Should the Sharks break up the top line of Thornton and Heatley?

That’s the question I’ve asked myself after watching the past few SJ Sharks games. It’s not like they’ve been playing terrible, but it would be interesting to see a more balanced team with four lines rolling. So if the Sharks were to shuffle the deck would it have a negative affect on the team?

Photo courtesy of MLSFAN 20

Heatley-Thornton-Setoguchi
Pavelski-Marleau-Clowe
Ortmeyer-Nichol-Malhotra
Staubitz-Vesce-McGinn

San Jose’s current line up (above) has Thornton centering the 1st and Marleau the 2nd. If you look at these lines closely you will see that they are pretty much interchangeable. As I see it the Sharks only have two lines the A team being composed of the 1st and 2nd lines and the B team being the 3rd and 4th. All things considered we already see glimpses of it when different players are matched up on the PP or PK. Going with that, giving players new assignments will improve the team by strengthening it from the inside out.

The line combos that need to be tried with the return of Shelley and Mitchell is:

Setoguchi-Thornton-Clowe
Marleau-Pavelski-Heatley
Malhotra-Nichol-Shelley
Staubitz-Mitchell-Ortmeyer

Photo courtesy of MLS FAN20

Dany isn’t the greatest skater and Joe’s not the fastest, plain and simple. It often looks like 2 anchors and a speedboat out there. I think being with Marleau and Pavelski will help Dany learn the faster West Coast style of play, be a more effective goal scorer, and improve his skating. This line notched the first goal the other night against the Preds, Pavs with the goal and the assists going to Patty and Heater. In only 20 games Dany has 12 goals and 9 assists. Imagine what that can do if he were to be with these line mates for the rest of the season. Does anyone else see 50+ goals? I sure do.

Thornton is a playmaker with a pass first mentality he needs wingers that are quick and will crash the net. Setoguchi has picked up where he left off scoring a goal in his first game back after being injured. Ryane Clowe ended his point drought when he got the shoot out winner against the LA Kings in October. Since then he has registered at least a point in every game except when the Sharks played Detroit last week. He has regained his confidence and judging from past seasons he’s on pace to score 25+ goals. If Ryane stays healthy this can be a career year for him.

Unfortunately San Jose’s promising young talents Jamie McGinn and Ryan Vesce will have to go back Worcester once Mitchell and Shelley are in the line up. Like the first two lines the 3rd and 4th are again interchangeable. Torrey Mitchell is an exciting player to watch. Having him back will make the Sharks offense deadly. Brad Staubitz is a young aggressive forward that needs to work on not taking bad penalties. Shelley, Ortmeyer, Nichol, and Malhotra are all veteran guys that know how to get the job done. They are great when utilized on special teams and are leaders on the ice.

It’s hard to critique a team that is 13-4-3 this early in the season but high expectations and early playoff exits warrant it. When you have marquee players such as the ones mentioned above you want to see them score highlight reel goals, play the body, and do whatever it takes to win. San Jose has the right players but a permanent line shake up may be the missing ingredient for the Sharks.