host JD Young ranks every free agency acquisition from most disappointing to most impactful through the first dozen games. Nick Leddy’s waiver claim has been a disaster, posting just one shot on goal in seven games while the defense improved immediately after his injury. John Klingberg’s $4 million gamble shows troubling signs as he forces offense while getting burned defensively, including costly lapses against teenagers like Beckett Sennecke.

The middle tier tells a different story. Ryan Reaves exceeds rock-bottom expectations with actual goal production despite getting caved in possession-wise. Adam Gaudette and Jeff Skinner provide exactly what their modest contracts promised, though finding them additional minutes remains challenging with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith demanding ice time.

At the top, Philipp Kurashev’s $1.2 million deal looks like highway robbery. Playing alongside Wennberg and William Eklund, he’s rediscovered his 50-point form with the Sharks scoring 62.5% of goals when he’s on ice. Alexander Nedeljkovic provides steady goaltending behind a defense still finding its footing, making a strong case for extension before the trade deadline. Dmitry Orlov justifies his $6.5 million price tag as the defensive anchor this blue line desperately needed, posting team-leading possession numbers while logging over 23 minutes nightly.

Tune in for the complete breakdown with advanced metrics, contract analysis, and what these performances mean for San Jose’s rebuild trajectory.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:34 Nick Leddy: Most Disappointing Free Agent
6:08 John Klingberg’s Rocky Start with Sharks
14:17 Adam Gaudette Living Up to Expectations
16:50 Jeff Skinner’s Streaky Goal Scoring
20:54 Alexander Nedeljkovic’s Solid Goaltending Performance
23:59 Philipp Kurashev’s Breakout with Wennberg Line
26:02 Dmitry Orlov: Best Free Agency Acquisition

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13 comments
  1. They need to move klingberg to the second power play and put orlov back on the top pp line. He's good at moving the puck and finding celebrini, klingberg keeps trying to shoot but the traffic isn't there when you have a bunch of snippers on the ice. The second pp line will get more of those deflection/ugly goals

  2. Moments after the wings went up 2:1 klingberg with the defensive zone turnover to create a 2 on 1 rush for Detroit. The main issue is this kind of thing happens ever game. What does this guy gotta do to get benched. If klingberg was in his 8th game as a rookie we could understand but this guy is supposed to be a seasoned veteran. This is not modeling behavior

  3. Interesting episode. I agree with your rankings for the most part but not all of your reasoning. This is where I see them from worst (1) to best (9). I include Lorio as he is an add from outside the organization.

    1) Leddy – He's just not looked good and has to some extent become a block to young defensemen getting minutes (Muk, Dickinson and Lorio) when he was healthy. Some of his play is to be expected coming off of his injury from last season.
    2) Klingberg – Whether it is his lack of health (the best ability is availability) or just ineffective play I think he has not looked like a good pickup. His PP was good before his injury, but his injury has been a setback. Maybe PP2 until he is fully back would make more sense.
    3) Reaves – Low on the list but I liked the pickup for the very reasons why fans are loving him now, BUT. he plays under six minutes and that limits what he can bring.
    4) Skinner – So far he has shown he can score, and brought more physicality to his game. He seems to really be more of a third line winger and can play up to the second lines at times.
    5) Lorio – I liked the pickup and considering his experience (nine NHL games) when he was acquired via waivers Lorio has played well. His size, being an RD and playing a more defensive defenseman game makes him valuable. His first game was rough but he literally jumped off the plane with no practice and was thrown into a game. Since then he has steadily improved. He's a keeper me thinks.
    6) Kurashev – Has been really good as of late but I want to see this more than just a few games at this level. If he can maintain it then he moves ahead of Gaudette because it is more plausible that a Cuda forward fits into a line 3 or 4 role than a line 2 role. Overall I like him.
    7) Gaudette – Love this guy and when he is with Graf and Misa they are a good third line. He can score, has speed, plays some special teams, can play wing or center and brings physicality. Great pickup for a bottom six winger/center. As the third line gets more minutes so will Gaudette.
    8) Orlov – Has been what everyone has hoped. Does take some bad penalties and takes chances, but overall the best defensemen we have had in multiple seasons.
    9) Ned – I rank him the best because of how critical it was to get a goalie to pair with Asky that plays a similar game. He is getting better as the season progresses.

    As JD said and I agree, this will change as the season progresses so this is more of a progress report. I like the additions.

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