WRITER’S ROUND TABLE 2: YOUTH & SPEED

It’s time for another edition of Writer’s Round Table here at Blades of Teal! This week’s question comes from our biggest facebook supporter, the Logan Couture Fansite! The question is:

Do you think youth and speed be major factors in the moves Doug Wilson makes this summer? Also, who, if anyone, would you say is “untouchable” this offseason?

Our writer’s weighed in and this is what they had to say!

Our contributing writer Gordon had this to say:

I could make an argument for a majority of the team, but these are the core I feel strongest about.
Marleau – More of a mental than physical impact.  He IS the Sharks, a true career franchise player.  Trading him would feel like trading the face and heart of the team. Maybe just don’t have him on the top line, have him anchor the 2nd or 3rd lines to boost the younger players.

Couture – Way too much potential to let go.  Two seasons of solid performance have shown that he may not be the player that Marleau was, but he has the ability to be a superstar in his own right.

Greiss – Unless they can replace Niemi with someone like Schneider or Rask, we’ll wind up not giving Greiss the chance he deserves as a starter. Keep Nemo, just start him less.

Burns – He’s paired well with just about all the other defensemen. Good hockey IQ, speed and a wicked shot, plus we bled players just to get him.

Interesting breakdown from Gordon for sure! Moving on to Erik, Mr. PuckGuy14 himself who said:

Youth will be a factor as the Sharks MUST get some talented forwards to fill up a depleted minor league system.

After all AHL hockey coach legend Roy Sommer is a genius at making talent flourish in the NHL… Oh wait…

Untouchables? Only those who have NTC/NMC. So Christina Marleau, it’s ok, you aren’t going anywhere.

Yup still bitter… Ugh.

Aside from his residual anger with Team Teal, I assure you he still cheers for the home team and will continue to do so with, or without, Marleau. Moving on to our resident game analyst, the King Shark himself who shared his two cents (see what I did right there? haha):

Doug Wilson has much to assess. I feel that he along with Todd McLellan need to see where and why this team went south the way it did. Youth and speed are important and the Sharks could use both. They must use this draft to restock their farm system, and the focus needs to shift to better cultivation of the farm. Enough pieces

were traded away last June and this past February. If players are to be acquired via trade, the need to seek out younger, speedier and hungry players who would skate through a brick wall to score. As far as untouchable, there are only three players that fall into that category. Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Maybe Ryane Clowe too. All others are on the block and should be just for the purpose that DW states, to have plenty of options and keep the Sharks in within the structure of competitive balance…Also, The Shark Tank needs to start serving bacon flavored milkshakes. They’ll be the only arena in the NHL doing this…

And finally for this Round Table edition, my answer to the question.

I will not sit here and pretend like I know this Sharks system intricately or better than anyone else. That being said, opinions of good players and bad, effective systems and poor leaders vary fan to fan, so really, everyone has an opinion worth hearing out at least. Here’s what I think. I think that youth and speed will not only be important to Doug Wilson in the off season, some fans would argue he needs to put together a Stanley Cup Winning 12-13 team in order to keep his job which some felt he didn’t deserve after this season closed, but that is neither here nor there. DW will have to create a team with a lot of depth and a ton of speed in order to combat some of the issues the Sharks had during this past season. Strong forwards who can really put shots on net and defensemen not scared of pressuring the opposition at any cost. Youth is important, but I think after a long season of up/downs with Worcester we may need to look at some vets who are old enough to know better but still too young to care…if that makes sense…

As far as “untouchables” are concerned for this team, obviously anyone with a No Trade Clause, but rumor has it that Marleau may be in the market to waive his (oh no, not more rumors, ick)! I would say Burns, Clowe, Couture, Pavelski, and Wingels all need to be left where they are. I think some player development is in order for all of them at this point, but given some fresh blood behind them I think they can dominate next season. Only DW knows what he wants and it won’t be long before we all know his plan of action as well.

Stay locked in for another edition of Writer’s Round Table in the near future! Have a question you want answered? Comment below, hit us up on twitter or facebook or email me at ALHGIST@gmail.com and we’ll consider your question for an upcoming edition! Take care and enjoy your weekends BoT fans!

~ALH

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