What role will tough guy Haley play in return to Sharks?
PITTSBURGH >> With four days and change remaining before Monday’s trade deadline, it’s last call for deadline-related questions. By the time we reconvene next week, the Sharks could be playing with a shiny-new toy, their Western Conference rivals could be showing off new wardrobes and the NHL as we know it might be drastically different.
The weekend should be filled with intrigue as the Sharks embark on their final road trip of two games or longer this season with roster questions hovering above their heads.
Without any further ado, let’s open the mailbag:
Now that the Sharks have picked up Micheal Haley, do you think they will still try to add forward depth and how often do you see Pete DeBoer using Haley? Will he be a fixture on 4th line? — @prairiebilbo
I don’t see Haley being a fixture in the Sharks lineup down the stretch, but I also didn’t think they’d claim him off waivers, so my crystal ball is a tad foggy here.
Here’s the thing: Haley played a significant role on the 2016-17 squad, suiting up for 58 games on the team’s fourth line, keeping opponents honest by sticking up for his teammates when need be. Still, when push came to shove, DeBoer kept him off the ice during the Sharks playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers, choosing to skate the speedy, inexperienced Marcus Sorensen instead.
With that in mind, I don’t get the impression that the Sharks picked up Haley with the thought that he’s the missing piece on the fourth line. Instead, he’ll probably see some scattered action down the stretch, serving as a veteran insurance policy against a forward injury while bringing a great presence to the room.
Knowing DeBoer, I don’t think he would have been fully comfortable going into the playoffs with Dylan Gambrell playing the role of 13th forward. In a year that’s being labeled as Stanley Cup or bust, he doesn’t want to be depending on a 22-year-old who’s learning on the job in the playoffs. He’d rather give six or seven minutes to Haley, knowing he’s going to be defensively responsible, make smart-puck management decisions while bringing a physical edge to the lineup.
His addition could also light a fire under Barclay Goodrow, who will need to perform to stay ahead of Haley on the depth chart.
That said, I don’t think this move will impact the Sharks’ approach to the trade deadline. If the Sharks make a deal, it will likely be a move that add’s some juice to Joe Thornton’s line or to give the team a legitimate fourth line center.
Haley doesn’t really satisfy either of those needs.
The Sharks are reportedly interested in adding forward depth. Who do you see them going after? — @PirainoVincenzo
As discussed above, the area where the Sharks are most in need of an upgrade is the spot on Thornton’s line currently occupied by Kevin Labanc.
Give Labanc some credit, the Sharks braintrust challenged him to prove that he belongs on the team coming out of the break, and so far he’s delivered, scoring six goals and compiling eight points in eight games. Over that timeframe, the third line has combined to record 20 points, creating serious mismatches in the depth of the lineup, with Thornton racking up nine points, including his first hat trick in eight-plus years on Monday.
But I get the impresrsion
that DeBoer is uneasy about the prospect of playing Russian roulette with Labanc in the playoffs. With his penchant for taking penalties, turning the puck over and spacing out in the defensive zone, one mistake from Labanc could be the difference in a 2-1 game this spring.
That said, I could see Marcus Johansson of the New Jersey Devils being a target if the Sharks decide to add before the deadline. He’s a former 20-goal scorer, has suited up for 72 career postseason games and he won’t cost an arm and a leg, or in hockey terms, a first-round pick and a top prospect.
Mats Zuccarello of the New York Rangers and Ryan Dzingel of the Ottawa Senators could also be options, depending on their prices.
I get the impression that if the Sharks are going to add, they’d like to do so without trading away Sasha Chmelevski, Ivan Chekhovich, Joachim Blichfeld or Ryan Merkley, a quartet of players who are tearing up the Canadian junior leagues this winter.
Without a 2019 or 2020 first-round pick, the Sharks would ideally acquire a forward with a package that includes a combination of players, such as Gambrell, Labanc, Goodrow, Joakim Ryan, maybe Barracuda standout Francis Perron, and later round picks.
I wouldn’t expect to see another big splash like last winter’s Evander Kane trade. In other words, think twice before you stitch the names Panarin, Duchene or Stone onto your teal jerseys.
It’s my feeling that the Sharks have to add at the deadline to legitimately compete for the Stanley Cup. What are your thoughts? — @maritimeshed
If the price tag for Johansson or Zuccarello ends up being too rich, the Sharks can stay put and still compete with anyone in the Western Conference. In other words, I won’t be at all surprised if the Sharks decide to stick with what they have through the deadline.
Back in January, general manager Doug Wilson left the door open to the possibility of pursuing a rental at the deadline, saying the Sharks are in clear winnow mode after swinging a deal for Erik Karlsson on the eve of training camp. He also indicated that he wanted to see how things played out between then and the deadline, knowing that a trade can always change the chemistry in the dressing room.
In the aftermath of that Jan. 9 conversation, the Sharks are 10-4-1, which includes a nine-game stretch in which they beat the Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames on the road without Karlsson. The Sharks are a darn-good team regardless of whether they pull off a trade before the deadline. They can certainly compete for the Cup with the pieces they currently have in the room.
Standing firm would also reinforce the meritocracy that Wilson wants to establish within you organization: If you earn it, you get it. That’s what makes the situation with Labanc particularly interesting. He’s earned his spot on Thornton’s line since the All-Star break. What message does it send the youngsters in the organization if you end up trading him anyway?
It could come down to cost and the big dominoes need to fall in order for the market to get set.