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Training Camp Notes:
- Sharks training camp for the full roster kicks off on the 19th of September. The rookie camp opens on the 12th and will feature two games against the Anaheim Ducks prospects on the 13th and 14th of September in Anaheim.
- The Sharks will be on the ice at 9a.m. on the 19th and all sessions at the Sharks practice facility will be open to the public.
- There shouldn’t too many surprises out of camp but it will give the coaching staff a good look at who the replacements will be when they are needed.
Lineup Predictions
Here's how I would like to see the Sharks roster on opening night, complete with who I'd like to see wearing the letters.
Up Front
Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski (A) Matt Nieto – Logan Couture (A) – Patrick Marleau Tommy Wingels – James Sheppard – Tyler Kennedy Mike Brown – Andrew Desjardins – Freddie Hamilton
The forward group remains from last year and very minimal changes are expected. Matt Nieto has earned a chance in the top-six forward group with his play but mostly due to Brent Burns shifting back to defense. If Pavelski wants to score 40 goals again then flanking Joe Thornton is where he wants to be. Tyler Kennedy should be on a very short leash this year after Todd McLellan lost confidence in the former Penguin late in the season, but he should be given the chance to start the season on the third line.
The fourth line is made up of the face smashers featuring Freddie Hamilton. Every goon line needs a calming presence that has third line talent in order to actually function for over two minutes per game in the NHL. Hamilton had a tough time playing with the Sharks last year but excelled developmentally with Worcester in the AHL. A center who can play the wing has two players he can chase off of the third line (Sheppard and Kennedy) if he plays well enough early on.
Everyone in the bottom six group will need to prove they belong before Raffi Torres returns to the lineup. The Sharks like Torres so don’t expect to see him in the press box if he’s healthy, he’s coming back and someone is losing a job.
On Defense
Marc-Eduoard Vlasic (C) – Jason Demers Matt Irwin – Brent Burns Mirco Mueller - Justin Braun
Vlasic is clearly the Sharks best defender and his reward shouldn’t be punishing him by having to cover for Burns for 20+ minutes a game. Demers has earned a spot next to Vlasic and should stay there if he can iron out the consistency in his otherwise sound game. Braun is on the third line solely to shelter Mueller as he, hopefully, sees some time at the start of the year. Braun could easily be on the second line to babysit Brent Burns but I think he’s better suited to ease Mueller into the NHL than Matt Irwin is.
San Jose played their defensive group pretty evenly last year and this year should be no different. While I have Braun on the third pairing he should still see good minutes with the even spread and addition of penalty kill time. Joining Braun on the PK should be Vlasic and Demers along with the other defender who proves to be the least of a liability in his own end from pre-season. The top two pairings should shift over to the PP when the Sharks are a man up.
There's no Taylor Doherty, I know. I think that the Sharks should give him some games early and that might mean giving Mueller a night or two off, maybe even Irwin. There's no loss in that, though, it just extends the look that the staff can get of Mueller before they make their final decision. Doherty has put in his time in the AHL and deserves his shot. A more realistic approach may be that Mueller plays his max, returns to juniors and then we see Doherty.
In Goal
Antti Niemi Alex Stalock
Niemi is clearly the number one in San Jose but that could change by the end of the season if he gets outplayed by his counterpart. Stalock should be given every opportunity to prove his worth as a number one with Niemi hunting for a new contract after this season. The Sharks don’t like to spend big money on goaltenders, instead preferring to sign cheaper players that will be adequate, so Niemi should feel the pressure knowing Stalock posted better numbers last year.
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