GDT: Game 26: Sharks vs. Kraken 12:30pm NBCSCA

[SJSharksfan39]

Tank looked fuller than usual today too. Wonder if it’s the holiday or if fans are just realizing the team is extremely exciting now.

Might be both. You get an early game and a lot of Kids in the crowd. Having it part of a holiday weekend makes it better.

 

[CanadienShark]

Missed this game since I had to work. Seems like a great outcome and game. The kids got their points. Liljegren yet another goal. Granlund and Toffoli got points. No complaints with the boxscore. Congrats to Cardwell!

 

[CanadienShark]

Moves the puck better than most of our defensemen, but sometimes struggles to win puck battles which is a common trait amongst our defensive corps. But on our team, he's allowed to play through mistakes because we have no one better. Had a real nice goal to open our game today, but is not so good offensively that you can excuse the issues in our own end.

I think in an ideal world where we get two better defensemen someday to be in our top pair, he probably slots somewhere between a 2nd and 3rd defensive pairing. Pairing him with someone that brings the physicality and ability to win puck battles would help him immensely.

I'd love to see an Ekholm type be paired with Liljegren. Timothy just gives that vibe of "there's more to unlock".

 

[karltonian]

To be fair though, Smith looked good with Granlund after being sheltered with Kunin and Goodrow and allowed to work on his game. I think it helped.



Kostin seems to have really struggled emotionally the 8 games he sat and I really like everything he’s said in his interview. I really hope the dude figures it out because, again, there’s a real good middle six winger in there.

Maybe he can become just a non thrown baseball bat!

 

[Jargon]

Maybe he can become just a non thrown baseball bat!

Yes!

I kind of think what’s happening with Kostin is he’s a skill guy stuck in a giant’s body and all his coaches wanted him to be a big grindy guy and he wants to dangle and make plays and was stuck being the former rather than the latter. Now he’s stuck in this weird world between both roles and I think he sometimes doesn’t know what he should be, so he gets lost and loses confidence. I think the last few games have helped him kind of find his game again as a grinder and then the surprise bump to Granlund’s line (and then the goal) gave him the confidence to go out and be both. I think Jux is exactly right — it’s all a confidence/emotional issue with him. If he can keep on this run and keep playing with Smith and Granlund, that line could actually be really, really potent.

 

[Alaskanice]

Yes!

I kind of think what’s happening with Kostin is he’s a skill guy stuck in a giant’s body and all his coaches wanted him to be a big grindy guy and he wants to dangle and make plays and was stuck being the former rather than the latter. Now he’s stuck in this weird world between both roles and I think he sometimes doesn’t know what he should be, so he gets lost and loses confidence. I think the last few games have helped him kind of find his game again as a grinder and then the surprise bump to Granlund’s line (and then the goal) gave him the confidence to go out and be both. I think Jux is exactly right — it’s all a confidence/emotional issue with him. If he can keep on this run and keep playing with Smith and Granlund, that line could actually be really, really potent.

I think you’ve discovered something here. Props.

 

[Pavelski2112]

Yes!

I kind of think what’s happening with Kostin is he’s a skill guy stuck in a giant’s body and all his coaches wanted him to be a big grindy guy and he wants to dangle and make plays and was stuck being the former rather than the latter. Now he’s stuck in this weird world between both roles and I think he sometimes doesn’t know what he should be, so he gets lost and loses confidence. I think the last few games have helped him kind of find his game again as a grinder and then the surprise bump to Granlund’s line (and then the goal) gave him the confidence to go out and be both. I think Jux is exactly right — it’s all a confidence/emotional issue with him. If he can keep on this run and keep playing with Smith and Granlund, that line could actually be really, really potent.

Tage Thompson Syndrome