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There is a lot of buzz around San Jose about the trio of kids stealing the show at training camp this year. Goldobin-Tierney-Goodrow have been making waves since camp opened, but do they have a realistic shot at making the team on opening night?
Mike Brown and Adam Burish are two, of several, players going to have an impact on that decision, this year and next, unless Doug Wilson can unload them on another team, or send them through waivers and watch them play in the AHL if they don’t get claimed.
The maximum players a team can have on its active roster is 23 and I don’t think Doug Wilson is too keen on sending one-way contracts to the American League. The idea of having the three kids playing on opening night is definitely a satisfying thought, but that might just be all it ever becomes this year. The only player that I’d say has a fighter’s chance is Nikolay Goldobin because if they send him down to junior they can’t get him back until next year’s camp.
With the way he’s performed so far that option isn't very appealing. If Goldobin is the real deal you can make room for that kind of talent without a blink of an eye. Depth moves are a little more cautious.
The reason I've zeroed in on Brown/Burish is because they have two years remaining on their deals and they pose a threat to the functionality of the lineup beyond this year. Tyler Kennedy and John Scott probably won’t be back after their contracts expire after this season. None of the four figure to be impact players for the Sharks, nor do they possess unrivaled leadership abilities. They could all be replaced by the kids and San Jose wouldn't be worse for it.
There is a problem with icing a roster filled with rookies and young players in your bottom six, though, and that’s you don’t have the required veteran leadership depth that championship teams have. Burish was brought in to be that player but he just isn't it. I’m not sure what Brown was brought in for. The point is, San Jose doesn't have that veteran leadership in the bottom six anyway, so why not give the kids a chance? Worry about adding the veteran pieces at the deadline.
Tonight Tierney and Goodrow, both AHL eligible on two-way deals, will be auditioning, potentially for the last time, for the jobs of role players. Head coach Todd McLellan told the media today he intends to match the two youngsters, along with Tommy Wingels, against the Kings top lines to assess where they’re at. It’s a smart move. Those two aren't trying to get a top-six spot, they’re looking at the bottom six, so why not play them as a checking line and see what happens?
San Jose’s biggest problem is going to be sorting through the crowd of one-way contracts to try and make room for functional hockey players, if that’s the decision, and it might take beyond opening night to get it done. I’m not opposed to all three being in the lineup on opening night, in fact I’d encourage it, but I am tempering my expectations as to what will actually be done roster-wise. Tierney and Goodrow are a phone call away if they’re cut, Goldobin is a calendar year.
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