Justin Braun
Grade: C+
After Karlsson transitioned to San Jose, Justin Braun became the odd man out in the Sharks core blueline.
Primarily placed on the third line, Braun struggled with his new defense pairings, being separated from Vlasic after five years working side-by-side.
The quiet, sturdy defenseman will want to put this year in the rear-view mirror, finishing with only 16 points and a minus-14 rating. On the bright side, Braun delivered a team-high 120 blocks and 121 hits, inserting his physical presence when the Sharks needed to defend their zone.
Braun took a high hit from Sammy Blais in the WCFs, but he kept his composure throughout the playoffs as a solid staple on the blueline.