Whoever the coach deems capable. I'm not one to make as big a deal about playing the offside. Lot's of great players have done it. The natural flow of hockey puts players on their offside all the time.
Speculation: 2020-2021: Sharks Roster Discussion Part 5
- Thread starter WTFetus
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Gecklund
Registered User
Plenty of not so great too. Some of the best D-men I've played with prefer the off side. I've been playing the offside D for nearly 35 years. NA players typically get it beaten out of them but euros play the offside all the time. Regardless, BB is going to play the best 6. If someone has to play the offside they will. Pretty sure he had someone playing the offside at one point last season so it's not the 3rd rail in the NHL that people on this board want to believe it is.
Pavelski2112
Bold as Boognish
I don't imagine the defense will be much different than before.
Ferraro-Karlsson
Simek-Burns
Vlasic-Merkley
I would say Vlasic with Karlsson, but I don't imagine (or think it would be a good idea) that Merk would get thrown with Ferraro. Maybe switch Ferraro and Simek. Pasichnuk isn't getting time to start the season, I can almost guarantee it. There's just too much on the depth chart in front of him.
Ferraro-Karlsson
Simek-Burns
Vlasic-Merkley
I would say Vlasic with Karlsson, but I don't imagine (or think it would be a good idea) that Merk would get thrown with Ferraro. Maybe switch Ferraro and Simek. Pasichnuk isn't getting time to start the season, I can almost guarantee it. There's just too much on the depth chart in front of him.
Gecklund
Registered User
Yeah he had Simek playing the offside when we had Dillon here too. Our D was EK, Vlasic, Burns, Dillon, Ferraro, Simek. Might have been Heed instead of EK cause he was injured. Simek can play the off side, but he is needed with Burns.
They both did in spots and Ferraro has previous history of doing it. Vlasic is best with Karlsson over the long haul but could work sheltered with Merkley. They'll probably try all sorts of combinations.
Point being that players can play their off side. Sharks have enough capable in the top 5 to play the off side. He even paired EK65 and Burns pretty regularly at specific points in the game. One of them was playing the off side. I wouldn't get too locked in on Simek with Burns. I think the pairs are going to have a new look this season. Gotta account for Ferraro's progress and Vlasic's regress. Personally I would put Simek with EK65 and Ferraro with Burns. A physical element with EK65 might give him a little extra space or at least room on turnovers when Simek separates dudes from the puck. Vlasic should be on the 3rd pair or Bench unless he shows a career rebirth this season.
Pavelski2112
Bold as Boognish
Pretty much this. EK has always had luck with big physical LHD. Just look at how well he played with Dillon, or going back to OTT, Methot.
I think a fully healthy Simek changes the D for this team. I don't think he looked right most of last season.
themelkman
Always Delivers
Except it's doubtful Merkley is in front of him. Pasichnuck has at least been playing against men and not high schoolers.
Pavelski2112
Bold as Boognish
It wouldn't be the first time they've played Vlasic on the third pair; they did it for a number of stretches with Heed.
Him and Heed were actually pretty good for a stretch back then. Hopefully they have better options than Heed this season.
I think that could change this season. Back then when he was 3rd pair he still went out for every PK shift with guys like Dillon, Braun, etc... He had a few minutes per game more than Heed even when they were ES partners. The team probably has more reliable options this season though if Vlasic doesn't pull his head out of his ass.
Pavelski2112
Bold as Boognish
That doesn't change that he was still playing with Tim Heed, of all folks, for a good long while.
Ultimately it's not about playing Vlasic on the third pair, it's about throwing guys with far less experience with a rookie. Even if Vlasic is garbage, the staff will still want a vet paired with Merkley.
So, Ferraro and Simek will have passed Vlasic with the coaches on the depth chart? I will believe it when I see it and think the notion Vlasic will play 3rd pair minutes is pure internet chatroom fodder.
As has been said, he's already played 3rd pair... so it's not like we're pulling this out of thin air. FWIW, I hope he shows up and gives a taste of that previous competence and asserts himself as a top 4 guy again. Nothing would make me happier. But his play the last couple years has been brutal. If you think BB is going to let him play like shit and keep pulling 20 min a night you need to think again. Short season, short on depth, they can't afford passengers. Especially from a guy who is supposed to be a leader.
Last season Vlasic spent ~85% of his minutes with Karlsson or Burns. 2 seasons ago, when Vlasic spent material time with Heed, it was still less than 20% of his TOI. And now, with no new information, no new coach, no new d-men of substance, no new contract, poster think it is reasonable to expect Vlasic will be on the 3rd pair?
Pavelski2112
Bold as Boognish
If Dillon was still here I'd agree, but ultimately, there's no one else that the staff is going to trust with Merkley, a guy who hasn't played a game in the league yet. You could potentially make an argument for Simek, but I don't think that'll be the case. I mean, unless you think that someone will play their offside, but even in that case there's not really anyone else who would fit the bill to babysit him.
Vlasic and Merkley will be a shit show. Pickles has too much ego to let a kid get the spotlight playing the offensive part of the pairing.
Best bet is
Vlasic-EK65
Burns-Simek
Merkley/paschinuk- Ferraro.
Vlasic and Burns is a tire fire.
Vlasic and Simek wouldn’t be able to exit the zone or we’d see Marc Eduard Orr
See above regarding Vlasic and Merks/Pass.
Best bet is
Vlasic-EK65
Burns-Simek
Merkley/paschinuk- Ferraro.
Vlasic and Burns is a tire fire.
Vlasic and Simek wouldn’t be able to exit the zone or we’d see Marc Eduard Orr
See above regarding Vlasic and Merks/Pass.
themelkman
Always Delivers
Vlasic literally brings Karlsson down though. We need Karlsson to be his best. Id rather Merks or Ferraro deal with his shit for a year
Vlasic has been playing at a bottom-pairing level for several seasons now, and he's still being deployed in a top-4 role. I, unfortunately, don't see that changing this year even though it'll hurt Burns and Karlsson (whichever one he's paired up with). I think Simek and Ferraro belong in the top-4 instead, but Boughner doesn't strike me as a guy that would do that given that he's been on the Sharks' coaching staff for awhile now.
Le Rosbeef
Registered User
- Jul 27, 2007
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Ferraro played alongside Makar in NCAA. Cale had a lot of positive things to say about him and the role he played. I'd definitely consider him alongside EK65...
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