The San Jose Sharks will take the first step in their preparations for the 2015-16 season as they head north of the border for a pair of games against the Vancouver Canucks to kick off the preseason portion of their schedule.
The Sharks and Canucks game tonight will be played at the Q Center in Colwood, British Columbia as part of the Kraft Hockeyville promotion.
New head coach Peter DeBoer decided to ice a young lineup for the preseason opener as this is how the Sharks lines will look:
– Hertl-Tierney-Wingels
– Nieto-Smith-Goodrow
– Goldobin-Carpenter-Meier
– Sadowy-Lerg-Brown
As you can see, there’s not a whole lot of experience in the forward group, but it will be a great opportunity for many of the young players in the Sharks system. The first line will be intriguing to see how Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney perform.
Both players had opposite campaigns last season, as Hertl experienced a sophomore slump, while Tierney was one of San Jose’s best forwards over the second half of last year.
Also of intrigue, DeBoer decided to put the San Jose Sharks past two first-round picks on the same line in Nikolay Goldobin and Timo Meier. While Meier is likely at least another season away from the NHL, many expect Goldobin to push for a roster spot out of training camp. His offensive prowess could be a welcomed addition for a team that struggled at 5-on-5.
More from Sharks News
- Norris Trophy odds show Erik Karlsson a step above the rest
- Red hot Couture provides a much needed boost
- Sharks return to SAP in sight
- Ryan Donato shines in his revenge game
- Tomas Hertl is off to a hot start
Plus, it’s a treat for Sharks fans to see the two of them play together in what could be part of the future for San Jose.
On defense and in goal, DeBoer stuck with the young theme:
– Dillon-Tennyson
– Mueller-DeMelo
– Young-Roy
– Grosenick
The defense will be the key area to focus in on for this one as the trio of Matt Tennyson, Mirco Mueller, and Dylan DeMelo are all battling it out for the sixth and seventh spots on the San Jose blue line. Of the three, I’m interested in seeing how DeMelo plays as the coaching staff has been high on the youngster thus far.
Many people, myself included, think Mueller could benefit from regular minutes with the San Jose Barracuda before joining the Sharks (similar to Tierney a season ago) at some point during the season. However, a strong camp and preseason performance could render that point moot.
Regardless, the blue line will be under the limelight as San Jose struggled in their own zone, ranking 24th in goals allowed in 2014-15. If these young guys can gain some confidence, it should bode well for the Sharks moving forward.
Vancouver will ice more veterans throughout their lineup, including Radim Vrbata, Brandon Sutter and Alexander Edler. This should provide a good look for the San Jose lineup to see if they can generate enough offensive chances, while also be defensively responsible which has been an emphasis under DeBoer.
All-in-all, hockey is back and there’s an excitement in seeing what the future of the San Jose Sharks holds.
Next: Sharks Cut 14 Players From Training Camp Roster