Erik Karlsson (left) and Brent Burns form the most imposing blue line tandem in the NHL.
SAN JOSE — The Sharks enter their 2019-20 season with a similar team that played in Game 6 of the 2019 Western Conference Finals. Although some key pieces are gone — hello, Joe Pavelski — most of the core remains.
In this three-part series, we’ll analyze different aspects of the team, examining whether general manager Doug Wilson has done enough to address the issues in each area.
Today’s focus: defense
Erik Karlsson: The Swedish star defender didn’t have a dream start to his career as a Shark. Injuries plagued his first season in teal, leaving many Sharks fans wondering if he would ever return to his Norris Trophy winning form. Although Karlsson never looked fully healthy for an extended period of time, his creative ability (particularly his ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone) was undeniable. Karlsson’s advanced stats show that he was a great player despite his injury.
There is a statistic called Corsi For (CF%) that aims to explain how often a player’s team possesses the puck when he is on the ice. Karlsson led the Sharks in this statistic. In other words, the Sharks were more offensive when Karlsson was on the ice than any other Shark. He drove the team’s offense more than any other player, and he did it all while his groin was in tatters.
Sharks fans will of course remember the Vegas series in which Karlsson’s defense and abilities were openly questioned. Although he wasn’t up to his own standards in this series, it’s important to remember that he was trying to play at the highest level of his sport with a groin injury. It’s a very important body part in skating, let alone in the NHL. With a full summer to recover from offseason surgery, we expect Karlsson to be in elite shape this year.
Brent Burns: While many fans love the personality and enthusiasm Burns brings to the Sharks, there is a similar concern to Karlsson when it comes to defensive awareness. What some may not take into account, however, is the incredible dynamic player that Burns is. He plays the role of defender like few do. Maybe it’s because he was drafted as a forward, moved to defense in the minors, then moved back to forward under Todd McLellan, then back to defense where he stayed… That’s even dizzying to write this; imagine trying to live it.
Regardless, Burns is a great offensive talent, albeit in a different way than Karlsson. Burns often shoots the puck while maintaining possession for the Sharks. This is demonstrated by the fact that he is second on the Corsi Factor team. While his style of hard skating, heavy hitting and constant shooting can be erratic, it is also often unpredictable and can keep opposing teams guessing. Unless they suspect he wants to shoot, in which case they are almost always right.
Burns was a finalist for the Norris Trophy last year, and deservedly so. His wild coverage in the defensive zone is well worth the amount of offense and X-factor he provides to the team. With a healthy Karlsson, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see both Sharks blue lines nominated for the trophy honoring the league’s best defenseman.
Marc-Édouard Vlasic: The yin to Burns’ yang, Steady Eddie is a pure system, team defense type of guy. If you’re looking for someone to lead while always playing safe and correct, then Sharks Lifetime Defenders is your man. The 31-year-old defenseman’s importance was demonstrated in the games he missed during last year’s playoffs. The Sharks struggled to close down Vegas’ top line in his absence. His return was one of the more underrated reasons the team made it to Game 7.
Despite this, Vlasic had a difficult year. This is demonstrated most strongly by the fact that he finished the season with a negative plus-minus for the first time since the 2008-2009 season. Additionally, Vlasic had the worst Corsi number on the team. This means that, more than any other regular, the team was most on its heels when Vlasic was on the ice.
But statistics aren’t everything. Any observer of the team knows that Vlasic is always on a mission to eliminate the opposition’s best players. So it’s no surprise that Vlasic’s stats are taking a hit. But last year was about more than just tough missions. Vlasic has had a bad season, especially considering his high standards.
The supporting cast: Beyond the top three defensemen, the Sharks are thin. Leading the list of remaining D-men is Brendan Dillon. He’s a solid defender who tied his career high in points (22) while playing alongside Karlsson for most of the year. Although he hasn’t had an impressive postseason, sporting a team-worst plus-minus 8, he is the team’s fourth-best defenseman and will be counted on heavily on the penalty kill and defensively.
Radek Simek is the real wild card of the defensive core. Once he found himself partnered with Burns in 2019, the young Czech found his rhythm. Unfortunately, his early career was cut short by a nasty leg injury he suffered against Winnipeg. If he and Burns find similar chemistry, the Sharks might have found a diamond in the rough.
The position of the sixth defender is unknown. Even though Dalton Prout was signed as a cheap free agent, he seems better suited as a seventh or eighth defenseman. Sharks fans should expect Prout, Tim Heed or Jacob Middleton to battle it out for the final spot. Heed might have the upper hand due to his ability to score the point on the power play. But expect whoever has the best preseason to start as the sixth defenseman against Vegas on opening night (Oct. 2).
If Simek isn’t healthy, assume Prout will lead the third pairing with Heed or Middleton as his partner, as coach Peter DeBoer prefers to rely on veteran players.
Baby sharks: Ryan Merkley remains the Sharks’ best defensive prospect. The 19-year-old first-round pick got a taste of the pros who played six games with the Barracudas last year. This talented offensive defender will be a joy to see in teal, but only after he adds some muscle and learns to translate his skill possession game to the professional level. Mario Ferraro is another prospect. He is a year older than Merkley and will need experience in the American Hockey League. He and Merkley both played well in the Sharks’ rookie tournament this month.
Summary: The Sharks are the only team in the NHL with two number one defensemen. You could argue that the Sharks, instead of extending Karlsson, should have used the money and space to strengthen the offense. But you would be wrong. Karlsson & Burns are the Sharks’ strength, and their presence provides a 1-2 punch that only the Sharks can boast.
The depth of the Sharks defense raises some questions. An injury to Burns or Karlsson would obviously devastate the team. But an injury to Dillon or Vlasic could do the same. Beyond the Sharks’ top four defensemen, there’s a lot of ambiguity. If the Sharks position themselves as Stanley Cup contenders, don’t be surprised to see Wilson traded for back-end help. An early-season injury could also lead Wilson to exploit the thin remaining free agent market for a veteran defender to fill a hole in the backfield.
First part : The gardians
Coming soon: Part III, The Forwards.
