When I see 88-65 on the PP I have to imagine there’s some hope that Merkley comes in and plays PP2 if he can make the team

Right now I gotta think its Merkley as D-6, and Middleton at D-7, though I still really want to see boogie put Ferraro and Karlsson together.

Also John Leonard, I will keep saying it.

I am a HUGE Leonard supporter but I am skeptical he makes the team out of camp. I know Merk put on "12-13 pounds" but do you think that gives him the edge over Mids? Sharks need sandpaper to go toe to toe with the likes of Vegas, STL and Anaheim on a regular basis... I feel like Merkley needs a season with the Cuda...

I don't think Middleton really has enough to be a full time player for now, I really see him and Merks splitting time. Just don't see anyone else who would be fitting in the 6/7D role, Pasnichuk has been with Ferraro, but haven't much praise about him, DeSimone has been on the trade block, so I just don't see how they can afford to not play him.

A (half) season in the AHL would probably be best in the end, but a long off-season means we are going to see prospects way ahead on their development.

Leonard isn't a lock, but I have always thought he has a good chance of making it. A ton of the other Bottom 6 players have been MIA. He also has had the advantage of practicing with Ferraro for almost a year now, so he has a little bit of a head start in knowing whats coming.

Where do you see about DeSimone being on the block (not that he has NHL upside anyways)

I feel True, Blichfeld and Letunov have maybe taken a step back. Chmelevski will likely need another year in the AHL that leaves Leonard, Suomela, Handemark and Kellman. The 2020 SJ draft has really pushed some guys down the depth chart and Handemarks experience also has done the same. Only guy I can see Leonard replacing is Sorensen who had a super good year in Sweden. John's skating needs work but his shot is elite reminds me of a Donato-esque player with maybe a little more upside than Ryan.. Will be interesting to see how the rest of camp plays out and it would be good to hear the perspectives of Madden and Thompson instead of just Boogie saying the same things over and over again.

Source tells me impending #SJSharks RFAs Antti Suomela, Jeremy Roy & Andrew Shortridge have been on the trade block recently. Nick DeSimone too (contract expires after 20-21).Doesn't mean they aren't coming back, but fair to say it's an open question.

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 10, 2020

Don't think this situation has changed.

Shortridge is ECHL indefinitely and Roy was let go to UFA. Suomela signed in October. Sheng has been wrong before most recently about the Conor Sheary rumor. I like Sheng but I wouldn't put much thought into rumors from "sources". It's very Eklund like.

I very much agree with this as the best guess for opening lines and pairs. If they are still playing a 1-3-1 I think PP #1 will be Hertl at net front, Kane in the slot, Couture on the left and Burn and Karlsson switching between the top and the right.

Please for the love of god, put Ferraro with Karlsson

#SJSharks Bob Boughner on Mario Ferraro: "I would say in today's game we had, he was the best defenseman on the ice." Says he wouldn't be surprised in Ferraro started in the top 4 D group.

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) January 3, 2021

Pasichnuk has been the guy so far (I will post later how the scrimmage went and lines) for 6d, not that I agree but that's the inclination is it's his job to lose. Leonard I love so freaking much but it's hard to see him beating the 4 NHL bottom 6 wingers we have currently, but if he is not a defensive liability my god he can add great scoring depth

I've been saying Ferraro with Karl for months now. Vlasic-Merkley makes so much sense. three serious offensive threats from the blue line would seriously catapult this team.

I haven't read anything about Pasichnuk from the team regarding the camp so far but I don't see him beating Merkley, Middleton for a spot.

He was Ferraro's partner the first few days of camp and boughner was complimentary of him

Doesn't mean anything. He's nowhere near as skilled as Merkley and doesn't offer anything Middleton doesn't and lacks the experience Middleton has in pro hockey. He really needs a year in the AHL imo.