San Jose Sharks Could Struggle With New Overtime Format
The NHL will be experiencing a change in their overtime format for the upcoming 2015-16 season in hopes of ending more games before the shootout. Instead of going to a four-on-four overtime session as in previous seasons, teams will now skate three-on-three.
The San Jose Sharks have some offensive firepower, but how well does that translate when compared to the rest of the league? Well, Ben Arledge of ESPN thinks the Sharks could struggle with the amount of open ice the new format will create.
According to Arledge, San Jose ranks 18th out of the 30 teams with regards to their potential three-on-three lineups that they could throw out during overtime.
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Arledge said the San Jose Sharks could go with Joe Thornton-Patrick Marleau-Brent Burns as their first option, with Joe Pavelski-Logan Couture-Marc Edouard Vlasic as their second. Personally, I think Pavelski would be matched up with Thornton while Couture and Marleau would be paired, but the difference isn’t that great either way.
Other options include Tomas Hertl, Matt Nieto, or even someone like Nikolay Goldobin who’s offensive creativity could flourish in this format if he makes the team out of training camp.
Here’s the main reason why Arledge thinks the Sharks may be at a disadvantage:
"The names here are astounding, but the Jones-Stalock duo in net is going to be a question mark, as will whether the Sharks’ aging roster will be able to keep pace with the rest of the league’s speedy 3-on-3 lineups."
The one key point of Arledge’s assessment is whether the Sharks will be able to handle the speed of certain teams. Other than Marleau, San Jose’s top-six aren’t the best skaters and could be taken advantage of with the amount of space that will be available.
Also, Arledge points out the goaltending situation with the Sharks which is one of the big question marks heading into next season. Both Martin Jones and Alex Stalock have to prove that they are capable of withstanding the season-long NHL grind, and the goaltenders will be relied upon even more in the three-on-three format.
One thing working in the Sharks favor is they may have the ultimate wild card in Burns. San Jose could decide to put Burns on the blue line, which would give the Sharks three legitimate attacking options, or ice him as a forward where he’s been known to create havoc in the past. That flexibility could be a great advantage for Peter DeBoer as Burns can cover both ends of the ice.
Either way, expect Burns to see plenty of ice time during overtime throughout the year.
The new format should bring an exciting new element to the NHL, and it will be interesting to see how teams adapt. The Sharks don’t lack for high-end offensive talent, but their lack of foot-speed could leave them vulnerable to giving away the extra point.
Next: Sharks Player Analysis: Logan Couture