With everyone healthy, I'd say this is the best since 08-09 (which I'd rank higher).
Vlasic - Blake
Lukowich - Boyle
Murray - Ehrhoff
Their depth sucked though. Who was the 7th, Semenov/Joslin?
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1927663
That's pretty much how I see it except like you said we're deeper and let's be real, if Boyle went down Luko was not a top 4. They just fit well together. If a top 4 goes down this year we're much better prepared I think.
Depends on who goes down in the top 4. Burns goes down we are screwed. Vlasic goes down we are less screwed but still screwed.
Braun/martin go down it won't be bad.
But we have nobody in the line up that can do what vlasic and burns do. Braun can sort of make up for the loss of vlasic, but it is still a huge drop off from vlasic to braun and from braun to who ever replaces his spot.
Burns well there is nobody on the roster that can replace his contributions to the team.
But the same goes for Blake, Boyle, Vlasic in 2008. Semenov and Joslin were our 7 & 8 that year.
Anybody goes down that year and we're screwed
Semenov and joslin mean nothing for a top 4 injury. Yes they still move up in the roster, but still are only going to be bottom pairing/pressbox due to a top 4 injury.
It is the 4th, 5th, 6th guys that need to have the top pairing potential/ability. And if we get the same dillion as last year, we do not have a top 4 caliber #5.
Murray was never a top 4 and Lukowich was barely iceable without Boyle. That D was more vulnerable than this one IMO.
Who do you consider top pairing on the 08 team?
Blake and boyle. And we all know that blake was at the end of his good top 4 blake ways.
I mean who do you think could replace them as top pair if they went down and who couldn't on this team. We're talking what if's and how deep each group appears. I thought you were saying this team isn't deep the way that team was.
Not me. I honestly don't care how deep this team is compared to past sharks teams. Especially since i have been one of the most outspoken for just how crappy built the teams of the past have been built.
I will say this team is probably the deepest the sharks have ever been since i started following them in 2005. But i still don't think it is deep enough as built to get the sharks deep into the playoffs. If the sharks add another burns esque player or even better a mix of burns and vlasic at the deadline then i think they can do some serious damage.
I liked the martin signing, if and only if he is a secondary signing/trade. The sharks need 1 more top 4 offensive player in my opinion.
I think we're set perfectly to start the season. See who makes the team, what it looks like on the ice. We have 2M in cap space with Torres on the team, which would allow a top deadline acquisition possible if needed. It's all wait and see now.
I'd like Zidlicky still thank you very much.Otherwise, I'm happy as a clam for the season to start.
Also, you can't help but notice that the forwards are deep, but that the top-talent isn't as good as it has been. The Sharks have four bonafide top-6 players...Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, and Couture. Hertl is the only other player who might qualify, and he's inexperienced. That might be the weakest forward core the team has entered a season with since 2008...and that was in an environment with weaker teams in general
The sharks forwards have done a role reversal. Before the sharks had one of the best top 6 in the league but very weak bottom 6. Now we are weak at the top 6 but are very deep at the bottom 6.
The sharks forwards have done a role reversal. Before the sharks had one of the best top 6 in the league but very weak bottom 6. Now we are weak at the top 6 but are very deep at the bottom 6.
Hey, I'm not against getting better
I'd rather get some more fire power, but I'd deal with Zidlicky.
It's nice to dream that DW could sign Franson on a cheap 2 yr or 1 yr deal at $2M.
Until you see Franson play on a structured team. There is a reason no one threw money at him.