We've always been told the Sharks play a style similar to Detroit's (since TMac arrived). But watching both teams play, the styles don't seem similar to me at all. Detroit plays a possession style no doubt ... they hold onto the puck and maintain possession as much as possible. The Sharks on the other hand, seem to play a dump-and-chase. Often when we have the puck, we'll skate it to center ice and dump it in. Detroit seems to skate the puck in far more than we do.
Also, Detroit seems to hold onto the puck mostly when making line changes (maintaining possession), while the Sharks skate it to center and dump it in, allowing the other team to gain possession (giving up possession).
Is this not right?
Yes, but it is a matter of degree.
Both teams use chips. Chips as opposed to dumps in part define possession against old style, pure north/south. But Detroit gives license to Datsyuk and even Flipper to carry the line. In their heyday, they had all sorts of guys and schemes to carry the line. Like the Sharks should with Havlat. In a sense Babcock is an old style coach but he has the Detroit team which was built for a very special type of possession and he makes allowances versus his own preferences. TM also had the Sharks being more conservative last year about line change dumps (take no chances). Detroit plays a little riskier and their blueline was a bit better with keep away passes. The teams are similar, I understand your confusion and I understand the specific differences. Detroit also is a little more east/west for in-zone offense with Z and Dats.
BTW, Boston is probably number 3 in going chips as opposed to dumps. Preds are pretty good too with some exotic schemes on chips.
I think we should go for a prospect like Namestnikov or Panik if Tampa wants Niemi. The window is closing (some people say closed) and the cupboards are bare.
This lineup would score allot of GF, be physical to play against, who cares about D or the PK :-)
CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Patrick Marleau ($6.900m) / Joe Thornton ($7.000m) / Shane Doan ($4.000m)
Ryane Clowe ($3.625m) / Joe Pavelski ($4.000m) / Martin Havlat ($5.000m)
Ray Whitney ($3.000m) / Logan Couture ($2.875m) / Zach Parise ($6.000m)
Daniel Winnik ($0.950m) / Andrew Desjardins ($0.594m) / Tommy Wingels ($0.660m)
James Sheppard ($0.561m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Dan Boyle ($6.667m) / Marc-Edouard Vlasic ($3.100m)
Brent Burns ($5.760m) / Jason Demers ($1.250m)
Douglas Murray ($2.500m) / Justin Braun ($0.688m)
Matt Pelech ($0.578m) /
GOALTENDERS
Antti Niemi ($3.800m)
Thomas Greiss ($0.588m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,094,417; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $205,583
This lineup would score allot of GF, be physical to play against, who cares about D or the PK :-)
CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Patrick Marleau ($6.900m) / Joe Thornton ($7.000m) / Shane Doan ($4.000m)
Ryane Clowe ($3.625m) / Joe Pavelski ($4.000m) / Martin Havlat ($5.000m)
Ray Whitney ($3.000m) / Logan Couture ($2.875m) / Zach Parise ($6.000m)
Daniel Winnik ($0.950m) / Andrew Desjardins ($0.594m) / Tommy Wingels ($0.660m)
James Sheppard ($0.561m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Dan Boyle ($6.667m) / Marc-Edouard Vlasic ($3.100m)
Brent Burns ($5.760m) / Jason Demers ($1.250m)
Douglas Murray ($2.500m) / Justin Braun ($0.688m)
Matt Pelech ($0.578m) /
GOALTENDERS
Antti Niemi ($3.800m)
Thomas Greiss ($0.588m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,094,417; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $205,583
throw niemi to the wolves to get the cap space, as Parise aint signin for 6m., with an offence like that, the puck wont be in our zone all game long so we can bring up anyone.
throw niemi to the wolves to get the cap space, as Parise aint signin for 6m., with an offence like that, the puck wont be in our zone all game long so we can bring up anyone.
yea, thought about that or just losing Murray. Sure would be a fun team to watch.
Is there any chance James Sheppard becomes a top 6 foward?
When healthy, he'll probably have to fight for a fourth line spot, and if he gets one, he'll be a healthy scratch most of the time. I will never understand that trade.
When healthy, he'll probably have to fight for a fourth line spot, and if he gets one, he'll be a healthy scratch most of the time. I will never understand that trade.
You don't understand it because your assessment of him isn't really accurate. He's a guy with top six potential with inconsistencies but he has two-way ability so he can play third line minutes and matchups if that's his role. It'll take some time like it took Torrey Mitchell time to recover from a major injury. Except Sheppard is capable of much more than Mitchell.
You don't understand it because your assessment of him isn't really accurate. He's a guy with top six potential with inconsistencies but he has two-way ability so he can play third line minutes and matchups if that's his role. It'll take some time like it took Torrey Mitchell time to recover from a major injury. Except Sheppard is capable of much more than Mitchell.
Maybe I am underrating him, but Minnesota fans said he was awful. But I suppose he was picked 9th overall for a reason.
You don't understand it because your assessment of him isn't really accurate. He's a guy with top six potential with inconsistencies but he has two-way ability so he can play third line minutes and matchups if that's his role. It'll take some time like it took Torrey Mitchell time to recover from a major injury. Except Sheppard is capable of much more than Mitchell.
Yes. Minnesota rushed him into the league. He didn't get time to develop his game. Minnesota, at the time, was a very defensive team. So it wasn't the best situation for a guy who was drafted 9th overall that same year. Do you think Couture would be the same player if he played in the NHL the same year he was drafted? Probably not. The Organization gave him a couple years to develop before he earned his top 6 role.
Maybe I am underrating him, but Minnesota fans said he was awful. But I suppose he was picked 9th overall for a reason.
He was awful in Minnesota because he was young and in the coach's doghouse for various reasons while being rushed. He didn't belong in Minnesota when he was 19 just coming out of juniors especially under Jacques Lemaire.
It must be the dog days of summer if people are getting this upset over insulting Sheppard.
Hey man. Sheppard's use of killstreak perks to help the team out in fierce firefights to win the game is not something to scoff at. We got him for a reason.
