The obvious choice here is for Eklund to grab this spot by the horns and excel in it. A more than likely chance, I'd say, that this spot is filled by Eklund. However, I'd be even more happy if Eklund takes a 2C spot and slots Couture over to LW on the 2nd line. Having said this, the spot is still considered a hole until Eklund shows that he's able to fill this spot adequately. If Eklund doesn't show that he belongs, Svechnikov could be a dark horse candidate to fill the spot if he surprises everyone and finally puts it all together. Most realistically, expect a guy like Lindblom or even Bonino to start off the season in this spot if Eklund doesn't absolutely force the coaches to put him here after development camp.
4. 3RD LINE CENTER
Sharks have Bordeleau or Eklund to fill this spot over the long-term, but that doesn't mean this spot will be filled appropriately at the start of this season. Many Sharks fans, including myself, think Bordeleau is ready to start off this season as the Sharks 3C and succeed in this role. But at the moment, it seems that this spot is reserved for one of Sturm or Bonino, with whoever doesn't land it set to take the 4C spot. That could spell disaster for SJ, since both are 4Cs. If Bordeleau can showcase out of camp that he straight up belongs immediately, this spot is adequately filled for the "now" and the future. Let's hope so for SJ's sake.
3. TOP-PAIRING DEFENSIVE LDMAN
Knyzhov, who was the perfect candidate to fill this spot after spending all of last year on injured reserve, will not be able to do so for the bulk of this season at the very least. Who will fill this spot? Megna or Nutivaara? Simek? They simply aren't the type of players who could do well in this role, especially over the course of an entire season. Hatakka's the one guy I'm keeping an eye on that I'm hopeful can showcase a great camp to earn him a spot here, but I'm not counting on it since they need him with the Cuda and will more than likely want him to "earn" his spot in the NHL. For this reason, expect this spot to be a major concern over the entirety of this season since it's far from a guarantee (a long-shot, even) that a guy like Hatakka would even be a right fit for a top-pairing defenseman.
2. TOP-4 RDMAN
This is the spot that's a huge gaping hole on defense for San Jose. One of Megna, Nutivaara, or even Simek or some dark horse candidate like Hatakka could plausibly do a decent job defensively on the top pairing as EK65 does all the offensive work. But this spot? It's a legitimate concern for SJ. Merkley is the most obvious candidate to replace Burns' production both on offense and TOI. Last year, however, he showed that he really wasn't the strongest on his skates, and that to me is the biggest thing that's holding him back from being a legitimate top-4 dman. If he doesn't fix this, he stays a one-trick pony power play specialist. To boot, Benning's signing has Benning fit the bill better on the bottom pairing with Vlasic. If Merkley can't step into this role, expect a huge hole here for SJ. Severson can potentially fill it as an offseason signing next season, though Sharks do have Laroque and Havelid who can step in in 2-3 seasons, but even that's not a guarantee. This spot could be for either a defensive RDman or offensive RDman. The spot is such a giant hole that Sharks can't afford to be picky here with who they get. As long as the dman's not offensively inept, it'll do.
1. TOP-6 RW
This is the spot that's going to be a revolving door for SJ this season. There's not even a young "hopeful" that can fill this spot appropriately this season like how the other spots on the list have (i.e. Eklund for 3C/2LW, Bordeleau for 3C, Merkley for top4RDman). It's just a major hole on the roster. Expect to see guys like Lindblom, Labanc, Kunin, Bonino, Gregor, even Nieto to inappropriately go up the depth chart to fill this spot, probably Kunin to start with Bonino on Couture's LW if you ask me to make it a purely defensive 2nd line. Top-6 RW is IMO the #1 hole on the roster and why many Sharks fans are desperate for even an average-to-below average guy like Evan Rodriguez to fill it. Top-6 RW was a major hole last season and the new management did nothing to address it. The good news is that Sharks have a few guys who could potentially start to fill it starting next season in Coe and Robins. But for this season, expect Couture to get frustrated at a lack of help on his line.
5 holes:
1) 5 more years of Karlsson contract
2) 4 more years of Vlasic
3) 5 more years of couture contract
4) 5 more years of buyout on Jones
5) 3 more years of retention on Burns
Bonus: another 8 years on Hertl. (He’s good but 8 years yikes)
love seeing knowledgable fans put their thoughts out there for everyone to discuss. everyone seems excited for eklund so i hope its a good season for him. been cheering for san jose for a long time and its sad to see them head into this strange phase where they should probably rebuild.
you dont think labanc will play 2RW? kunin also has the ability to play up the lines
Really thorough, accurate, unbiased, knowledgeable analysis. Wish that there was one fan like you in EVERY fanbase, not just half of them.
Couldn’t agree more. on a side note as much as i love Barby he isn’t a top line RW. on a deep team he is a 3rd liner. so i would argue 2 top 6 RW are needed!
In addition I feel the sharks are content to lose this year, grab a top 5 from this deep draft.
Eklund Bordeleau Merkley etc could all use another year developing and building muscle, sharks knew this and set up the team with a bunch of underperforming younger Vets in hopes the hit on a few and then can add a bunch of youth plus a top 5 stud to the roster next year then we will start to look like real team again.
Good analysis - and maybe it was not the point of your post - but it really highlights how poorly the sharks have been managed recently. So many unmovable contracts on ageing players, very few prospects coming up, multi year buyouts / retention on the books - going to be some lean years in San Jose.
Why would they sign hertl to 8 year contract when team won’t be competitive for at least the next 3-5 years? Should have traded him (and anyone with value) at deadline for picks and/or prospects.
Couldn’t agree more. on a side note as much as i love Barby he isn’t a top line RW. on a deep team he is a 3rd liner. so i would argue 2 top 6 RW are needed!
Maybe that's the 6th major hole. You have to limit yourself somewhere or you'd have 10 or more players to upgrade.
Maybe that's the 6th major hole. You have to limit yourself somewhere or you'd have 10 or more players to upgrade.
Fair and while Barabanov isn’t a top line RW he did have excellent chemestry with them and if he could push his numbers up around 15+ goals 50+ points I don’t see why that wouldn’t be fine. with Hertl and meier both 30+ goals.