I'm no expert on analytics and advanced stats. I know a lot of you guys are, but I could never get my head around it all. So I'm going to base my analysis on the things I see when I watch the game. I played hockey from the time I was 5 to 19 years old, and my Dad played D1 for Minnesota and taught me everything he knows. Those are my hockey credentials in case anyone is wondering or cares.
Chris Tierney is tentative in the defensive zone. He has excellent awareness of passing lanes and positioning, but he generally will be content to hold a player to the outside, rather than make the defensive play to acquire the puck and clear the zone. Offensively he has great vision and playmaking abilities that continue to get better. Physically, he needs to get stronger and work on his board play. Its one of the weakest parts of his game.
Joel Ward is reaching a lot. Many times this season, you can see him not back checking hard enough, or not making an attempt to play the body. Some of that I think can be blamed on being another year older and the Stanley Cup hangover, but lack of hustle is not what you want to see from a guy who is supposed to exude character and leadership.
Joonas Donskoi wasn't playing like himself. He wasn't creating space with his stick handling, he wasn't being aggressive enough in the offensive zone with the puck on his stick. Since the benching, he seems to have found his game a little bit. It seems to me he got off to a slow start this season and started getting in his own head. Benching him had the desired effect in that it served as a nice reset.
If we judge whether a player should be benched in favor of another purely on on-ice performance, then David Shlemko's benching makes no sense. He moves the puck crisply and efficiently out of the defensive zone, is responsible defensively and makes a great partner with the more rough and tumble Dillon. They compliment each other well. There seems to be more to the story then we know. Its an enigma to me. Could be anything from disciplinary, to fostering competition, to wanting to keep DeMelo in game shape. But I'm willing to trust the coach that got us further than anyone ever has, and did a masterful job coaching the Sharks through their brutal schedule last year, to pull the right strings.
Michael Haley is a competent 4th line player that provides an element that, despite what many say, I think is still very important. I can only imagine how differently things might have happened if Haley wasn't around to fight and demolish Kassian. That being said, in an ideal world Joel Ward or Joonas Donskoi should not be scratched in favor of playing Haley. Unfortunately Joel Ward has consistently not put in the effort required to compete and produce at the level we know he can. A benching is a great tool to wake a player up. Getting benched sucks.
Mikkel Boedker is just not playing aggressive enough. With his speed and puck handling ability he should be exploiting holes in the defense, probing for breakaway opportunities and generally being more of a dynamic presence. He has played within the Sharks defensive system well but not fully extended that to the offensive side of things. Plenty of times you will see him with the puck make a move gain some space, and dump it into the corner or pass back to the point. He should start using his physical traits to better use in the offensive zone. The games where people have noticed him most are the ones where he is pushing the envelope and providing the pressure, not letting the game come to him.
Sorry for the essay, I don't have stats to easily summarize the points I'm trying to make. I have to explain them with words
I tried to touch on most of the hot button issues in these forums lately. Take it as you will.
