The State of the Sharks Bottom 6
Posted 2:57 AM ET | Comments 0
It's been a bit quiet in Sharks territory for the last couple of weeks, with the only signing of any real significance being that of Benn Ferriero... and I'm actually really hoping that signing isn't significant in the Sharks plans for this season. Ferriero isn't a terrible hockey player, but on a team whose 3rd line struggled to match up physically against the bigger Vancouver 3rd line in this years playoffs, you have to hope that the undersized Ferriero doesn't see 3rd line ice-time this season, and his lack of size all but excludes him from a 4th line role.
The signing of UFA Michal Handzus was certainly a step in the right direction for the bottom 6 of the San Jose offense because he fills the need for a big 2-way forward that can center the 3rd line, but it would be nice if Sharks could continue to fill out this part of their roster with the almost $6 million in cap space the club has available. Doug Wilson has mentioned and I expect that Pavelski will play in the top 6 this year, leaving Handzus, Torrey Mitchell, and a bunch of question marks to fill out the 3rd and 4th lines. Andrew Desjardins figures to see his share of ice time this year, and I think he deserves it. He's shown glimpses of having some offensive ability, he has decent hands and skates well for a big man, and he seems responsible in his own zone. Preferably, he would be used as a 4th line center this year.
The Kyle Wellwood experiment seems to have run its course in San Jose, as his market value is not high and the Sharks could have easily locked him up by now if they were looking for an undersized bottom 6 forward who shoots the puck once a month.
Then you have Jamie McGinn... I love the guy's commitment to fundamentals but does he have to shoot the puck right at the netminder's logo every time it leaves his stick? If McGinn could develop into a guy who throw in a goal every 8 games or so, and it seems that he could, he would be a good 3rd or 4th line player. He plays hard along the boards, he's good defensively, and he appears to be a team player to the core (although he took two untimely major penalties in this year's playoff run, I don't think it was indicative of his respect for his teammates or his composure).
Continuing... we'll probably see both John McCarthy and Brandon Mashinter in 4th line roles at some point this season, and that's fine for the regular season, but simply won't cut it if this team plans to take it to the next level this year. The playoffs show us the importance of the ability to roll 4 lines and apply some offensive pressure with each one, and I simply don't see that happening with the skill level of a line composed of Desjardin, Mashinter, and McCarthy. The good news is there is plenty of money to change this. I'd love to see someone with a hint of offensive ability thrown on the wing of the 3rd line with Handzus and Mitchell, bumping McGinn to a 4th line grinder role. It would be a shame to waste the playmaking ability of Handzus with a couple of wingers who can't capitalize. That leaves one or two spots open on the fourth line, where the Sharks can spend some of that money that was saved by trading Heatley for Havlat on a couple of speedy, preferably sizeable 4th liners. And I'm not talking about a Ben Eager. Someone who gives a consistent effort and has a decent hockey IQ would be nice. I grew tired of watching Detriot's fourth line of, say, Helm, Miller, and Eaves buzz around the Sharks defensive zone for 30 seconds, get a nice shot or two on net, only to have Mayers, Nichol, and Eager skate to the redline, winded, dump the puck, and get the hell off the ice.
I expect Doug Wilson to go with a line-up very similar to the current one on opening night, and give some of the young guys a chance to step into a 3rd or 4th line role and develop some confidence. Wilson seems to know how to bring along young players, and his use of them early in every season indicates that he doesn't mind waiting until february or march to put the finishing touches on his squad. I only hope that this season, he leaves one of the most dangerous top 6 groups in the league alone and adds the depth that's required to make this team dangerous from top to bottom.
The signing of UFA Michal Handzus was certainly a step in the right direction for the bottom 6 of the San Jose offense because he fills the need for a big 2-way forward that can center the 3rd line, but it would be nice if Sharks could continue to fill out this part of their roster with the almost $6 million in cap space the club has available. Doug Wilson has mentioned and I expect that Pavelski will play in the top 6 this year, leaving Handzus, Torrey Mitchell, and a bunch of question marks to fill out the 3rd and 4th lines. Andrew Desjardins figures to see his share of ice time this year, and I think he deserves it. He's shown glimpses of having some offensive ability, he has decent hands and skates well for a big man, and he seems responsible in his own zone. Preferably, he would be used as a 4th line center this year.
The Kyle Wellwood experiment seems to have run its course in San Jose, as his market value is not high and the Sharks could have easily locked him up by now if they were looking for an undersized bottom 6 forward who shoots the puck once a month.
Then you have Jamie McGinn... I love the guy's commitment to fundamentals but does he have to shoot the puck right at the netminder's logo every time it leaves his stick? If McGinn could develop into a guy who throw in a goal every 8 games or so, and it seems that he could, he would be a good 3rd or 4th line player. He plays hard along the boards, he's good defensively, and he appears to be a team player to the core (although he took two untimely major penalties in this year's playoff run, I don't think it was indicative of his respect for his teammates or his composure).
Continuing... we'll probably see both John McCarthy and Brandon Mashinter in 4th line roles at some point this season, and that's fine for the regular season, but simply won't cut it if this team plans to take it to the next level this year. The playoffs show us the importance of the ability to roll 4 lines and apply some offensive pressure with each one, and I simply don't see that happening with the skill level of a line composed of Desjardin, Mashinter, and McCarthy. The good news is there is plenty of money to change this. I'd love to see someone with a hint of offensive ability thrown on the wing of the 3rd line with Handzus and Mitchell, bumping McGinn to a 4th line grinder role. It would be a shame to waste the playmaking ability of Handzus with a couple of wingers who can't capitalize. That leaves one or two spots open on the fourth line, where the Sharks can spend some of that money that was saved by trading Heatley for Havlat on a couple of speedy, preferably sizeable 4th liners. And I'm not talking about a Ben Eager. Someone who gives a consistent effort and has a decent hockey IQ would be nice. I grew tired of watching Detriot's fourth line of, say, Helm, Miller, and Eaves buzz around the Sharks defensive zone for 30 seconds, get a nice shot or two on net, only to have Mayers, Nichol, and Eager skate to the redline, winded, dump the puck, and get the hell off the ice.
I expect Doug Wilson to go with a line-up very similar to the current one on opening night, and give some of the young guys a chance to step into a 3rd or 4th line role and develop some confidence. Wilson seems to know how to bring along young players, and his use of them early in every season indicates that he doesn't mind waiting until february or march to put the finishing touches on his squad. I only hope that this season, he leaves one of the most dangerous top 6 groups in the league alone and adds the depth that's required to make this team dangerous from top to bottom.