Speculation: 2023-24-25 Sharks Roster Discussion

[jMoneyBrah]

I really liked Labanc’s game against Nashville. I noticed at the end of last season that he showed more willingness to play the body and forecheck. I thought against Nashville he showed up on the forecheck in a way he hasn’t for most of his career - and while he still had some flubs with the puck on his stick I liked his overall game. I’m hoping that (a) this isn’t a fluke and he is/does/continues adding a physical forechecking dimension to his game, and (b) the coaching staff sees it and rewards him with continued play even with his occasional flubs with the puck on his stick.

Someone else suggested this, and it makes sense: but I think Labanc showed some good offensive creativity when he broke into the league, but sorta had it beat out of him as the coaching staffs benched him for his lackluster efforts off the puck. I’m hoping he continues to make a 200 ft impact and the coaching staff in turn grants him some leeway to play his game in the offensive zone.

I’ve long rooted for Labanc and I’d love to see him grow his game and maybe evolve to a different type of player than most imagined when he first entered the league, whether that’s on the Sharks or not, in the long run.

 

[tiburon12]

on the PDOcast today, paraphrasing "The Sharks may be the worst team i've ever seen"

nice

 

[hohosaregood]

on the PDOcast today, paraphrasing "The Sharks may be the worst team i've ever seen"

nice

and yet i'm more entertained by them than usual.

 

[mogambomoroo]

We are probably getting one of #1C (Celebrini), #1W (Eisermann/Demidov) or #1D (Levshunov) in the next draft so that's a very good prize for this probably awful season.
Also Pittsburgh are looking more and more like they are going to end up just outside of the playoffs. You can use that to draft BPA defencemen.

Next year draft is going to be crucial.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

We are probably getting one of #1C (Celebrini), #1W (Eisermann/Demidov) or #1D (Levshunov) in the next draft so that's a very good prize for this probably awful season.
Also Pittsburgh are looking more and more like they are going to end up just outside of the playoffs. You can use that to draft BPA defencemen.

Next year draft is going to be crucial.

Every draft is crucial for a team like us. I agree I am excited to continue to add some key pieces. I really want Celebrini or Levshunov though. Getting that 1C or 1RHD would be perfect.

 

[landshark]

If you’re referring to Chris Grier, GM of the Miami Dolphins. Id say his approval rating is at a pretty high mark right now. Unless S-tier means something completely different than what I’m assuming it means.

 

[Bizz]

If you’re referring to Chris Grier, GM of the Miami Dolphins. Id say his approval rating is at a pretty high mark right now. Unless S-tier means something completely different than what I’m assuming it means.

S (and to a lesser extent, SS) is a grading tier that exceeds an A+ grade in the Japanese education system.

 

[Jargon]

As we all assumed from the get-go, the biggest issue this team has is how just ridiculously bad our defense is on transition. They’re slow, they make bad decisions under pressure, they have no idea how to get the puck out of their zone. I honestly at this point would try and find some offensive specialist defensemen even if they suck at defense if only so we could LEAVE OUR ZONE.

 

[Chinaski89]

As we all assumed from the get-go, the biggest issue this team has is how just ridiculously bad our defense is on transition. They’re slow, they make bad decisions under pressure, they have no idea how to get the puck out of their zone. I honestly at this point would try and find some offensive specialist defensemen even if they suck at defense if only so we could LEAVE OUR ZONE.

Ryan Merkeley says hello from China

 

[Hobocop]

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

Well. Eklund has better line mates but man I just want them to see if Eklund can get anything going with Hertl or even Bordeleau. Also 4th line Zadina what

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

View attachment 756625

Never knew that. Appreciate it!

Zadina on the 4th line..

 

[landshark]

Never knew that. Appreciate it!

NP! I learned it from vidya games.

 

[Alaskanice]

Never knew that. Appreciate it!


Zadina on the 4th line..

It’s just practice.

 

[weastern bias]

There is no plan, lol, DQ is melting

 

[Pavelski2112]

"Hey guys, let's take our best player, the only one who's shown any sort of giving a shit or producing at all, and put him on the 4th line"

David Quinn, ladies and gentlemen

 

[Sharkz4Fun]

I really liked Labanc’s game against Nashville. I noticed at the end of last season that he showed more willingness to play the body and forecheck. I thought against Nashville he showed up on the forecheck in a way he hasn’t for most of his career - and while he still had some flubs with the puck on his stick I liked his overall game. I’m hoping that (a) this isn’t a fluke and he is/does/continues adding a physical forechecking dimension to his game, and (b) the coaching staff sees it and rewards him with continued play even with his occasional flubs with the puck on his stick.

Someone else suggested this, and it makes sense: but I think Labanc showed some good offensive creativity when he broke into the league, but sorta had it beat out of him as the coaching staffs benched him for his lackluster efforts off the puck. I’m hoping he continues to make a 200 ft impact and the coaching staff in turn grants him some leeway to play his game in the offensive zone.

I’ve long rooted for Labanc and I’d love to see him grow his game and maybe evolve to a different type of player than most imagined when he first entered the league, whether that’s on the Sharks or not, in the long run.

I'm the opposite of you on Labanc, would love to see him find a different career path. But I agree he hasn't been *terrible* off the puck. Still awful whenever he has the puck or is in the offensive zone. If Quinn uses him as a 4th line Grinder he could possibly carve out another contract next year.

It’s just practice.

He was on the 4th line last game and that's where he is now Alaska.

I said Quinn last year was the farthest thing from a rebuilding coach. It worked last year cause it wasn't a rebuild and they had nothing but trash surrounding Meier/Ek and the other main stays. Now that they finally have younger players being incorporated he'll get exposed just like he did in NY.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

When you have four 4th lines, is it still the 4th line?

 

[WTFetus]

Eh, not sure that order would correlate with their ice-time during a game anyway. Looks more like one 2nd line and three 3rd lines.

 

[Barrie22]

Eh, not sure that order would correlate with their ice-time during a game anyway. Looks more like one 2nd line and three 3rd lines.

Zadina played the least amount of ice time in the last game.

 

[timorous me]

I honestly have no idea what Quinn is thinking with his lines this season. Right here's he's put together four lines, three of which I could see as the fourth line. Sheng was just guessing but we know how Quinn loves Kunin so what are the odds that he (and Zadina!) are the actual 4th line?

 

[Hobocop]

More from Sheng:



Can't help but notice a certain #44 isn't part of these drills.

 

[Hodge]

I honestly have no idea what Quinn is thinking with his lines this season. Right here's he's put together four lines, three of which I could see as the fourth line. Sheng was just guessing but we know how Quinn loves Kunin so what are the odds that he (and Zadina!) are the actual 4th line?

Is that Quinn's fault though? I'm not sure how you can rearrange the forwards from that tweet in a way that avoids having three 4th lines.

Could definitely see Vlasic getting waived this season, which I wouldn't have said two weeks ago.

 

[Sharkz4Fun]

More from Sheng:



Can't help but notice a certain #44 isn't part of these drills.

That first unit listed would be last in PK% in the AHL. Of course, that just so happens to be the #1 unit.

 

[timorous me]

Is that Quinn's fault though? I'm not sure how you can rearrange the forwards from that tweet in a way that avoids having three 4th lines.

Could definitely see Vlasic getting waived this season, which I wouldn't have said two weeks ago.

I'd still be surprised about anything like that with Vlasic unless he becomes a problem in the room. He probably needs to take more time for his injury but is the hard-headed stubborn type who came back too soon. But playing injured could REALLY precipitate his decline in an ugly way.

Quinn definitely is working with a Frankenstein's monster of a roster right now (minus the monster's power and intensity), but I still think he's made some peculiar choices--most of which involve Kunin, lol.

I don't even say that to hate on Kunin--it's just, like, accept him for who he is and don't risk hurting the confidence of developing young skill players by putting them on his line (especially with Kunin at center!).

Just give me one game of Eklund playing with Hertl, please! Or at the very least don't separate Zadina from Hertl.