GDT: Game #35 • Vancouver Canucks @ San Jose Sharks • April 1, 2013 • 7:30pm PST

[Pinkfloyd]

I'm not psychic, but let me put it to you this way. The fact that they called up Tennyson instead of putting Burns at D kind of is a clue as to where the org feels Burns is the most valuable. Seems to me with the way the league has gone Burns helps the breakout more as a forward and being a forward still allows him to use his wrister.

It possible that as a forward burns might get around 70 points with 25 goals. Leave him there. Oh and he is great on the forecheck too

They called up Tennyson because between now and the end of this season their blue line depth is their greatest strength. If Boyle is dealt in the offseason they'll need burns as their new #1 going forward and it will be much easier to fill the winger spot than find a new number one dman.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I'm not psychic, but let me put it to you this way. The fact that they called up Tennyson instead of putting Burns at D kind of is a clue as to where the org feels Burns is the most valuable. Seems to me with the way the league has gone Burns helps the breakout more as a forward and being a forward still allows him to use his wrister.

It possible that as a forward burns might get around 70 points with 25 goals. Leave him there. Oh and he is great on the forecheck too

At this time yes. But Burns adds a lot more to our team as a defenseman. Pair him up with Vlasic and give him the freedom to pinch.

He will be on the ice for more minutes as D than a F.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

But I'm not sure the org sees Burns as a number one d man. I'm his biggest fan but I'm not sure I see him as one either.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

But I'm not sure the org sees Burns as a number one d man. I'm his biggest fan but I'm not sure I see him as one either.

They don't make the commitments they have to him if they don't see him as such. They have the luxury of enough guys to cover up the blue line in depth to where burns doesn't have to be there but the moment Boyle is gone, that depth is gone at the top level and good luck finding some other trade to replace him. It's going to be burns for better or for worse.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

In fairness, they were dominating non-NHLers.

They had a few good shifts against the Sedins. Kept them in the D-zone and wore them down. The line that gave the Sharks the biggest problem was the Burrows line. Sedins were invisible.

 

[hateseed]

They had a few good shifts against the Sedins. Kept them in the D-zone and wore them down. The line that gave the Sharks the biggest problem was the Burrows line. Sedins were invisible.

Vlassic.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Vlassic.

Vlasic and Braun were very good.

 

[Hold the Pickles]

They don't make the commitments they have to him if they don't see him as such. They have the luxury of enough guys to cover up the blue line in depth to where burns doesn't have to be there but the moment Boyle is gone, that depth is gone at the top level and good luck finding some other trade to replace him. It's going to be burns for better or for worse.

I don't disagree, but some of those commitments were made pre-robinson. If we can keep Boyle next year, maybe he'll sign for a steal to finish his career here. Maybe we can get by with our current staff improving enough to cover for boyle slipping a bit.

 

[hateseed]

Vlasic and Braun were very good.

Vlassic has really changed as a player in terms of presence in the last season+. His reaction to the bad call when the Van player laid down on the ice with both he and Braun trying to move it was really great to see, but mostly how the ref and other players reacted to it. When Vlassic fully-transitions into "old-man mode", he will really be a sight to see, an elder statesman of the league even.

We forget because weve seen him play for so long already that he is so freakin young.

 

[WantonAbandon]

They called up Tennyson because between now and the end of this season their blue line depth is their greatest strength. If Boyle is dealt in the offseason they'll need burns as their new #1 going forward and it will be much easier to fill the winger spot than find a new number one dman.

If they trade Boyle during the offseason it would mean they would have to upgrade their blue line even more regardless of what they decide to do with Burns

 

[Pinkfloyd]

If they trade Boyle during the offseason it would mean they would have to upgrade their blue line even more regardless of what they decide to do with Burns

That's like...your opinion, man. Their blue line without Boyle would be every bit as good as they are this year with Burns up front...if not, better. Burns, when healthy, is a better #1 option than Boyle. Boyle's even strength productivity has tanked and been halved at the per game level. Power play production has historically been replaceable at the d-man level. Even if you believe his ability is still at a high level, the team's efficiency has dropped and fallen behind relative to the rest of the league. His skills in this situation are replaceable as well with Demers. I have no problems icing this blue line next year...

Vlasic-Burns
Stuart-Demers
Irwin-Braun

I also have no problem trading Braun to put Tennyson in that spot but would rather give him more Worcester time before making that move.

 

[WantonAbandon]

That's like...your opinion, man. Their blue line without Boyle would be every bit as good as they are this year with Burns up front...if not, better. Burns, when healthy, is a better #1 option than Boyle. Boyle's even strength productivity has tanked and been halved at the per game level. Power play production has historically been replaceable at the d-man level. Even if you believe his ability is still at a high level, the team's efficiency has dropped and fallen behind relative to the rest of the league. His skills in this situation are replaceable as well with Demers. I have no problems icing this blue line next year...

Vlasic-Burns
Stuart-Demers
Irwin-Braun

I also have no problem trading Braun to put Tennyson in that spot but would rather give him more Worcester time before making that move.

Well of course its my opinion... And my opinion regarding Burns is the same; on the breakout if Burns isn't allowed to skate out with the puck he struggles and this option has become less available as defenses have gotten faster. However he does fill a huge hole at forward.

No I don't think the Defense would be the same without Boyle and neither would the offense

As for Tennyson at the moment he is at best a plan B. The plan A would be to pick up a defensmen preferably through FA. Now the Sharks wouldn't necessarily even have to make a trade depending on how much money he wants they could just let Irwin walk. Of course assuming they let Gomez walk too they may be able to just barely afford an upgrade... maybe.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Well of course its my opinion... And my opinion regarding Burns is the same; on the breakout if Burns isn't allowed to skate out with the puck he struggles and this option has become less available as defenses have gotten faster. However he does fill a huge hole at forward.

No I don't think the Defense would be the same without Boyle and neither would the offense

As for Tennyson at the moment he is at best a plan B. The plan A would be to pick up a defensmen preferably through FA. Now the Sharks wouldn't necessarily even have to make a trade depending on how much money he wants they could just let Irwin walk. Of course assuming they let Gomez walk too they may be able to just barely afford an upgrade... maybe.

And you don't think Boyle struggles when it comes to passing right now? His puck skills have been diminishing over time and he's no different. When you handle the puck a lot, skating it out is always the best option if it's available and passing lanes in general are tight. That's not a good enough excuse to put Burns at forward from now on when he is their best option as a #1 d-man in the future.

The mere fact that you're suggesting that they try to remedy the situation of getting another #1 d-man through free agency shows how out of touch you are with this situation. Free agency is not an option for this franchise. It only has ever been an option when someone wanted to limit themselves to this region of California and was well past his prime. No premier in-their-prime defenseman will ever choose San Jose on the open market.

This blue line won't be the same w/o Boyle. It will be different because it has to be. Whether it is as productive is up for debate and with how Boyle is declining, if they keep force-feeding him as the go-to guy, it's only going to make the team worse by keeping potentially better options down.

 

[Lebanezer]

I'm just pointing out the imbedded Big Lebowski quote that seemed to echo unheeded into the night. I heard you and I smiled and it was good. The dude abides, the dude abides. Boyle does seem to be declining as you've mentioned but he's so dang passionate and still fairly effective - and I feel like Boyle would let the sharks know what happens when you **** a stranger in the ***.