GDT: Game 60: Sharks @ Canadiens 4:00pm NBCSCA

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I think that's a good thing. Celebrini will get his, but when he might have an off night, who will pick up the slack? This is why I wanted to see Smith do well coming out of the break. Show that depth that we will all enjoy for years to come. Who will be the Joe Pavelski to Celebrini's Marleau?
Is Barclay Goodrow … Joe Thornton in this scenario?
 
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I just can't with him anymore. Makes too many boneheaded defensive mistakes and he's nothing special as a passer. His whole value is skating with the puck and shooting it and that's just not enough. We need dependable defenders.
I was trying to think of some kind of joke to use with Walman, but the situation is so depressing that even comedy has died on the back end of this team.
 
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that might've been one of mario's best games for the sharks. really responsible defending and a lot of patience in his game right now, especially on the breakout.
 
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It seems that we as a fanbase have collectively hit the Walman.
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It's so massively disappointing what Vlasic has become both as a player on the ice and off. Ferraro is unquestionably our leader on the blue line and the kids seem to love being around him.

I bet that some of it has to do with all his personal issues with his divorce and whatnot, but he's always been kinda salty and weird for years. It just didn't stand out so much that had big personalities and leaders who had seniority on him like Jumbo, Burns, Pavelski, and Marleau. It's likely he was never really destined for any sort of mentoring or leadership role and it only stands out now that he's the guy on this roster who obviously should be in that gig but isn't.

My guess is that to start the season, two of Cagnoni, Mukhamadullin, Schaefer, and Dickinson will be in the lineup. If anyone (probably only Schaefer) takes to the NHL very well, then you might have someone else come up. The injuries to Mukhamadullin were unfortunate; I think the hope was he'd be a solid, reliable bottom-pairing guy by the end of this season, and then next season you could try moving him up a little.

I think Mukhamadullin has mostly been fine. He's not and never has been a top shelf defensive prospect so some growing pains and bumpy roads were always likely to be there on his path to NHL regular.

I think that Mukhamadullin inherits the Rutta spot full time. Cagnoni probably starts as a sheltered 3rd pairing/PPQB type with either Vlasic or Thompson across from him. Schaefer gets a long, hard look if the Sharks pick top 2 and get him and probably makes it too. I just don't see Dickinson catching on unless he comes into camp and dominates. Especially if Schaefer were in the mix. We're kind of jammed up for LHD and I wouldn't want the kids playing on their off sides if at all possible.

Assuming the likely outcome of no Schaefer and without considering UFA additions:

Ferraro - Walman
Mukhamadullin - Liljegren
Cagnoni - Vlasic

With Schaefer the math becomes tougher since he's a LHD and that pushes Mukh or Cagnoni out when both need/deserve proper auditions for full-time roles.

The UFA market isn't great for RD either. Maybe you throw big money at Ekblad to be the anchor/leader. Maybe you try for a Ceci reunion. There's always Fabbro, but the Sharks didn't go for him on waivers so who knows what that means. Or maybe you take a shot at a less heralded guy like Kovacevic or Perbix or lower tier options like Hakkanpaa, Bortuzzo, or Tyson Barrie.

Name me one defender on this current roster that you want to play higher than third pairing

I'm fine with Walman on the second pair if they give him someone to offset his swashbuckling tendencies. Not in an ideal world, obviously, but in the world where the Sharks don't really have 4 top 4 d-men he's an acceptable option if you can manage the risk. The thing right now is that as a guy who can play on the right side and who actually does possess something that resembles offensive ability, he's kind of hardwired into a top pairing spot since we have no better options.

ah so thrun left the game early and the team dominated after that?

Warsofsky: "We lost Thrun and then we lost the game. It's not a coincidence."
 
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