Speculation: 2022-23 Sharks Roster Discussion Part II

[Stewie Griffin]

I think he wants the kids to take the 2nd pair or even 1st pair spots when they are ready. Same with kids taking 1st and 2nd line minutes, even 3rd line.

They call this move the anti-Doug Wilson.

 

[mogambomoroo]

Also on the offtopic by an inch,

I really like that Barabanov and Couture have had a good chemistry, there was a concern that Barabanov can't play without Hertl but it is certainly proven wrong fortunately. Also Barbie seems like the play driver in that line. Love it!

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Don't get me wrong I'm not super fan of this signing but I understand that Grier wants a little safety player wise in that 3rd pair (RD) When he signed Benning, it was to have player with experience and term for cheap, rather than a kid. The same things like they are doing with the bottom 6, have them be experienced and hopefully solid. 3rd RD is not the most important position but I think he wants the kids to take the 2nd pair or even 1st pair spots when they are ready. Same with kids taking 1st and 2nd line minutes, even 3rd line.

Right now, their 3rd pairing RD is Mario Ferraro. They're asking Benning to be their 2nd pairing RD to backfill Burns. Considering that position, they underpaid to fill it but paid appropriately for the person being asked to do it and they're getting a sort of you get what you pay for sort of contribution from Benning. Right now, Benning is a little above water on the goal differential but is on the negative side when it comes to the possession side of things. I don't think the goal differential will hold up over time and he's not going to produce much but at least he'll contribute on the penalty kill. Helping to keep Karlsson off the penalty kill as much as possible is valuable towards the end of keeping Karlsson fresh for offense and his trade value better than doing otherwise.

They need more of a two-way threat on the right side to play the second pairing and push Benning down to the 3rd but it's also not terribly important to acquire until the team is ready to legitimately compete.

 

[LadyStanley]

EK65 on speculation

 

[hohosaregood]

Nothing too interesting tbh. Mostly just let Karlsson be free to do whatever and he still sucks against the rush

 

[Hodge]

Nothing too interesting tbh. Mostly just let Karlsson be free to do whatever and he still sucks against the rush

The stuff about his atrocious defensive skating is exactly what I’ve been called a hater for pointing out. Karlsson is not a defenseman.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

The stuff about his atrocious defensive skating is exactly what I’ve been called a hater for pointing out. Karlsson is not a defenseman.

Woe is you. There's a difference between criticizing skating and asserting that he's not a defenseman. The prior is legitimate when contextualized. The latter is just a stupid take thrown out there as bait. That's all it is.

 

[LadyStanley]

Eyes

 

[TheBeard]

Eyes

Most of those wouldn’t be there for karlsson

 

[Anomie2029]

The stuff about his atrocious defensive skating is exactly what I’ve been called a hater for pointing out. Karlsson is not a defenseman.

I mean, my favourite part of that twitter thread is that it says the defensive warts are still there such as his "lax rush D" and uses an example where he was fine. The thread seemed to point out that forwards are actually back checking and covering D when he pushes up - this is what all forwards should be doing.

It's well established Karlsson isn't the greatest at defending rushes - which is why he does well when paired with players like Middleton who were great at it. However, Karlsson it quite good defensively when it comes to forcing turnovers in the neutral zone or preventing controlled entries - two significant reasons why he was been so good this season.

When the opposition has the puck in the defensive zone, I do have some issues with his play. He is usually quite static and conservative with his movement (the vast opposite of Ferraro's skating out of position), and a lot of the time he is looking to block the shots in the slot which can screen the goalie a bit and allowing an opposition player some space net front. However, I have to admit that this can put him in a good position to get a clean break out or join the rush.

 

[hohosaregood]

Woe is you. There's a difference between criticizing skating and asserting that he's not a defenseman. The prior is legitimate when contextualized. The latter is just a stupid take thrown out there as bait. That's all it is.

His defensive skating wasn't really being critiqued here either, just that the rush defense was bad. But yea, I don't think Karlsson could ever really be a tight gap shadow even at his best.

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

“I’m fully invested here at the moment”

 

[Pavelski2112]

Saying Karlsson isn't the best defensive player on the planet is like saying prime MEV isn't the best offensive player on the planet. Like yea, of course not, but they're so good at the other side of the equation that it doesn't matter. When you possess the puck as well as EK does he doesn't have to be Chris Pronger.

 

[Bizz]

Saying Karlsson isn't the best defensive player on the planet is like saying prime MEV isn't the best offensive player on the planet. Like yea, of course not, but they're so good at the other side of the equation that it doesn't matter. When you possess the puck as well as EK does he doesn't have to be Chris Pronger.

There hasn't been a Defenseman who I consider to be elite at both since probably prime Doughty.

 

[tiburon12]

OT (kinda):

with all the Karlsson speculation, I was thinking - could a player and team mutually agree to terminate a contract without their being a material breach?

If Karlsson in 2 years realizes that winning > money and that his contract is keeping him from playing for a team with championship hopes, and the Sharks are unable to find a trade partner for a worthwhile return, could they mutually agree to terminate?

I know it's super unlikely but just curious on the rules. (please don't respond with "it will never happen")

 

[Pinkfloyd]

OT (kinda):

with all the Karlsson speculation, I was thinking - could a player and team mutually agree to terminate a contract without their being a material breach?

If Karlsson in 2 years realizes that winning > money and that his contract is keeping him from playing for a team with championship hopes, and the Sharks are unable to find a trade partner for a worthwhile return, could they mutually agree to terminate?

I know it's super unlikely but just curious on the rules. (please don't respond with "it will never happen")

They could agree to a mutual termination without a material breach. I don't think it will be necessary though. They'll figure something out if/when the team is ready to move on.

 

[Anomie2029]

Bonino on pace for a monster 4 point season. This is being 7th in terms of time on ice for forwards, and getting PP2 time.
It’s not even like his assist was impressive - it was literally a faceoff win to Karlsson to score.

Bonino is too slow for the game today, and too slow for the systems the sharks are trying to play. There has been an emphasis on controlled exits and he still chips out of the zone. There is no rational explanation for why he hasn’t been a healthy scratch. He is literally contributing nothing to the team.

Here’s some stats:
Worst on the team in Corsi, Fenwick, Expected Goals % (37.2%), and relative expected goals (difference between expected goal % when he is on and off the ice is the great margin).
He has thrown the least hits of any Shark, including Gregor who has played 1/3 of the games Bonino has.
Third worst in GF% with an abysmal 29.4%

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Bonino on pace for a monster 4 point season. This is being 7th in terms of time on ice for forwards, and getting PP2 time.
It’s not even like his assist was impressive - it was literally a faceoff win to Karlsson to score.

Bonino is too slow for the game today, and too slow for the systems the sharks are trying to play. There has been an emphasis on controlled exits and he still chips out of the zone. There is no rational explanation for why he hasn’t been a healthy scratch. He is literally contributing nothing to the team.

Here’s some stats:
Worst on the team in Corsi, Fenwick, Expected Goals % (37.2%), and relative expected goals (difference between expected goal % when he is on and off the ice is the great margin).
He has thrown the least hits of any Shark, including Gregor who has played 1/3 of the games Bonino has.
Third worst in GF% with an abysmal 29.4%

His only contribution to the team at this point is the PK. A worthy contribution to be fair but I don't think enough to justify his spot in the lineup.

 

[Gecklund]

His only contribution to the team at this point is the PK. A worthy contribution to be fair but I don't think enough to justify his spot in the lineup.

I’d agree to an extent. I think the big issue is who replaces him and what have they done to warrant a spot?

 

[Cas]

Bonino on pace for a monster 4 point season. This is being 7th in terms of time on ice for forwards, and getting PP2 time.
It’s not even like his assist was impressive - it was literally a faceoff win to Karlsson to score.

Bonino is too slow for the game today, and too slow for the systems the sharks are trying to play. There has been an emphasis on controlled exits and he still chips out of the zone. There is no rational explanation for why he hasn’t been a healthy scratch. He is literally contributing nothing to the team.

Here’s some stats:
Worst on the team in Corsi, Fenwick, Expected Goals % (37.2%), and relative expected goals (difference between expected goal % when he is on and off the ice is the great margin).
He has thrown the least hits of any Shark, including Gregor who has played 1/3 of the games Bonino has.
Third worst in GF% with an abysmal 29.4%

He's a Cup-Winning Veteran. Those guys don't get scratched. I'm honestly not sure it's anything but that, unless you count his supposed "defensive prowess."

I did think it was funny that I couldn't even trade Bonino at the deadline for a 7th in FHM9, he was so valueless (though that's probably a goof of the system overvaluing low draft picks).

I’d agree to an extent. I think the big issue is who replaces him and what have they done to warrant a spot?

I'm very much not a fan of Gregor and don't think he's really much good, but he's at least a decade younger than Bonino and has speed and some physicality, so he might develop into something useful. Bonino has nowhere to go but down. Might as well put the younger guy with at least a little potential in.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I’d agree to an extent. I think the big issue is who replaces him and what have they done to warrant a spot?

From a coaching perspective, I can't see a replacement available on this team as being worthwhile but sometimes you sit a guy because he needs the rest. Gregor and Gadjovich both suck for the most part but without the ability to contribute on the PK so it's understandable why a coach will keep playing Bonino over them but some changes in the lineup is warranted after an embarrassing loss too so we'll see. The thing to be concerned about is that Bonino will get noticed last night for saving a goal when he took that hooking penalty. They'll look at that rather than his general ineffectiveness that contributes to him being put into the position to need to take a penalty in the first place.

 

[Gecklund]

And this is why we shouldn’t settle for shit for EK

 

[Hodge]

And this is why we shouldn’t settle for shit for EK

Cool. He’s guaranteed to do this every year until he’s 37 right?

 

[OrrNumber4]

Cool. He’s guaranteed to do this every year until he’s 37 right?

A fanatic never changes his mind or the subject.

Karlsson's deficiencies defensively are because of his gap control. Right now, his contributions everywhere else completely dwarf them.

 

[sharski]

"Is EK65 the Greatest Shark of All Time?" thread incoming