Comparing Sharks with and without Couture, Hertl

The rumor mill surrounding the San Jose Sharks as of recent weeks involves the uncertainty regarding the futures of long-time centers, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. While I don’t see a world in which they are both moved any time soon, I wouldn’t completely count out that possibility, either.

Sharks GM, Mike Grier, mentioned that if either Couture or Hertl ever asked to be moved, he would “listen.”

However, the season just started and luckily for fans, both players remain in teal sweaters. The clock is ticking, though, and the two aren’t getting any younger. Especially Couture who will turn 35 later this season, who thrives most during playoff hockey. Making him a notable trade candidate for many playoff contenders.

Let’s compare the two outcomes, being the San Jose Sharks with Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, and the Sharks without them.

Option A: San Jose Sharks with Logan Couture & Tomas Hertl

This option is more than likely the favorite moving forward. I would say at least for the next season or two. But, you never know, as this sport is a business and anything can certainly happen.

Keeping Couture and Hertl means that the Sharks retain their 1-2 punch down the middle. This also means players like Thomas Bordeleau continue to remain on the outside looking in. Using other terms, keeping them both takes away vital opportunities to transition promising prospects into the NHL. If Couture continues putting up 55-65 points, it will be hard to push him down to a 3rd line center role. I’m not sure Couture would want that either.

So that would likely mean Will Smith would debut as the Sharks third line center this time of the year, next season. And still, where does Bordeleau fit in?

The Sharks would need to move players around, and even push others to play outside of their comfort zones, switching between center and wing, in order to fit all of the necessary players onto this roster.

An idea of what the Sharks forward lineup can look like on the opening night of 2024-25 can be:

  

Eklund             Hertl           Duclair

Bordeleau      Couture      Barabanov

Zadina           W. Smith     Zetterlund

G. Smith        Peterson      Kunin

Now, this could definitely be a stretch. However, I do anticipate trades or some sort of movement either at the trade deadline or during the offseason, involving Mike Hoffman and Nico Sturm.

I would rather the Sharks breed Bordeleau into a two-way centermen instead of a winger. Smith and Bordeleau as the Sharks' next number one and two centers don't sound too shabby at all.

Option B: San Jose Sharks Without Logan Couture & Tomas Hertl

This definitely holds a possibility of happening in the near future. The Sharks could absolutely decide to just tear down and really let the kids play, after all.  With Eklund and Bordeleau already playing early-season NHL games, and Will Smith, Quentin Musty, and hopefully Filip Bystedt all not too far away, pressure is going to be on the front office to make moves that will allow these types of players to actually play and reach their potentials in the NHL. 

I know, I know. “Quentin Musty might start the season with the Barracuda.” 

Stop. Stop it now.

Musty showed enough in this year’s training camp to earn himself a spot on the main roster, in my opinion. His 6 '2 frame offers him the leverage that neither Eklund nor Bordeleau had when they came in.

As for Smith, he’s turning pro once his year with Boston College is over and will play NHL games at the end of this season. Come next year, we all know he takes his spot on the main roster.

With that being said, a Couture & Hertl-less Sharks forward group:

Eklund      W. Smith        Duclair

Zadina      Bordeleau    Barabanov

Musty          Kunin         Zetterlund

G. Smith     Peterson      Robins

Again, definitely a stretch. But how much fun does this lineup look?

I personally would have a blast watching these NHL games. As much as it would hurt not seeing 48 and 39 in teal, this would definitely be entertaining for fans league-wide. 

The biggest concern regarding the state of the franchise is just having a plan. There needs to be a plan in place with what the Sharks are going to do with their young players and prospects moving forward; if keeping Couture and Hertl for the next few years is the route they are going to take. Or if they are going to move the two centers and more importantly, when.

So what do you think? What will the Sharks do with Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl?

Manifesting The Sharks 1st Overall Pick

As Sharks fans, being among the league leaders in the losses column is both - a gift, and a curse. We don't always appreciate the hard times. The hard times aren't fun. The hard times aren't what makes us jump out of our seats. And the hard times are definitely not what makes us want to purchase tickets which also leads to purchasing more snacks and beverages at today's Sharks game. 

Like Sly Stallone once said via Rocky Balboa, "It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." 

That's the message we as fans, and the Sharks as players, should be taking away from seasons like the ones we have been facing over the past several years.

The San Jose Sharks have been known to use different kinds of "R" words in place of "Rebuild."

Whether it was 'reconstruct', 'refurbish', or even my personal favorite, 'retool'.

Why? Don't ask me.

Instead, we should be more like the Chicago Blackhawks. And really just manifest getting the number one selection in the next draft. Maybe then, it will happen.

The Blackhawks, for example, dumped a few key players from their 2022-23 and also their 2021-22 roster, too, in hopes of tanking as much as humanely possible. It began with trading away notable players Alex DeBrincat and the promising Kirby Dach. Then deciding to not even qualify-offer Dylan Strome.

They wanted to go into the 2022-23 season as terrible as they could be.

Once the following deadline came they would eventually move more key players in Sam Lafferty and Jake McCabe. And shortly after... Patrick Kane.

Tank for Bedard was officially on. And you're damn right it worked.

If the Chicago Blackhawks can make it happen, so can the San Jose Sharks.

I'm not saying let's trade all of our players. Although it wouldn't be the worst idea. All I'm saying is let's all just accept the fact that these things happen in professional sports. Just accept it. Be okay with it. And embrace it. Once we are able to do these things, I can guarantee we will get rewarded.

It's time for the Sharks to be rewarded for once. We were so good for so long. We've been paying our dues. We haven't roster dumped like other teams have. We have at least tried to go into every season trying to make the playoffs. Even if we had a 0.0% chance. 

'Tank for Bedard' is retired. How about a new one?

"How about us?" The San Jose Sharks.

Hertl? Couture? Who is the Sharks Number One Center?

Over the past few seasons, there has been a bit of back and forth as to who is the “go-to” center for this team. The question remains, “Who is the Sharks 1C?”

I can’t quite give an exact answer right this second. Logan Couture has only skated once over the past few weeks, as a result of a lower-body injury he suffered during offseason training. It is unclear as to what exactly this injury is and we don’t know how long it will take for him to get his conditioning and timing back to 100%.

Tomas Hertl is likely to be the Sharks' main center this upcoming season. At least for the time being. He has looked sharp and in great shape since returning to the Bay Area. He is also significantly younger than Couture, whose time is winding down.

But, Logan Couture has been the Sharks' best center the past few years, despite the Sharks continuously placing Tomas Hertl in that role. Let’s rewind back to just the past two seasons. In 2021-2022 Logan Couture scored 56 points in 77 games. Tomas Hertl scored 64 points in a full 82 games.

(I am going to ignore plus/minus statistics because of how awful the Sharks have been. Every player is going to have a minus rating).

Continuing on, you may be wondering why I decided to look at those numbers considering the fact Hertl contributed more offensively than Couture. But let’s take a deeper dive into those numbers. Couture played five fewer games than Hertl where he definitely could have reached the 60-point mark. Along with that, Hertl played the majority of that campaign with Timo Meier on his right wing. The same Timo Meier who scored a career-high 35 goals and 76 points. There have been games that season where Alexander Barabonov even joined those two over stretches of the season.

Logan Couture? Well, sometimes he played with Barabonov. Others? Noah Gregor? Nick Bonino? Jonathan Dahlen? My point is, that the Sharks gave Hertl a consistent elite NHL player to play with while they rotated Couture’s wing throughout the entire season. Some of those players would not have cracked 90% of other NHL rosters or aren’t even in the league anymore. 

Couture still finished, right behind Hertl in the points column. After playing with mid-AHLers and with a handful of fewer games.

Fast forward to 2022-23. Couture primarily played with Alexander Barabonov on his wing. He played all 82 games for the first time since 2014-15 and recorded the second-best season of his career, point-wise with 67. 27 of which were goals.  

Hertl on the other hand, recorded 22 goals and 63 points. Still playing the majority of the season with Timo Meier until Meier was eventually moved to New Jersey. Once Meier was gone, Hertl was stuck in a slump and it took a while for him to get out of it. 

It’s not just about who they are playing with. It’s who they are playing against, that matters more. Logan Couture is always placed against the other team’s best lines and is the Sharks’ go-to guy for shutdown defense. He was among the league’s elite two-way centers during his younger years. He still carries the burden of defensive responsibilities. Many of Couture’s zone starts begin in the defensive zone. While Hertl’s are primarily started in the offensive zone.

If you take all of this into consideration, it is really impressive how Couture still manages to put up similar, or even more points than Tomas Hertl at this stage in Logan’s career. I genuinely believe if the Sharks gave Logan more offensive minutes, with someone like Timo Meier on his wing, he could have easily put up a few more 70-point seasons. 

It’s not that Tomas Hertl isn’t a good player. He absolutely is. I just think Sharks fans and sometimes even the front office tends to overrate him. They act like he is some superstar player in the league. Though he is not. Over the course of Hertl’s 664 NHL games, he managed to produce 450 points. Which comes out to 0.67 points per game. Throughout Couture’s 927 NHL games, he’s put up 700 points, exactly. Couture’s points per game comes out to 0.75. 

Logan Couture has had a bit of bad luck during his NHL career. And I’m not talking about the injuries. That’s a conversation for another day. I’m talking about the fact that when he broke into the league as a rookie, he played behind Joe Thornton for several years until Jumbo’s decline became apparent. Once he managed to become the Sharks’ true number-one centermen, it wasn’t too long after they began giving Hertl those starts. 

Perhaps it was just poor timing. Should we blame Jumbo? Darn it Joe!

Anyway, I feel that Couture was asked to do so much defensively that he was never given enough leash offensively to produce more offense than he did. 700 NHL points is no easy task, however, I definitely feel it could have been more if he wasn’t overlooked so much.

Again, people may think I’m crazy. I know he’s played his entire career with the Sharks. I know he’s the reigning Team Captain.

I just think the Sharks replaced him as the number-one center prematurely. That’s all. 

Coming into this season, which begins this week, Tomas Hertl will obviously take on the number one role. And as he should. Couture is going to turn 35 years old this season. Hertl will turn 30. It was going to happen eventually. I do hope Hertl has a comeback season. He’ll probably play with Eklund on his wing to fill in Timo Meier’s absence. Hopefully, the two are able to build chemistry together and Eklund can have a strong start to his NHL career.

When Couture returns which will likely be the second game of the year, I just want him to remain as healthy as possible, and put together another strong season. I hope nothing but the best for the Sharks 1-2 punch down the middle.

Who do you think the Sharks' number one center is? And has been over the past few seasons? Hertl? Couture? Let me know in the comments!

Mr. Shark: Patrick Marleau

I'm not sure there is a more important figure in San Jose Sharks' history than Patrick Marleau. He was the Shark's first true "star" player. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Marleau still stands as the highest Sharks draft pick, at 2nd overall back in 1997. He played 19 straight seasons for the Sharks, in which he served as the Team Captain for 5 of them. He would eventually suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs for just a few years, and even briefly, the Pittsburgh Penguins just for a cup of coffee. Even still, Marleau returned home to San Jose not once, but twice, in order to finish his career as a San Jose Shark.

A natural goal scorer may be an understatement when it comes to Patty. He has scored 20 or more goals 15 times, 30+ goals 7 times, and even his career-high 44 goals once in 2010.

Marleau was rewarded with an NHL golden stick following his 566 career goals. Along with that, he finished just 3 points shy of the 1,200th-point mark.

Games? he holds the record. No, not just as a Shark.

Patrick Marleau became the NHL's games played leader, appearing in an enormous 1,779 regular season NHL games. Most in the history of the league...

Patrick Marleau is no stranger to international play either, winning gold with Canada in the 2003 World Championships, and even a World Cup in 2004. To go along with that, Patrick Marleau has won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014.

Marleau, along with Jumbo Joe, has unfortunately never lifted the Stanley Cup. But when you remain loyal to one team for as long as Mr. Shark, it's no easy task to accomplish.

Marleau's #12 was the first San Jose Sharks number to be retired and raised to the top of the Shark Tank. he remains with the organization as a player development coach and is seen working with players on a regular basis. It's pretty much safe to say there is no getting rid of Patrick Marleau. 

Marleau is the epitome of a San Jose Sharks hockey player.

Make sure to visit again soon, for a deep dive into the Shark Tank.

Career Review: "Jumbo" Joe Thornton

Is Joe Thornton the greatest Shark of all time?

Perhaps. I would say so, but there are some people out there who can put together a solid case for Parick Marleau.

Joe Thornton hasn't played hockey in over a year now. He wasn't signed to an NHL team last season after spending the 2021-2022 season with the Florida Panthers. He is yet to announce his retirement from the game of hockey which leads us to the question, "When can we look back on the great career of Jumbo Joe?"

How about, now?

Joe Thornton was drafted by the Boston Bruins as the 1st overall selection in the 1997 NHL entry draft. In his rookie season, he posted seven whole points. Not bad for a rookie. 

Just kidding. Really bad.

Luckily, Thornton's following seasons would continuously get better and better. He would eventually rock the captain's 'C' for the iconic Original Six franchise. It wasn't until the 2005-2006 season that things would rapidly change for Joe. He was traded to the San Jose Sharks and finished the season winning league MVP and the Ted Lindsay award for leading the NHL in points. 

How often does the league MVP get traded mid-season? Yep, That's what I thought.

Jumbo Joe followed that season up with an enormous 92 assist and 114 point season in his first full season with San Jose where his game rounded perfectly alongside Patrick Marleau's. The two would mold a perfect dynamic duo over the next decade, including leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.

Joe Thornton would eventually captain his second NHL team where he wore the C for the Sharks for several seasons before eventually downgrading to an assistant captain once Joe Pavelski arrived.

Thornton posted 1,714 games (2nd most in history), 430 goals, 1109 assists, and an enormous 1,539 NHL points. 

He sits 12th all-time in points and is considered the greatest playmaker of his generation. He is part of the triple-gold club, winning gold at the World Junior Championships (1997), World Cup of Hockey (2004, 2016), and even Olympic gold (2010). 

The only trophy the great Jumbo Joe lacks? The biggest of them all. Lord Stanley's Cup. 

Even still, There's no denying Joe Thornton is one of the all-time greats. However, the lack of a Stanley Cup ring is the one piece he's missing from having the absolute perfect hockey career. 

4.75/5 stars

Sharks Won't Grow, Unless David Quinn Does First

During his time with the New York Rangers, David Quinn was highly criticized for his lack of utilizing young talent. Talent such as former 2nd overall pick, Kappo Kakko. Talent that no longer plays in the NHL anymore, like former 9th overall pick, Vitali Kravstov. 

David Quinn has a history of benching young players after mistakes that NHL vets seem to get away with under his coaching style. Quinn definitely appreciates the more old-school vibe. He prefers a more pucks-on-net play style rather than pretty puck possession. That played into a role of never giving young players on the Rangers an opportunity. Kappo Kakko rarely saw Power Play time under Quinn's tenure. And Kravstov barely even sniffed the NHL while Quinn was the head of the table. Which is why Kravstov called it quits and headed for the KHL.

Sharks fans were skeptical once Quinn was hired for the Sharks head coaching position. I was included in that mix. We still don't really know what that means for top prospects entering this season like William Eklund, Thomas Bordeleau, and Henry Thrun. Or even top prospects down the line like Quentin Musty and Will Smith.... How ya doin'? 

To be fair, however, when many of these players were drafted, the AHL, or even other leagues, were still best for their development. 

Anyway, David Quinn needs to prove he has changed his old ways if the Sharks want to wrap up this rebuild. 

Moves in acquiring players like Mike Hoffmann and Mikael Granlund, to me, were pretty pointless. All that did was eat up roster spots for guys whom Sharks fans want to see grow into what the Sharks front office is expecting them to grow into.

How are they supposed to grow into specific roles if we never really give them a chance?

We don't want to see our high-end prospects waiting until they are 24 years old to start getting opportunities. They deserve them now, and it's up to David Quinn to realize that.

I think David Quinn and Mike Grier have a lot of questions to answer regarding decisions that impact their next batch of star players.

Start playing the young guns. Because after all, they are the future of the organization.

Sharks Contributor Offers Insight on Team's Future

I had the pleasure of speaking online with a Sharks content contributor at San Jose Hockey Now and the host of the Locked on Sharks podcast network, J.D. Young. 

I have been a follower of J.D. for quite some time now, following him on both Twitter and YouTube for several years. I was fortunate enough to ask him a few questions because, well, I need answers. And someone who has contributed to this passion for as long as J.D. has, there was no better person to go to.

J.D.'s responses may, or may not have, contributed to a hole in my wall.

1. Could you share the story of how your Sharks fandom came to be? 

I actually grew up a Flyers fan because of my mom. Eric Lindros was my favorite player growing up. We moved to the Bay Area when I was in high school and finally got to attend a hockey game. I was hooked. This was right around the lockout, and when I saw Marleau and Thornton play together, I became a fan.

2. Looking ahead, when do you foresee the Sharks not only making the playoffs but also being strong contenders for the Stanley Cup? Additionally, which current players do you believe will still be with the team during that period? 

The timeline to become a fun, frisky team that just misses the playoffs is probably three seasons, the 2025-26 season. Will Smith, William Eklund, plus the 2020 draft class will all be established by then. To be legitimate contenders, the 2027-28 season is realistically when they should be completely out of their rebuild and contending again. As for players who are on the roster (established NHLers), Ferraro and Hertl are the ones to go with. While Hertl could be a trade candidate at some point, he would be an awesome third-line center and be well-rewarded for having to help bring the team back from the basement. 

3. There’s been speculation about Logan Couture’s future. In your opinion, do you see him potentially being traded, or finishing his career with the Sharks? 

While I don't think Couture will be traded anytime soon, he does go before his contract finishes. With four years left on his deal, the Sharks could be exiting the rebuild by then, but won't be ready to compete for a championship. This feels like a Brent Burns situation where Couture is sent to a contender to try and win a Cup before he retires as a Shark. But it's closer to the end of his contract than now. With the salary cap finally going up, it should be easier to move him in a few seasons if he can maintain his level of play.

4. William Eklund has generated a lot of excitement for Sharks fans. Do you believe he has the potential to be a great player for the Sharks in the long term, or have you grown skeptical?

I think Eklund will be a special player for the Sharks for a long time. Grier purposely kept him in the AHL last year, and Eklund will be better for it in the long run as he continues to round out his game. We've seen flashes of Eklund doing special things, and he is just scratching the surface of what type of player he can be. 

I think we'll all be looking forward to seeing how these questions continue to play out.