Liking the DeBoer lineups so far, except someone will have to convince me that Boedker, Donskoi, Carpenter, and Karlsson are all better than Joel Ward. He is just a season removed from a 20-goal campaign. Give him a chance.
I know the team is losing games, but I’ve been impressed with the young players, especially on D. If I were Wilson, I’d trade for Duchene. I think he’d be a perfect fit, especially since it appears Hertl won’t be playing center. Just think if the top 6 was Hertl-Duchene-Couture and Labanc-Thornton-Pavelski. Wow. Come on DW, make it happen!
I gotta give it to PDB. He is giving the young players like Labanc, Meier, Ryan and Heed real opportunities, significant minutes. It’s the right choice to bench Ward. Seems like he needs to be traded. And also bold of PDB to play Hertl on wing, rather than center, as DW seems to want. Protecting Carpenter makes a little more sense now that Carpenter is the fourth line center. Still feels like there are several forwards not really making a difference, including Karlsson, Donskoi, Hansen, Boedker.
Obviously it’s an extremely small sample size, but Neal’s red hot start continues to remind me how puzzling it is he’s not on the Sharks’ roster. Maybe DW thought Boedker was going to suddenly become a good player? I was watching him closely in the Habs game. Boedker lost nearly every battle for the puck, which is one of the most fundamental elements of PDB’s system. Neal – no, Boedker – yes. I Just. Don’t. Get. It.
I am glad you mentioned Hertl on wing. I agree with Paul Gackle that I would like to see him back on the top line with Thornton and Pavelski.
Liking the DeBoer lineups so far, except someone will have to convince me that Boedker, Donskoi, Carpenter, and Karlsson are all better than Joel Ward. He is just a season removed from a 20-goal campaign. Give him a chance.
I know the team is losing games, but I’ve been impressed with the young players, especially on D. If I were Wilson, I’d trade for Duchene. I think he’d be a perfect fit, especially since it appears Hertl won’t be playing center. Just think if the top 6 was Hertl-Duchene-Couture and Labanc-Thornton-Pavelski. Wow. Come on DW, make it happen!
I gotta give it to PDB. He is giving the young players like Labanc, Meier, Ryan and Heed real opportunities, significant minutes. It’s the right choice to bench Ward. Seems like he needs to be traded. And also bold of PDB to play Hertl on wing, rather than center, as DW seems to want. Protecting Carpenter makes a little more sense now that Carpenter is the fourth line center. Still feels like there are several forwards not really making a difference, including Karlsson, Donskoi, Hansen, Boedker.
Obviously it’s an extremely small sample size, but Neal’s red hot start continues to remind me how puzzling it is he’s not on the Sharks’ roster. Maybe DW thought Boedker was going to suddenly become a good player? I was watching him closely in the Habs game. Boedker lost nearly every battle for the puck, which is one of the most fundamental elements of PDB’s system. Neal – no, Boedker – yes. I Just. Don’t. Get. It.