GDT: Sharks vs Canucks pt 2

[wraith985]

Add me to the crowd that likes Vlasic - Stuart together. Why break up a good thing? For the record, Stuart is a +8 and Vlasic a +6, and neither have been a minus in any game so far.

To be fair, the Sharks have only given up 3 even-strength goals, and only 2 Sharks are minuses period (Braun and Handzus, those deadbeats). Then again, they own the two best +/- marks on the team (Pickles is tied with Marleau and Thornton), and the next closest defenseman is Boyle at +2, so I suppose you have a point here.

I like Vlasic and Stuart together very much, but I think the team benefits if they get separated. I highly doubt Murray will get benched when everyone is healthy, so if you go Vlasic-Stuart you're likely stuck with Boyle-Murray, leaving Burns to play with one of Irwin, Demers, or Braun. If the goal is to pair Murray with one of the younger guys so he can shine in more limited minutes, keeping Vlasic-Stuart together nixes that idea entirely...unless you want to play Burns and Boyle together. Hmmm...

 

[Alwalys]

Holy crap, they actually post the player interview? Thanks for the tip!

I just noticed it on the twitter feed on the sharks site. I seem to be spending more time there ogling stats than last year

 

[do0glas]

why the hate against what is shaping up to be the best shutdown pair weve had in years?

burns and demers come back, what exactly is being added to the team?

two great puck movers, the former with a rocket of a wrister from the point, the latter can pass te puck with ease

burns is very fast, can score when he activates and pretty much lays it on the ice to recover on break aways

demers at least last year wasnt really making an impact for me. he will have to duke it out with irwin in my opinion, but braun is always up for a healthy scratch as well.

so, in the end. can boyle/burns play on the same unit? and then move them to the 1/2 pp unit respectively?

personally, I think we have the makings of the best top 4 in the league.

boyle/burns
vlasic/stuart
braun-demers/irwin-murray

Irwin is doing great, but hes not doing SO much that you keep him as the #2 guy when burns is back.

Irwin has gotten a fair amount of looks but lacks the offensive awareness to take advantage, i think boyle and burns can really make teams heads spin.

 

[Hatrick Marleau]

why the hate against what is shaping up to be the best shutdown pair weve had in years?

burns and demers come back, what exactly is being added to the team?

two great puck movers, the former with a rocket of a wrister from the point, the latter can pass te puck with ease

burns is very fast, can score when he activates and pretty much lays it on the ice to recover on break aways

demers at least last year wasnt really making an impact for me. he will have to duke it out with irwin in my opinion, but braun is always up for a healthy scratch as well.

so, in the end. can boyle/burns play on the same unit? and then move them to the 1/2 pp unit respectively?

personally, I think we have the makings of the best top 4 in the league.

boyle/burns
vlasic/stuart
braun-demers/irwin-murray

Irwin is doing great, but hes not doing SO much that you keep him as the #2 guy when burns is back.

Irwin has gotten a fair amount of looks but lacks the offensive awareness to take advantage, i think boyle and burns can really make teams heads spin.

That's a waste of talent. They both like to jump up in the play so they need a guy back there that can cover for them.

Burns Vlasic
Boyle Stuart

This^ is the best way to go. Burns-Vlasic and Boyle Stuart pairs have two guys that compliment each other well.

 

[Mattb124]

Season to date, Murray is 6th of 6 in TOI (16:59) with Stuart 5th at 18:16 (1:15+ more) and Braun and Irwin just short of 20:00 (almost 3 minutes more). Unless the coaches find Murray's skill set necessary (PK, physicality), he could easily be the odd man out. Since he played duringthe lock-out, I doubt they are managing his minutes for fitness reasons.

Boyle's only at 22:27 which should keep him fresher than the 25:00+ minutes he has historically gotten.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Putting Boyle and Burns together is a huge waste of talent. Both guys (but especially Boyle) love to have the puck on their sticks. Both can shoot the puck well. Both can rush up the ice, both have great hands. Boyle's a better QB/playmaker, Burns is a better puck-rusher, but they share a certain amount g skills that I'd much rather spread out in the lineup.

 

[Mafoofoo]

why the hate against what is shaping up to be the best shutdown pair weve had in years?

burns and demers come back, what exactly is being added to the team?

two great puck movers, the former with a rocket of a wrister from the point, the latter can pass te puck with ease

burns is very fast, can score when he activates and pretty much lays it on the ice to recover on break aways

demers at least last year wasnt really making an impact for me. he will have to duke it out with irwin in my opinion, but braun is always up for a healthy scratch as well.

so, in the end. can boyle/burns play on the same unit? and then move them to the 1/2 pp unit respectively?

personally, I think we have the makings of the best top 4 in the league.

boyle/burns
vlasic/stuart
braun-demers/irwin-murray

Irwin is doing great, but hes not doing SO much that you keep him as the #2 guy when burns is back.

Irwin has gotten a fair amount of looks but lacks the offensive awareness to take advantage, i think boyle and burns can really make teams heads spin.

That should only happen during a power play 6-4 down by a goal with a minute left in the game.

 

[do0glas]

If burns was less of a wild card I'd like it

Maybe
Burns Irwin
Boyle vlasic
Braun Stuart

Irwin and vlasic interchangeable

 

[ChubbChubby]

Vlasic-Burns pair was amazing last year, and they didn't even have much time to develop any chemistry with each other so it can only get better. It's also likely going to be the big pair for years to come since they're both so young. Might as well start getting comfortable now rather than later.

I just feel bad for whoever has to pair with Boyle. Forget points, you'd never even touch the puck unless you're clearing it or passing it to Boyle.

 

[OrrNumber4]

In my mind, when Burns comes back, he puts fatass out of the lineup. Despite the defense clicking very well, Burns has earned this.

But when Demers comes back, what do you do? Do you really want to break up a good thing in Boyle-Irwin? Demers can't justify being more proven than Braun...he'd be the first guy to replace Irwin, but Irwin is playing so darn well...

 

[Juxtaposer]

In my mind, when Burns comes back, he puts fatass out of the lineup. Despite the defense clicking very well, Burns has earned this.

But when Demers comes back, what do you do? Do you really want to break up a good thing in Boyle-Irwin? Demers can't justify being more proven than Braun...he'd be the first guy to replace Irwin, but Irwin is playing so darn well...

That seems obvious, but since when has the coaching staff ever done the obvious thing?

 

[Pinkfloyd]

When Burns and Demers come back, it is easy in my mind that you sit Irwin and Murray. Murray ought to be moved for a future asset to keep Irwin on the big club when both Burns and Demers are healthy. Irwin is currently not playing well enough to keep Demers out of the lineup when he is healthy. He's playing well for a rookie but he is not playing well enough to justify making Demers a healthy scratch...nor make Braun a healthy scratch.

 

[AgentCooper]

Scratch two left side defensemen for two right side dmen. Wonder how that's going to work.

 

[magic school bus]

I bet McLellan plays 7 defenseman and somehow still sits Demers.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Scratch two left side defensemen for two right side dmen. Wonder how that's going to work.

Stuart and Braun can both play the left side.

 

[Grave]

Stuart and Braun can both play the left side.

Braun can barely play either side

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

When Burns and Demers come back, it is easy in my mind that you sit Irwin and Murray. Murray ought to be moved for a future asset to keep Irwin on the big club when both Burns and Demers are healthy. Irwin is currently not playing well enough to keep Demers out of the lineup when he is healthy. He's playing well for a rookie but he is not playing well enough to justify making Demers a healthy scratch...nor make Braun a healthy scratch.

In the past I've been a huge Demers fan, and I've certainly let it beknown that I think McLellan doesn't like him, but honestly, I like how Irwin has complemented Boyles game.......so I'm sorta leaning towards keeping them together, DEFINITELY keep Staurt and Vlasic together, and maybe try Burns and Braun. Sprinkle in Murray and Demers where you can.

 

[bullslugg]

Demers injury may be a blessing in disguise. Without it Irwin never would have this much icetime to show his stuff. Things work in mysterious ways sometimes. BTW I love Demers & Braun adding Irwin to the mix could work out very well. Playoff time 8 NHL d-men will be very valuable.

 

[Timos Death Stare]

I'd like to point out that it would be dumb IMHO to get rid of Demers or Braun. Irwin would look great with Demers in time after Boyle has retired (or even next year). THAT is the pairing I want to see.

 

[AgentCooper]

Stuart and Braun can both play the left side.

I'll give you Stuart, although Wings fans made it overly clear that he's better on the right side. Regarding Braun, you'd only be right if your definition of "play" is "has tried it once or twice."

 

[Juxtaposer]

I'll give you Stuart, although Wings fans made it overly clear that he's better on the right side. Regarding Braun, you'd only be right if your definition of "play" is "has tried it once or twice."

Braun played a good chunk of last season on the left side.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

In the past I've been a huge Demers fan, and I've certainly let it beknown that I think McLellan doesn't like him, but honestly, I like how Irwin has complemented Boyles game.......so I'm sorta leaning towards keeping them together, DEFINITELY keep Staurt and Vlasic together, and maybe try Burns and Braun. Sprinkle in Murray and Demers where you can.

Irwin does compliment Boyle's game but he's got to get a lot better while Demers is out to maintain that spot. He is a rookie and is making his share of rookie mistakes. That's fine because that's what he is right now and he will get better the more he plays but in this shortened season, you need your best players on the ice when available and Demers is better and was white hot overseas this season. It'd be nice to see if he can carry it over to the NHL like a few of their offensively-inclined forwards have done.

However, in the off-season, it will be easy to let Murray go and slide Irwin in the lineup from day one and I would like them to trade Boyle this off-season as well.

Vlasic-Burns
Stuart-Demers
Irwin-Braun

That's a nice set of defensemen.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

Larry Robinson style PK.

 

[AgentCooper]

Braun played a good chunk of last season on the left side.

And it was significantly below average. He mostly played on the right of Colin White. When he played with Demers they kept switching off who played right and who played left because neither could do the left side very well.

 

[MillarWithASave]

Edit: Nvm.