Tim Chiasson: San Jose Sharks: Put Tomas Hertl In The Top Six If Wingels or Ward play over Hertl in the top six, I say we riot. Who's with me?

Don't worry Hertl, that mean mean man can't hold you back anymore.

Don't worry Hertl, that mean mean man can't hold you back anymore.
- SharksDivision1

He was savage.

Tim, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on using Hertl as 2C this year. Obviously Couture has been there in the past, but I think Hertl's development and impact are better when he's at center. He's shown that he can be a patient playmaker that can protect the puck because of his size, but remains a threat to go to the net because of his hands. I'd prefer a player like that to handle the puck the most, as centers often do. Let Couture line up on his wing, find some open space and use his shot - which I think is very nearly the best on the team (Pavs and Burns obviously have great ones too).

Couture struggled in the shutdown role last year, so I say leave that assignment to Jumbo and Tierney (he who won the OHL's smartest player award two years ago, voted on by the league's coaches). Though Tierney is young, I think he's going to be ready to take on 2nd line competition if given defensively responsible wings such as Nieto and Melker. That leaves a 2nd line of Couture-Hertl-Marleau to put up some points.

Tim, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on using Hertl as 2C this year. Obviously Couture has been there in the past, but I think Hertl's development and impact are better when he's at center. He's shown that he can be a patient playmaker that can protect the puck because of his size, but remains a threat to go to the net because of his hands. I'd prefer a player like that to handle the puck the most, as centers often do. Let Couture line up on his wing, find some open space and use his shot - which I think is very nearly the best on the team (Pavs and Burns obviously have great ones too).

Couture struggled in the shutdown role last year, so I say leave that assignment to Jumbo and Tierney (he who won the OHL's smartest player award two years ago, voted on by the league's coaches). Though Tierney is young, I think he's going to be ready to take on 2nd line competition if given defensively responsible wings such as Nieto and Melker. That leaves a 2nd line of Couture-Hertl-Marleau to put up some points.
- toaster12

There's nothing spectacular about Couture's ability at center that makes me want to say 'he needs to play C' so I'd be open to seeing Hertl in the middle and Couture on the wing. Less responsibility might even benefit Couture greatly, because I don't think he's a player who can shoulder the load. A reduced role within the line could mean a better possession line overall and even more offense from Couture. Marleau made the switch a while back pretty successfully and Pavelski plays very well on the wing with Thornton.

I think Hertl is smart enough to play center in the NHL, and I'm not too worried about his faceoffs because there's only 67 NHL faceoffs to judge him on (which he's 50%). The only thing I'd be weary about making him a 2C this year is his sporadic time around the lineup last year. I'd let him settle back into a top six role on the wing before I even thought about moving him to the middle to lessen the responsibility on Couture. I wouldn't want to hurl Hertl to the wolves right away.

If the line of, say, Hertl-Couture-Marleau was playing great and Couture was holding his own in the areas outside of the G-A-PTS department with Hertl around then I probably wouldn't tinker with it at all. It's an interesting thought, though. Hadn't even crossed my mind.

Thornton, Pavelski, Couture and Marleau are pretty much top 6 locks barring a really terrible first impression from Marleau. That leaves us with the following realistic top 6 options: Hertl, Nieto, Ward, Wingels and Karlsson. Hertl to me is a clear standout on that list. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Hertl and Ward in the top 6 at some point.

BRING BACK CHEECHOO

BRING BACK CHEECHOO
- SRam19

Dammit condom-head don't leak my future blog titles!

Dammit condom-head don't leak my future blog titles!
- Tim Chiasson

I'd like to see how this top 6 works to start the season...

Marleau-Thornton-Pavelski
Hertl-Couture-Ward

I think Marleau would benefit on the top line and find his scoring touch again playing with the Joes, he also still has speed which the Joes need in their 2nd winger on this line.

I think Ward would give Couture confidence again, Couture played so much better knowing that Ryane Clowe was on his wing, to win board battles, and push guys around when need be. Hertl is just a Top 6 forward in the NHL no matter how you slice it, way too skilled to be a bottom 6 guy.

There's nothing spectacular about Couture's ability at center that makes me want to say 'he needs to play C' so I'd be open to seeing Hertl in the middle and Couture on the wing. Less responsibility might even benefit Couture greatly, because I don't think he's a player who can shoulder the load. A reduced role within the line could mean a better possession line overall and even more offense from Couture. Marleau made the switch a while back pretty successfully and Pavelski plays very well on the wing with Thornton.

I think Hertl is smart enough to play center in the NHL, and I'm not too worried about his faceoffs because there's only 67 NHL faceoffs to judge him on (which he's 50%). The only thing I'd be weary about making him a 2C this year is his sporadic time around the lineup last year. I'd let him settle back into a top six role on the wing before I even thought about moving him to the middle to lessen the responsibility on Couture. I wouldn't want to hurl Hertl to the wolves right away.

If the line of, say, Hertl-Couture-Marleau was playing great and Couture was holding his own in the areas outside of the G-A-PTS department with Hertl around then I probably wouldn't tinker with it at all. It's an interesting thought, though. Hadn't even crossed my mind.
- Tim Chiasson

Blasphemous

Blasphemous
- SJSharks39

That's exactly what I say every time I read one of your posts Thomas.

That's exactly what I say every time I read one of your posts Thomas.
- Tim Chiasson

Have you seen the vegas odds yet? I'm suprised how high the Wild's odds are.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/

Have you seen the vegas odds yet? I'm suprised how high the Wild's odds are.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/
- SJSharks39

That list is pretty hilarious.

Hertl came back too soon from his knee surgery and his confidence suffered as well. Prior to being kneed by Dustin Brown, Tomas was fearless in going to the net and the dirty areas and was willing to take a hit. The entire league had started head hunting him but he played with confidence prior to that knee injury. Sinced his return, he hasn't shown the same confidence and willingness to go to the same areas and it shows. Once he regains his confidence, his game will follow...

Have you seen the vegas odds yet? I'm suprised how high the Wild's odds are.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/
- SJSharks39

Have you seen the vegas odds yet? I'm suprised how high the Wild's odds are.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nhl/odds/futures/
- SJSharks39

That list just made me sad.