Joonas Donskoi. Signed Free Agent May 2015

[Sandisfan]

Is he injured?

Yes, blocked a shot against Anaheim.

How long is he going to be out?

No idea. Sharks are always tight-lipped about these things. "Day-to-day" can be weeks.

This is so frustrating, they can still be tight lipped while letting the fans have some idea about severity and duration.

P.S. Just to add in I can understand if concussions are involved as those are less predictable.

 

[DaJackal]

How's he been? Doesn't look great on a stat sheet but I haven't been able to watch the games a lot.

Do you think he'd benefit from a stint in the AHL or has he earned his spot up?

 

[ScottyDont]

How's he been? Doesn't look great on a stat sheet but I haven't been able to watch the games a lot.

Do you think he'd benefit from a stint in the AHL or has he earned his spot up?

I haven't seen all games this year but I haven't been that impressed with him. We don't really have anyone to replace him at the moment with Karlsson and Couture out.

 

[do0glas]

Donskoi is fine. Would like to see him with our third line. He needs the puck to succeed.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

We definitely need him in the NHL, but he's definitely not playing with the right linemates right now.

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

How's he been? Doesn't look great on a stat sheet but I haven't been able to watch the games a lot.

Do you think he'd benefit from a stint in the AHL or has he earned his spot up?

He'd benefit but he's fine in the NHL.

He's not working on the top line.

 

[hohosaregood]

He's definitely got skill but I don't think he's strong enough yet. He gets knocked around a lot just battling for position.

 

[Alwalys]

Donskoi is fine. Would like to see him with our third line. He needs the puck to succeed.

This, on the top line he's deferring to Thornton too much. Handcuffed him a couple times today by passing to him.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

He'd benefit but he's fine in the NHL.

He's not working on the top line.

At this point, the top line needs either Marleau or Ward for it to work long term but that 2nd line is going too good to break it up.

 

[vilpertti]

I think the Joes on the top line are often just actually ignoring Donskoi. Some times Thornton would go for a risky pass to Pavs over a safer pass to Donskoi. Sure, Donskoi is sometimes on the perimeter a bit too much too.

He'd most likely do better, as said, on the third line. But then again, no one on the third line would probably be a better fit on the first line.

 

[Anomie2029]

I think the Joes on the top line are often just actually ignoring Donskoi. Some times Thornton would go for a risky pass to Pavs over a safer pass to Donskoi. Sure, Donskoi is sometimes on the perimeter a bit too much too.

He'd most likely do better, as said, on the third line. But then again, no one on the third line would probably be a better fit on the first line.

It seems like Jumbo and Pavs need to be separated. When it works it works, but I don't think it's worth it if it involves making the third partner irrelevant.

You could swap Hertl and Pavs, but then you'd be risking the second line and taking Hertl away from center. You could put Ward on the top line and run Donskoi on the second - but then again, you'd risk the second line chemistry.

Does the second line chemistry matter if it will be broken up when Couture comes back?
Do we leave the second line and put Couture up on the first line when comes back and Donskoi onto the third line?

Ideally we'd need another senior top 6 player who wouldn't be the rookie hoping the big boys give them the puck.

 

[DaJackal]

I think the Joes on the top line are often just actually ignoring Donskoi. Some times Thornton would go for a risky pass to Pavs over a safer pass to Donskoi. Sure, Donskoi is sometimes on the perimeter a bit too much too.

This is exactly what I was thinking when I watched the 3rd period of last game. Donskoi doesn't get the puck. I just couldn't say whether it was because of his bad positioning or that Joes just play their own game.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

It seems like Jumbo and Pavs need to be separated. When it works it works, but I don't think it's worth it if it involves making the third partner irrelevant.

You could swap Hertl and Pavs, but then you'd be risking the second line and taking Hertl away from center. You could put Ward on the top line and run Donskoi on the second - but then again, you'd risk the second line chemistry.

Does the second line chemistry matter if it will be broken up when Couture comes back?
Do we leave the second line and put Couture up on the first line when comes back and Donskoi onto the third line?

Ideally we'd need another senior top 6 player who wouldn't be the rookie hoping the big boys give them the puck.

Well, I would like to see Karlsson put back on their line when he is back. They had established trust with him and also seems to match their game a little more as a F1. You cannot expect two of our premier players (and veterans) to change their game around a new unestablished player who they have not built trust with yet. Not saying that it is right, but that is what I would expect would happen for the first dozen+ games they play together.

That line is actually pretty simple to defend if things keep up. Forget Doonskoi, Jumbo will always pass and Pavs will almost always shoot. Very predictable. Even then, Pavs already has 6 goals for the season. So it really cannot be that bad .. ha ha.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Well, I would like to see Karlsson put back on their line when he is back. They had established trust with him and also seems to match their game a little more as a F1. You cannot expect two of our premier players (and veterans) to change their game around a new unestablished player who they have not built trust with yet. Not saying that it is right, but that is what I would expect would happen for the first dozen+ games they play together.

That line is actually pretty simple to defend if things keep up. Forget Doonskoi, Jumbo will always pass and Pavs will almost always shoot. Very predictable. Even then, Pavs already has 6 goals for the season. So it really cannot be that bad .. ha ha.

The context of those six goals though. I think only two of those goals were goals that Jumbo assisted on at even strength and I don't think he was primary on either of them. It's tougher for them to hook up out there right now and they are not nearly as productive overall at evens. It's a big part of the team's struggle coinciding with the injuries.

They have two options and neither are really ideal. Break up the second line to help out the Joes or continue cycling guys that very likely aren't going to get the job done. Even if Melker comes back and gets into midseason form, I don't see him helping that line out that well. He got a lot of good bounces last year in the offensive zone but he has big time neutral zone and defensive zone deficiencies that will not help an already slow line in their own zone.

 

[CrypTic]

That line is actually pretty simple to defend if things keep up. Forget Doonskoi, Jumbo will always pass and Pavs will almost always shoot. Very predictable. Even then, Pavs already has 6 goals for the season. So it really cannot be that bad .. ha ha.

I think this is a problem as well and is a big reason that Thornton's production is down this year (on pace for 52 points, although small sample size). It was starting to be a problem last year and it hasn't gotten any better. I'm more worried about the top line than about Hertl's lack of production on the 2nd line (from another thread).

I agree with PF that there aren't any good alternatives ATM. I don't want to break up the 2nd line bc it's our best line now. One thing is I'm not sure if they'll find an ideal partner for the Joes and as long as Thornton mainly passes to Pavs who shoots, the underlying problem will remain. They may need to break them up.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Tbh, that first line definitely needs a change. Melker would be better than Donskoi but neither are too ideal. If Nieto can learn to forecheck more efficiently he would actually be a decent fit, tbh, being that he is fast and he is elite defensively. His poor hands and scoring deficiencies would be offset by Pavelski.

Donskoi would be good on the 3rd line with Couture and Wingels when everybody gets healthy. He needs to get stronger and better defensively, but his offensive creativity is something we lack.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Tbh, that first line definitely needs a change. Melker would be better than Donskoi but neither are too ideal. If Nieto can learn to forecheck more efficiently he would actually be a decent fit, tbh, being that he is fast and he is elite defensively. His poor hands and scoring deficiencies would be offset by Pavelski.

Donskoi would be good on the 3rd line with Couture and Wingels when everybody gets healthy. He needs to get stronger and better defensively, but his offensive creativity is something we lack.

Lack of having a secondary scorer on that line is a big part of what is killing that line. There are really two options for that. Putting another scorer on that wing or Jumbo taking more ownership of scoring to open things up. I don't think the fore-checking side of it is THAT big of a concern for that line simply because of how dominant Thornton has been possession-wise but the lack of anyone else really scoring much to keep defenses honest is getting them shut down. So naturally, the only solution is really putting a scorer on that line. I'd like to see them try this when Couture and others gets healthy...

Ward-Thornton-Pavelski
Nieto-Couture-Marleau
Karlsson-Hertl-Wingels
Donskoi-Tierney-Smith

There are other variations I'd like to see tried as well like Tierney and Hertl together as well as Couture-Hertl-Marleau. But the best solution for Thornton's line before breaking the Joes up is Ward, imo. I think Couture getting healthy combined with Hertl's high play level is good enough reason to break that line up to make that sort of adjustment. It could be as simple as slotting Couture with the Joes just to keep that line in tact but I don't think Couture's a good compliment to those two.

 

[CrypTic]

Lack of having a secondary scorer on that line is a big part of what is killing that line. There are really two options for that. Putting another scorer on that wing or Jumbo taking more ownership of scoring to open things up. I don't think the fore-checking side of it is THAT big of a concern for that line simply because of how dominant Thornton has been possession-wise but the lack of anyone else really scoring much to keep defenses honest is getting them shut down. So naturally, the only solution is really putting a scorer on that line. I'd like to see them try this when Couture and others gets healthy...

Ward-Thornton-Pavelski
Nieto-Couture-Marleau
Karlsson-Hertl-Wingels
Donskoi-Tierney-Smith

There are other variations I'd like to see tried as well like Tierney and Hertl together as well as Couture-Hertl-Marleau. But the best solution for Thornton's line before breaking the Joes up is Ward, imo. I think Couture getting healthy combined with Hertl's high play level is good enough reason to break that line up to make that sort of adjustment. It could be as simple as slotting Couture with the Joes just to keep that line in tact but I don't think Couture's a good compliment to those two.

I agree that Ward seems like the best option. IIRC quite a few ppl thought that Ward would work well there before the season started. I think it hasn't been tried bc (1) unstable personnel situation due to injuries and (2) they don't want to break up the 2nd line. I was hoping that Donskoi might get Thornton to shoot more often (a longshot hope, I know) but that hasn't worked and instead Donskoi is an afterthought that the defenders can ignore. That exacerbates the problem instead of fixing it. After Couture returns, I'd be willing to try any player who can score with the Joes: Ward, Karlsson, Marleau, Couture, Wingels, though if the second line is still hot, I would try other players before I'd break up that second line. I don't think Couture would be that good of a complement either but IMO it might be worth trying before breaking up the second line, assuming it's still really clicking. (It may have cooled of by then IAE.)

 

[Gene Parmesan]

This is exactly what I was thinking when I watched the 3rd period of last game. Donskoi doesn't get the puck. I just couldn't say whether it was because of his bad positioning or that Joes just play their own game.

Its why a honey badger like Melker works with them. He doesn't need the puck to make an impact and causes enough chaos to let the Joes do their thing,

 

[Used As A Shield]

Its why a honey badger like Melker works with them. He doesn't need the puck to make an impact and causes enough chaos to let the Joes do their thing,

Ya, after Pavs took Burns spot on that line Hertl was ignored too.

 

[Anomie2029]

Lack of having a secondary scorer on that line is a big part of what is killing that line. There are really two options for that. Putting another scorer on that wing or Jumbo taking more ownership of scoring to open things up. I don't think the fore-checking side of it is THAT big of a concern for that line simply because of how dominant Thornton has been possession-wise but the lack of anyone else really scoring much to keep defenses honest is getting them shut down. So naturally, the only solution is really putting a scorer on that line. I'd like to see them try this when Couture and others gets healthy...

Ward-Thornton-Pavelski
Nieto-Couture-Marleau
Karlsson-Hertl-Wingels
Donskoi-Tierney-Smith

There are other variations I'd like to see tried as well like Tierney and Hertl together as well as Couture-Hertl-Marleau. But the best solution for Thornton's line before breaking the Joes up is Ward, imo. I think Couture getting healthy combined with Hertl's high play level is good enough reason to break that line up to make that sort of adjustment. It could be as simple as slotting Couture with the Joes just to keep that line in tact but I don't think Couture's a good compliment to those two.

If you were run those top 2 lines, I would personally swap Karlsson and Donskoi. I think Karlsson is much more of a crash the net style player similar to Wingels, whilst Donskoi is more of puck player. I think it would make the lines more balanced to swap them.

I still think the most effective way to fix the top line is to either throw experience on the top line (Ward or Couture when he returns) or move Pavs back to center on another line (example below - not a suggestion).

Donskoi - Thornton - Couture
Marleau - Paveslki - Ward
Nieto - Hertl - Wingels
Karlsson - Tierney - Smith

 

[hohosaregood]

If you were run those top 2 lines, I would personally swap Karlsson and Donskoi. I think Karlsson is much more of a crash the net style player similar to Wingels, whilst Donskoi is more of puck player. I think it would make the lines more balanced to swap them.

I still think the most effective way to fix the top line is to either throw experience on the top line (Ward or Couture when he returns) or move Pavs back to center on another line (example below - not a suggestion).

Donskoi - Thornton - Couture
Marleau - Paveslki - Ward
Nieto - Hertl - Wingels
Karlsson - Tierney - Smith

I'm super low on Wingels right now so I'd switch Donskoi with Wingels in PF's lineup. I was thinking more along these lines myself:

Nieto-Thornton-Pavelski
Marleau-Couture-Ward
Karlsson-Hertl-Donskoi
Wingels-Tierney-Smith

I think Nieto's been a very effective role player and possession forward for years and he's a great player even with a poor scoring ability. I think his skillset as a speedy and energetic forechecker works with the Joes. The Marleau-Couture-Ward line was really good the first two games so I'd like to see it again and see if it continues to work. Hertl's really good but it'd be a bit of a waste to stick him with guys who can't score this year like Nieto and Wingels so one more skilled player in Donskoi and a honey badger like Karlsson to make some extra room would be a good line.

 

[Stoat]

Now it's 3rd of November. Keep an eye on Donskoi's mustache during this month!

- Stoat

 

[Dicdonya]

I think when cooch comes back he should play with the joes. I said it before the season started, and think when cooch comes back is the perfect time to try it out.

Our second line hasn't missed a beat with hertl there, and cooch can ease back into game shape in a slightly lesser importance role as a winger. I think cooch has the skills, and gravitas to not be a third wheel on that line. As everyone has realized part of the reason Thornton doesn't pay much attention to his other winger is because they just really aren't that good, and are mostly there to run around trying to get pucks to Thornton. Thornton has proven he can feed two players, and not play favorites, when he had Marleau and heatley. Cooch is another very good shooter that has chemistry with Thornton from pp time, and years of playing together, even if not on the same line.

So my lines, assuming karlsson is healthy by the time cooch is would be:

Cooch-Thornton-Pavs
Marleau-Hertl-Ward
Nieto-Tierney-Donskoi
Karlsson-Smith-Wingels

 

[Nolan11]

I think when cooch comes back he should play with the joes. I said it before the season started, and think when cooch comes back is the perfect time to try it out.

Our second line hasn't missed a beat with hertl there, and cooch can ease back into game shape in a slightly lesser importance role as a winger. I think cooch has the skills, and gravitas to not be a third wheel on that line. As everyone has realized part of the reason Thornton doesn't pay much attention to his other winger is because they just really aren't that good, and are mostly there to run around trying to get pucks to Thornton. Thornton has proven he can feed two players, and not play favorites, when he had Marleau and heatley. Cooch is another very good shooter that has chemistry with Thornton from pp time, and years of playing together, even if not on the same line.

So my lines, assuming karlsson is healthy by the time cooch is would be:

Cooch-Thornton-Pavs
Marleau-Hertl-Ward
Nieto-Tierney-Donskoi
Karlsson-Smith-Wingels

Although I like the above, I'd like to see them try something completely different, like:

Karlsson - Thornton - Ward
Donskoi - Hertl - Pavelski
Marleau - Couture - Smith
Nieto - Tierney - Wingels

Thornton tends to elevate his linemates. Donskoi adds some extra play-making to take some off of Hertl, while having our best finisher in Pavs to solidify production. The big if in the above is, IMO, can smith hang with Marleau and Couture against top competition. I think he is smart enough to play a defensive shutdown role/net front presence specialist. If it doesn't work, bump up Nieto or Wingels.