Coach Discussion: Warsofsky

[hohosaregood]

Sharks Are Better Than Last Year…But Why Aren’t They Winning More? (+)

Are the San Jose Sharks better than last year? They had appeared to turn the page on last season’s disaster in early December — on Dec. 7, they were 10-15-5, a .417 Points % with a -22 Goal Differential. This was a far cry from 2023-24’s 19-54-9, a .287 Points % with a -146 Goal […]

sanjosehockeynow.com

Interesting little article about where the team has improved. Does mostly point to the goaltending being a big factor this year. Didn't think we could get worse than Dubnyk, Kahkonen, and prebreakout Hill.

 

[coooldude]

I never “demanded” anyone respond to me. In fact, I ignored quite a few of your sarcastic jabs until I finally responded to you. Yeah, I registered 8 days ago. Ever consider that maybe there’s people who read the board regularly and then finally decide to join? Or is it always some crack pot conspiracy that I must have some ulterior motive to “sow discord” in a freaking online message board. For example, I remember that you were the guy posting about Will Smith being a bust after his first 2 games at BC. But I’m “over the top”. That’s hilarious, guy. I wasn’t gonna mention that but your post is full of so much smug that I just had to.

Lilleeroy, is that you? I never declared Smith a bust after two games but I was definitely worried about his play in the first half. I'm still worried about whether he's going to be an impact player because he's got a long way to go to reach that ceiling and it would really help if he did and really hurt if he didn't. I think you're misremembering.

Sorry to twist your nips, I just think your rant was over the top, and I think this response is a bit all or nothing and over the top as well. You obviously care a lot, just suggesting you inject a little grey into the black and white takes. Obviously you're still big mad and I'm not going to change that, so if you decide to stay mad, I apologize and best of luck in the forums.

The rest of your post is at least arguing the hockey. I’ll respond to a few points.

Yea, everyone that watches the team realizes that the puck play is terrible. Once again you’re trying to argue something that I’m not saying. The issue with his “puck play” answer is that he never elaborates or goes into further detail. Additionally, one of the biggest reasons the “puck play” is so terrible is that he chooses to use so many plugs that have little to no skill. When you’re moving TY DELLANDREA up the lineup, you’re not going to catch many passes cleanly. The way he uses the “puck play” answer is in the meathead “these young hot shots try to many fancy thingz!” implication, which is only sort of true, and not the real problem.

When I hear puck play, I hear him referring to making the simple plays, not getting mad about fancy plays. Usually we get hemmed in for the 2 minute shifts because someone misses a simple chip or breakout pass, they can't change, puck is back in the zone, and our system in zone is prone to extended shifts, which is made worse by the roster. So I don't agree re what he means on puck play. I do agree with you that he plays bad players, but Dellandrea has been getting 4th line minutes, so I'm not sure that's the example.

How else am I supposed to look for anything on him? I’m not in the locker room or in team meetings. I’m not at practice. I do know that every coach before him was much more detailed and in depth w/ the media.

Every coach before him, back to who? I don't personally remember any coaches really getting that detailed about systems at all. It's usually us on the Internet speculating based on what we see. Which brings me back to my belief that he's probably a replacement level coach but isn't the problem.

This guy can’t win a game and he thinks he’s Bill Belichick.

I mean, why say this? Dude is a Pats fan, I can assure you he thinks Belichick is a better coach than him... I don't know how you can say he has an ego problem.

Regardless of anything else, it’s a cringe look. I also happen to get the vibe that he’s not as detailed because he’s not all that smart on the X’s and O’s. I had this hunch about Jim Harbaugh in football and was proven correct. Harbaugh played football, but he was a pretty clear meathead, that relied on his staff to build the scheme and call plays. I happen to think something similar is going on here. He can prove me wrong by making better lineup decisions and getting the stick out of his azz. I’ll be the first to admit it was a bad take.

So far the lineup decisions you're pointing to are during high levels of injury and after significant trades... What lineup do you want him to ice in the next game?

It’s not a singular player issue. They all play way too far back and it’s obvious there’s a coaching point to collapse and gift the team the blueline entry. When every defenseman is doing it, it’s not the bad player, lol. It’s a trend.

I haven't seen this like you have. The D pinches in the OZ, they pinch and pressure when they have numbers in the NZ, and they try to slow down odd man rushes like any D corps would while waiting for the F3 to hard pressure the puck. If they're giving the blue line easily, it's not because the system says so, it's because they're trying not to get walked, which they are liable to do because everyone except Walman isn't very fast or mobile. I just don't think we're going to agree on that point.

That brings me to another point rarely mentioned, Ferraro has regressed under his tutelage(badly) and now so has Lilegren who was looking like a pretty good 4-5D in Toronto w/ sparkling analytics.

I think Ferraro has regressed because he no longer has Brent Burns as a partner, has been playing above his station in the lineup, and plays try hard hockey a bit too much. Maybe you can blame Warso as the D coach, but would a lot of other coaches do better with Ferraro? At times this year he's actually looked decent as a second pair D. Only analytics people liked Lily in TOR, and he still has decent analytics in SJ for a mid pair D anyway so I'm not sure he's been ruined.

Yet somehow we’re giving him “he developed Gustav Forsling!” points when pretty much every defenseman is a worse player after meeting Ryan in San Jose. Almost as if his “history” in his previous stops means Jack chit. Oh no! I’m angry again. Sorry!

I'm not sure who in this forum thinks Warsofsky is an amazing development coach, maybe ChompChomp who is a big fan. I'm just not sure he's the problem, and you seem extremely sure.

Poturalski 2C? He’s been 2C for 3 games now? For most of the season he had Granlund, Celebrini, Wennberg. That’s actually not terrible. Not great, but not bad. Quinn had Kunin as 2C for multiple stretches last year dude.

Wennberg injured, Sturm injured, you hate Dellandrea, Smith not ready. Who else did he have to choose from? Eklund didn't look great at center and it would break up our best/most effective top line duo. He's up shit creek with no options.

As far as Badrow and Kunin are concerned. We just disagree. I personally think Badrow could still be an effective 4th liner if he wanted to. But it’s clear as day that he is mailing it in, and loafing. The end result is far and away the worst forward analytically in the league.

I'm with you on Goodrow. And maybe he could bench him. There's also the possibility that Grier is asking him not to bench certain vets (A wearers) for example, and that's an old boys hockey thing that none of us are going to change and few coaches would. I think Kunin is fine as a bottom 6 for us, definitely not lighting it up.

If you really think the Cuda kids would be worse, that’s a pretty damning indictment of the prospect pool since guys like that are being counted on to provide cheap ELC value to fill out the roster soon.

I don't think they would be so much better as to change the outcome. I'm hopeful for Cardwell and Bystedt, I'm less hopeful for Bords even though paradoxically he's probably the guy most likely to put up points on a depleted last place team this spring.

Either way, if Cardwell really is a career AHL’er, and the same goes for Bystedt and the Doug Jr busts, it doesn’t hurt to try, since the bottom 6 is worse than I can ever remember.

I'm kind of ambivalent, but the argument for not calling them up is to keep them getting more ice time and more practice time on a winning team while they're still young and developing. I do believe the cliche that the NHL is not a development league except in extreme cases like 71/2.

Kunin, I dunno what to tell ya. He’s positionally crafty and gets open more than you’d expect but his foot speed is awful, his first step is even worse, and he blows coverage more often than any player on the roster. He’s a bad, bad, defensive player. It’s embarrassing that he’s still here when besides a lucky goal heater here and there we constantly have to watch him be a pylon and lose fights(seriously…the guy loses every fight, too). I choose to believe there are small things the organization and coach could tweak that would prevent or lessen some of these 3rd period meltdowns and lead to a couple more wins.

I don't think Kunin being a better version of himself is a 2 WAR player, but if you have stats that argue so, it would be interesting for the boards.

You think I’m a troll for saying so? Whatever dude.

Didn't call you a troll.

I speak my mind, and yeah sometimes it comes off enthusiastic. You don’t actually have to be a choir boy ya know.

Just trying to give you some feedback, and not the only poster to do so. If you don't want to hear it, no worries. You do you.

And it’s sorta funny to me that as soon as I respond to your memeing you start crying about “muh angry” and playing an online therapist. So you’re allowed to passive aggressively poke me but now you want da civility! Lolololol. Maybe just ignore my posts. I’m not asking you to read them, and judging off a few of your takes I’ve seen, you’re not anywhere near as smart as you think you are. So it’s gucci.

This was personal and unnecessary. I don't give a shit because I don't know you, and I'd happily see another voice on these boards if it's thoughtful and adds to the convo, but my first and last objection to this interaction is that it's WAY too emotional (and personal) for the topic. I just don't think Warsofsky is the reason we don't currently have 20 wins, and even if we did, that's still not a good team. You think I'm wrong, and now I'm a choir boy, a Smith sky is falling idiot, and an online therapist. Just kind of unnecessary.

 

[HockeyScout1425]

Lilleeroy, is that you? I never declared Smith a bust after two games but I was definitely worried about his play in the first half. I'm still worried about whether he's going to be an impact player because he's got a long way to go to reach that ceiling and it would really help if he did and really hurt if he didn't. I think you're misremembering.

Sorry to twist your nips, I just think your rant was over the top, and I think this response is a bit all or nothing and over the top as well. You obviously care a lot, just suggesting you inject a little grey into the black and white takes. Obviously you're still big mad and I'm not going to change that, so if you decide to stay mad, I apologize

There's a difference between being mad at the team, the coaching, and on-ice play, and being mad at you. I am furious about the on-ice play, but only slightly annoyed at your passive-aggressive approach. You seem to care more to be honest, I mean actually going into internet-therapist mode after sarcastically jabbing me is pretty peak irony-bro behavior. "Oh man, why do you care so much, calm down big guy!". Please dude lmao.

As for Smith, I could be confusing you with someone else. There was definitely someone on this board who made a long drawn out post in either the prospects thread or a Smith-centric thread that was sounding the alarms after he had 1 point in the first 2 BC games last year. For the record, I agree with you mostly. He does have a long way to go, and hes hardly a sure thing. But I do like the improvement I have seen from the start of training camp, which has been pretty noticeable.

I mean, why say this? Dude is a Pats fan, I can assure you he thinks Belichick is a better coach than him... I don't know how you can say he has an ego problem.

I say it because it's how he's acting. It has nothing to do w/ his football fandom and I didn't even know that he was a Patriots fan, although that would make sense w/ his Boston ties. Belichick was notorious for being a short, 1 answer prick w/ the media, but he also earned the right to act that way w/ all the winning he did. Warsofsky is dealing w/ the softest hockey media market in the entire league, not winning, and then has the nerve to act the same way. That is a bad look. Full stop. Sheng asking "where do you go from here" and him going "Back to San Jose" might amuse some, but I find it incredibly infuriating and cringeworthy.

I haven't seen this like you have. The D pinches in the OZ, they pinch and pressure when they have numbers in the NZ, and they try to slow down odd man rushes like any D corps would while waiting for the F3 to hard pressure the puck. If they're giving the blue line easily, it's not because the system says so, it's because they're trying not to get walked, which they are liable to do because everyone except Walman isn't very fast or mobile. I just don't think we're going to agree on that point.

I also have some thoughts on the pinching, but that wasnt what i was referring to. I'm talking about the NZ set up. The other team has the puck, and they start the play to enter. No one challenges the puck carrier at the blue line. It seems like it's a concerted effort, to, like you say, not get walked. But it's not a long term feasible strategy and if they actually challenged the puck carrier at the blue line they would have a better opportunity to create a turnover. It's like this hockey style "prevent defense", and I hate it. And I disagree that Ferraro isn't mobile. Thats actually one of the only redeeming qualities he has in my opinion.

Wennberg injured, Sturm injured, you hate Dellandrea, Smith not ready. Who else did he have to choose from? Eklund didn't look great at center and it would break up our best/most effective top line duo. He's up shit creek with no options.

You totally misunderstood the point. I never complained that he made Poturalski 2C in this reference. You made the point that the roster "stinks just as bad as last year" and used the Poturalski 2C experiment as evidence. I countered that by pointing out he has only been 2C for like 3 games since the Wennberg injury and Granlund trade. The vast majority of the season, he had Celebrini, Granlund, and Wennberg down the middle, 100 miles better than anything Quinn got to deal w/ last year. And we still didnt win any games. Though now that you mention it, yeah I honestly would prefer that the organization would give Bordeleau a final look before he's off to Russia. I am probably lower on his NHL outlook than even you are, but from an asset management standpoint it makes more sense to give the young guy w/ some skill a try at Granny-lite than the 31 year old career AHL'er. I think they probably promised Poturalski a look in the show at some point when trying to sign him to the Cuda, so it's not the end of the world. But yeah, you got your 3 games. You stink. Now go away.

I don't think they would be so much better as to change the outcome. I'm hopeful for Cardwell and Bystedt, I'm less hopeful for Bords even though paradoxically he's probably the guy most likely to put up points on a depleted last place team this spring.

Maybe not. But you never know. There's just been far too many games where the top line or sometimes top two lines hold their own(at least) and these bottom 6 plugs just get absolutely caved in. Maybe some recency bias w/ the last game where it was really pronounced. Regardless, I just do not see the point in Kunin anymore. He's slow as molasses, never backchecks, never finishes, and he blows coverage more often than any other player. I know I'm repeating myself, but it's all true. I watched the 2 Cuda games this week closely before I responded to this to see what kind of game these guys got going on right now. I havent watched every cuda game, the stats are meh for all of them, so maybe I was off w/ this take. Well, I'll tell you what I think. Bystedt looks pretty slow himself, although he has the ideal size for C and a long reach. I don't think he's ready though, he wasn't as physical w/ that size I would like and I think he could use more seasoning down there. I still think he'd be better than most of these clowns in the bottom 6, but I think calling him up now for an extended stretch might be a bad idea. Personally he looks like a 4th liner on a good team to me which is a bummer, but oh well.

Cardwell I remain impressed with. Decent skater, quick, battles hard, is always the first one in on the forecheck. W/a touch of skill too. Also see him as a 4th liner in the NHL but he's young and energetic and he seems pretty ready for that extended look to me. I mean, isnt this his 3rd season down there now? How long do you want a guy like Cardwell down there? If we're waiting for him to win the AHL scoring title we wont ever see him. This is pretty much who he is.

Bordeleau, as I mentioned above, does deserve a look in the show the rest of the way after the Granlund trade. Pretty weird couple games from him. Played well in the 1st Eagles game, tied it late w/ a really nice anticipation steal on the forecheck, and was one of the few who was playing w/ possession and in the OZ at all. 2nd game he threw a late check while defending a teammate and then was given a major for some reason. I dont know why, it seemed like classic cross checking to me. So, possible he has a bad temper and still isn't disciplined. I dont really care though. I am so, so, so, sick, of these bottom 6 turds that I am begging the org to give him one final extended look in the NHL before waving bye bye for good.

You'll notice the one guy I have NOT been clamoring for in this entire discussion, has been Cagnoni. He was flat out AWFUL in the 1st game, and I still have my doubts that he will ever be an NHL'er. And that's w/ the defense on the big club being as bad as it is. Still, I don't think he's even close to being better than Ferraro or Mukhamudllin, not right now anyway. So it's not this "just send the kids up there!" thing if thats what you think. I just happen to believe most of these guys in the bottom 6 are so tire-fire bad, that I would like to see some youthful changes. Even if its for 5 games or so....the definition of insanity is watxhing Warsofsky send out the Kunin/Badrow line to "shut the game down!". I just.....cannot do it anymore.

This was personal and unnecessary. I don't give a shit because I don't know you, and I'd happily see another voice on these boards if it's thoughtful and adds to the convo, but my first and last objection to this interaction is that it's WAY too emotional (and personal) for the topic. I just don't think Warsofsky is the reason we don't currently have 20 wins, and even if we did, that's still not a good team. You think I'm wrong, and now I'm a choir boy, a Smith sky is falling idiot, and an online therapist. Just kind of unnecessary.

Im crossing the line, but you're allowed to play online therapist? After making like 3 sarcastic meme posts that truly added nothing?

"Put my kid in the game!" seriously, what did that add? You seem so convinced that Im off my rocker and rash w/ the Warsofsky criticism. Thats fine, but I truly dont get the whole "Im gonna meme this guy" and then when i fire back it's "woooooahhhhhh! not cool man! Uncalled for! You're way too mad! I know this because im a therapist!. Like what bro lol. I treat online message boards like a bar. For better or worse. Maybe this place isnt for me, a thought Ive had before registering tbh. I just dont see fandom as a "we need to write out a well researched, peer reviewed essay before even offering a take". Part of the fun to me is offering up bold takes and venting after games. Thats not to say I dont believe the takes I've offered, but just that not everything has to be like your English paper? Just me dude.


Oh, I forgot this one.

So far the lineup decisions you're pointing to are during high levels of injury and after significant trades... What lineup do you want him to ice in the next game?

First, I disagree. The most steaming mad I've been all year was the Nashville game I keep referencing. That was before the Granlund trade and after the Blackwood trade. And maybe Blackwood doesnt give up the 6th, but the guy made the ACTIVE decision to start the 3rd period w/ the pillsburry doughboy against Nashville's Forsberg line and that was after getting thoroughly outplayed for the last 15 minutes of the 2nd period. I use that game as an example. But it shows me that Warsofsky seriously considers plugs like Kunin and Badrow as "defensive stoppers", and that's actually a terrifying thought going forward, because they are both currently the absolute two worst defensive forwards on the roster besides Kostin. Unless you think his strategy is "let me just try to get away w/ them for a minute to start the period, then go on the attack against a weaker Nashville line afterward". That would be a big stretch though, considering how he talks about these plugs. So again, it comes back to....how does this guy value hockey? Evaluate it? Evaluate the players? All signs look pretty damn depressing in a best case scenario.

What lineup would I like?

Poturalski waived and back to the Cuda. Give Badrow a "phantom IR stint". Scratch Kunin, Thrun, Grundstrom. Assuming Wennberg and Kostin are back. Call up Bordeleau and Cardwell.

Eklund Celebrini Zetterlund
Graf Wennberg Smith
Kovalenko Bordeleau Toffoli
Kostin Sturm Cardwell

Walman/Liljegren
Ferraro/Thompson
Mukhamudullin/Ruuta

Georgiev/Vanecek

Scratched: Kunin, Thrun, Grundstrom

PP1: Walman, Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, Toffoli
PP2: Liljegren, Mukhamudullin, Wennberg, Bordeleau, Zetterlund

PK1: Eklund, Wennberg, Walman, Ferraro
PK2: Graf, Cardwell, Liljegren, Ruuta

Reasoning: You can swap Z and Toffoli on either line and I'd be fine w/ it. Personally dont think Toffoli is a great fit w/ Macklin on the rush. I like giving an experienced guy on Bordeleau's wing during my idea of an extended Bordeleau "try out". That bottom 6 all of a sudden looks a lot more appeasing, and now the PK has much better defensive forwards.

 

[gaucholoco3]

There's a difference between being mad at the team, the coaching, and on-ice play, and being mad at you. I am furious about the on-ice play, but only slightly annoyed at your passive-aggressive approach. You seem to care more to be honest, I mean actually going into internet-therapist mode after sarcastically jabbing me is pretty peak irony-bro behavior. "Oh man, why do you care so much, calm down big guy!". Please dude lmao.

As for Smith, I could be confusing you with someone else. There was definitely someone on this board who made a long drawn out post in either the prospects thread or a Smith-centric thread that was sounding the alarms after he had 1 point in the first 2 BC games last year. For the record, I agree with you mostly. He does have a long way to go, and hes hardly a sure thing. But I do like the improvement I have seen from the start of training camp, which has been pretty noticeable.



I say it because it's how he's acting. It has nothing to do w/ his football fandom and I didn't even know that he was a Patriots fan, although that would make sense w/ his Boston ties. Belichick was notorious for being a short, 1 answer prick w/ the media, but he also earned the right to act that way w/ all the winning he did. Warsofsky is dealing w/ the softest hockey media market in the entire league, not winning, and then has the nerve to act the same way. That is a bad look. Full stop. Sheng asking "where do you go from here" and him going "Back to San Jose" might amuse some, but I find it incredibly infuriating and cringeworthy.



I also have some thoughts on the pinching, but that wasnt what i was referring to. I'm talking about the NZ set up. The other team has the puck, and they start the play to enter. No one challenges the puck carrier at the blue line. It seems like it's a concerted effort, to, like you say, not get walked. But it's not a long term feasible strategy and if they actually challenged the puck carrier at the blue line they would have a better opportunity to create a turnover. It's like this hockey style "prevent defense", and I hate it. And I disagree that Ferraro isn't mobile. Thats actually one of the only redeeming qualities he has in my opinion.



You totally misunderstood the point. I never complained that he made Poturalski 2C in this reference. You made the point that the roster "stinks just as bad as last year" and used the Poturalski 2C experiment as evidence. I countered that by pointing out he has only been 2C for like 3 games since the Wennberg injury and Granlund trade. The vast majority of the season, he had Celebrini, Granlund, and Wennberg down the middle, 100 miles better than anything Quinn got to deal w/ last year. And we still didnt win any games. Though now that you mention it, yeah I honestly would prefer that the organization would give Bordeleau a final look before he's off to Russia. I am probably lower on his NHL outlook than even you are, but from an asset management standpoint it makes more sense to give the young guy w/ some skill a try at Granny-lite than the 31 year old career AHL'er. I think they probably promised Poturalski a look in the show at some point when trying to sign him to the Cuda, so it's not the end of the world. But yeah, you got your 3 games. You stink. Now go away.



Maybe not. But you never know. There's just been far too many games where the top line or sometimes top two lines hold their own(at least) and these bottom 6 plugs just get absolutely caved in. Maybe some recency bias w/ the last game where it was really pronounced. Regardless, I just do not see the point in Kunin anymore. He's slow as molasses, never backchecks, never finishes, and he blows coverage more often than any other player. I know I'm repeating myself, but it's all true. I watched the 2 Cuda games this week closely before I responded to this to see what kind of game these guys got going on right now. I havent watched every cuda game, the stats are meh for all of them, so maybe I was off w/ this take. Well, I'll tell you what I think. Bystedt looks pretty slow himself, although he has the ideal size for C and a long reach. I don't think he's ready though, he wasn't as physical w/ that size I would like and I think he could use more seasoning down there. I still think he'd be better than most of these clowns in the bottom 6, but I think calling him up now for an extended stretch might be a bad idea. Personally he looks like a 4th liner on a good team to me which is a bummer, but oh well.

Cardwell I remain impressed with. Decent skater, quick, battles hard, is always the first one in on the forecheck. W/a touch of skill too. Also see him as a 4th liner in the NHL but he's young and energetic and he seems pretty ready for that extended look to me. I mean, isnt this his 3rd season down there now? How long do you want a guy like Cardwell down there? If we're waiting for him to win the AHL scoring title we wont ever see him. This is pretty much who he is.

Bordeleau, as I mentioned above, does deserve a look in the show the rest of the way after the Granlund trade. Pretty weird couple games from him. Played well in the 1st Eagles game, tied it late w/ a really nice anticipation steal on the forecheck, and was one of the few who was playing w/ possession and in the OZ at all. 2nd game he threw a late check while defending a teammate and then was given a major for some reason. I dont know why, it seemed like classic cross checking to me. So, possible he has a bad temper and still isn't disciplined. I dont really care though. I am so, so, so, sick, of these bottom 6 turds that I am begging the org to give him one final extended look in the NHL before waving bye bye for good.

You'll notice the one guy I have NOT been clamoring for in this entire discussion, has been Cagnoni. He was flat out AWFUL in the 1st game, and I still have my doubts that he will ever be an NHL'er. And that's w/ the defense on the big club being as bad as it is. Still, I don't think he's even close to being better than Ferraro or Mukhamudllin, not right now anyway. So it's not this "just send the kids up there!" thing if thats what you think. I just happen to believe most of these guys in the bottom 6 are so tire-fire bad, that I would like to see some youthful changes. Even if its for 5 games or so....the definition of insanity is watxhing Warsofsky send out the Kunin/Badrow line to "shut the game down!". I just.....cannot do it anymore.



Im crossing the line, but you're allowed to play online therapist? After making like 3 sarcastic meme posts that truly added nothing?

"Put my kid in the game!" seriously, what did that add? You seem so convinced that Im off my rocker and rash w/ the Warsofsky criticism. Thats fine, but I truly dont get the whole "Im gonna meme this guy" and then when i fire back it's "woooooahhhhhh! not cool man! Uncalled for! You're way too mad! I know this because im a therapist!. Like what bro lol. I treat online message boards like a bar. For better or worse. Maybe this place isnt for me, a thought Ive had before registering tbh. I just dont see fandom as a "we need to write out a well researched, peer reviewed essay before even offering a take". Part of the fun to me is offering up bold takes and venting after games. Thats not to say I dont believe the takes I've offered, but just that not everything has to be like your English paper? Just me dude.


Oh, I forgot this one.



First, I disagree. The most steaming mad I've been all year was the Nashville game I keep referencing. That was before the Granlund trade and after the Blackwood trade. And maybe Blackwood doesnt give up the 6th, but the guy made the ACTIVE decision to start the 3rd period w/ the pillsburry doughboy against Nashville's Forsberg line and that was after getting thoroughly outplayed for the last 15 minutes of the 2nd period. I use that game as an example. But it shows me that Warsofsky seriously considers plugs like Kunin and Badrow as "defensive stoppers", and that's actually a terrifying thought going forward, because they are both currently the absolute two worst defensive forwards on the roster besides Kostin. Unless you think his strategy is "let me just try to get away w/ them for a minute to start the period, then go on the attack against a weaker Nashville line afterward". That would be a big stretch though, considering how he talks about these plugs. So again, it comes back to....how does this guy value hockey? Evaluate it? Evaluate the players? All signs look pretty damn depressing in a best case scenario.

What lineup would I like?

Poturalski waived and back to the Cuda. Give Badrow a "phantom IR stint". Scratch Kunin, Thrun, Grundstrom. Assuming Wennberg and Kostin are back. Call up Bordeleau and Cardwell.

Eklund Celebrini Zetterlund
Graf Wennberg Smith
Kovalenko Bordeleau Toffoli
Kostin Sturm Cardwell

Walman/Liljegren
Ferraro/Thompson
Mukhamudullin/Ruuta

Georgiev/Vanecek

Scratched: Kunin, Thrun, Grundstrom

PP1: Walman, Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, Toffoli
PP2: Liljegren, Mukhamudullin, Wennberg, Bordeleau, Zetterlund

PK1: Eklund, Wennberg, Walman, Ferraro
PK2: Graf, Cardwell, Liljegren, Ruuta

Reasoning: You can swap Z and Toffoli on either line and I'd be fine w/ it. Personally dont think Toffoli is a great fit w/ Macklin on the rush. I like giving an experienced guy on Bordeleau's wing during my idea of an extended Bordeleau "try out". That bottom 6 all of a sudden looks a lot more appeasing, and now the PK has much better defensive forwards.

I don’t care to get into the argument as I don’t have time to read it. I just want to say Bordeleau has not played C in a year and a half. If you want to play a bunch of Cuda players you should at least understand more about the kinds of players they are.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Sharks Are Better Than Last Year…But Why Aren’t They Winning More? (+)

Are the San Jose Sharks better than last year? They had appeared to turn the page on last season’s disaster in early December — on Dec. 7, they were 10-15-5, a .417 Points % with a -22 Goal Differential. This was a far cry from 2023-24’s 19-54-9, a .287 Points % with a -146 Goal […]

sanjosehockeynow.com

Interesting little article about where the team has improved. Does mostly point to the goaltending being a big factor this year. Didn't think we could get worse than Dubnyk, Kahkonen, and prebreakout Hill.

Had the Sharks have kept Blackwood until the deadline, they're probably no worse than 5th-to-last, and maybe even almost escaping the bottom-10.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

Had the Sharks have kept Blackwood until the deadline, they're probably no worse than 5th-to-last, and maybe even almost escaping the bottom-10.

To surpass Seattle in points percentage and reach 5th from last, they would need 15 more points.

To surpass Utah in points percentage and escape the bottom 10, they would need 22 more points.

If another ~15-22 starts from Blackwood would give us another 15-22 points in the standings, he is far and away the greatest hockey player of all time.