Diving Deeper: San Jose Sharks Expected Defensive Pairings
With the addition of Erik Karlsson, the San Jose Sharks arguably stack up as the best blue line in the National Hockey League. Sharks fans will see some pairings we haven’t been used to in the past, but while sometimes change can be hard, it’s often beneficial to our growth as people.
The San Jose Sharks searched endlessly over the summer to secure a powerful piece to raise their chances at claiming the Stanley Cup. The Sharks missed out on Ilya Kovalchuk and John Tavares to the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively.
However, the Sharks would not strike out.
With diminishing hopes of adding a high-caliber superstar before the preseason, the Sharks snatched arguably the biggest fish in the NHL sea. As they say, the third time’s the charm, and San Jose general manager Doug Wilson made the blockbuster acquisition of the summer by reeling in Erik Karlsson to Team Teal.
Karlsson, acquired last week for Chris Tierney, Dillon DeMelo, and a package of picks and prospects joins one of the top-tiered defensive teams in the league. As the former captain of the Ottawa Senators, the 28-year-old defenseman significantly strengthens San Jose’s intimidating blue line. Alongside 2017 Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns and shutdown defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun, Karlsson will play a crucial role on the Sharks core-four blue line.
With the addition of Erik Karlsson, the San Jose Sharks now have arguably the best blue line in the NHL, and have to be grouped in with the favorites to come out of the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Brent Burns/Joakim Ryan
While placing two Norris Trophy winners on the top line stands as the most indestructible duo on defense, it unfortunately does not quite work out ultimately with Burns and Karlsson both being right-handed shots. In order to spread the wealth of defensive expertise across all three lines, the Sharks ideally should put Brent Burns and Joakim Ryan together on the first pair.
Burns and Ryan have seen time together last year after seasoned blueliner Paul Martin missed a substantial part of the season due to an ankle injury. With Martin placed on unconditional waivers, Burns will lead the Sharks defense again with Ryan as his cooperative counterpart.
The 2017 Norris Trophy winner will guide the 25-year-old defenseman under this wing as the two work together over the preseason and throughout the regular season.
Burns’ point total dipped slightly last season, tallying 12 goals and a team-best 55 assists after putting up career-high points totals in the prior two years. Known for his wicked, wild shots from the point, Burns has put up the highest shot total by defensemen over the last three seasons. In addition, the 33-year-old veteran stands as the anchor of San Jose’s man-advantage, collecting a team-high 27 power play points during the 2017-2018 season.
Ryan, in his first season donning the teal sweater, posted 12 points in 62 games, including his first two NHL goals against the Edmonton Oilers back on February 10. A seventh-round pick by the Sharks in 2012, Ryan stood as the seventh rookie blueliner in franchise history to record two goals in a game and the first defenseman to do so since Jason Demers in 2010.
While Burns poses as the aggressive, playmaking defender, Ryan represents the stay-at-home variety, locking down on defense in Sharks territory as he led the Sharks with +13 plus/minus last year. When Burns and Ryan were on the ice, the duo spent more than half the time in offensive zone at even strength (61.5% for Burns, 55.4% for Ryan).
With exceptional hockey IQs and a balanced blend on the blue line, Burns and Ryan embody the bold beginning to San Jose’s daunting defense.
Erik Karlsson/Marc-Edouard Vlasic
For the last couple of years, Erik Karlsson has been a staple on Ottawa’s top pairing with interchanging partners of Marc Methot, Mark Borowiecki, and Fredrik Claesson – all of which who share a common element – physicality.
However, coming to San Jose, Karlsson most likely teams up with a defenseman with a different style of play – the attentive defensive mindset of Marc-Edouard Vlasic . For the upcoming season, the two-time Norris Trophy winner will find his fair share of ice time with Vlasic as the strongest defensive duo on the team.
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Karlsson and Vlasic form an optimal combination with Karlsson providing speedy skating and a sharp mind while Vlasic’s long reach and active awareness grants him the ability to interfere with opponents’ passing and shooting lanes in the defensive zone.
A top-five defenseman in the league, Karlsson has racked up six seasons of 60+ points with his highest total of 82 accumulated during his 2015-2016 campaign. Last year, Karlsson notched nine goals and 53 assists in 71 games, including 18 power play points. Karlsson is a two-way threat that can tighten up to defend the fortress, and then quickly transition with his swift mobility to jump up on odd-man rushes.
Despite partnering with Justin Braun over the past five seasons, Vlasic sees a new right-hand man by his side.
For the 35th overall pick by the Sharks in 2005, Marc-Edouard Vlasic has steadily improved into an elite, steadfast defender. In a dozen seasons with San Jose, Vlasic has recorded an average of 22:04 time on ice, a career plus/minus of +138, and 174 blocked shots, to lead the team.
Last year, Vlasic saw more scoring opportunities and took them, tallying a season-high 11 goals to accompany his 21 assists. The 31-year-old native of Montreal stands as the Sharks finest left-handed defensemen, quietly increasing his chances for contention of the Norris Trophy.
Justin Braun/Brenden Dillon
Justin Braun and Brenden Dillon round out the Sharks defensive pairings. When Head Coach Peter DeBoer and the Sharks can place these two stalwart defenders on the third and final blue line pairing, you know the San Jose Sharks are ready to throw down as arguably the best defense in the league.
While their offensive numbers may be down, Vlasic and Dillon are relentless workhorses on the blue line as their defensive metrics have indicated.
Working with Vlasic nicely in the years past, Braun molds into a sturdy defensive support to increase the strength of the third pairing. A 201st overall pick in 2007 by San Jose, Braun averages just south of 20 minutes per game and blocked 152 shots, 22 fewer than Vlasic. Seen as an underrated defensemen, Justin Braun has put up a positive plus/minus over the five seasons and saw career-high totals in goals (5), assists (28), points (33), and hits (143) during the 2017-2018 campaign.
Adding belligerency into the mix of the Sharks blue line, Dillon lays heavy hits and is not afraid to drop the gloves in support of a fallen teammate.
Dillon possesses that burst of speed to be a sneaky sniper in offensive attacks. In his fourth year with San Jose, Dillon collected career-highs with five goals, 17 assists and 22 points as the third defensive duo with Dylan Demelo.
In spite of his personal bests on the scoring sheet, Dillon sticks to his advantage as a physical force on the resolute Sharks blue line. Dillon’s 197 hits stood as the most among any Sharks skater a season ago and blocked 107 shots, the fourth-most on the team behind Vlasic, Braun, and Burns.
Special Teams
During the 2017-2018 campaign, the San Jose Sharks maintained strong power play and penalty kill units. Now, with Erik Karlsson, San Jose’s special teams will see an elevated level of intensity and ingenuity.
The Sharks held a 20.6% scoring on the man-advantage, ranking in the middle of the pack last season. However, injuries and cold streaks in the second half of the season led to late dip as the Sharks were a top-five power play team in the league prior to then.
With Burns and Karlsson quarterbacking the top unit of the power play, San Jose possesses two incredible threats from the point. Alongside the two Norris Trophy-winning defensemen, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, and Logan Couture round out the first line of the man-advantage.
Vlasic will anchor the second unit from the blue line with forwards Tomas Hertl, Evander Kane, Timo Meier, and Joonas Donskoi.
On the other side, the Sharks controlled one of the best penalty kill units in the league with an 84.8%, which placed second behind the Los Angeles Kings. While Burns and Karlsson seem like the best starting option, Vlasic and Braun specialize on defense and hold a firmer ground in taking the first wave of the opponent’s man-advantage. Burns and Karlsson should follow with the second penalty kill pair as a heavy, dynamic duo.
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San Jose’s defense is stronger than ever before, stacking up to compete as the best in the NHL. With complete three blue line pairings, the time is now to take this formidable defensive team through the playoffs and finally claim what the franchise has been waiting for a long time: Lord Stanley’s Cup.