• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
News
Injury Report

With Vlasic Injured, Sharks Playoff Chances Plummet

By Kenneth Laws April 28th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Way back in October, I wrote an article about the Sharks best defenseman. It outlined a defender that played his position better than anyone ever gave him credit for. He was smart and never seemed to be caught in No Man’s Land. The Canadian with a very French sounding name, Marc-Edouard Vlasic earned the league’s respect this season. On Saturday night, the Sharks were dealt a major blow. Vlasic left the game early and it is unknown if he will be ready for Game Six. With Vlasic injured, the Sharks’ playoff hopes have also been wounded.

Vlasic injured

A Jarret Stoll roughing penalty knocked Vlasic out of the contest (Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports)

Vlasic Injured on Stoll Hit

Already down 2-0 in a game that had the Sharks asleep in their own building, Jarret Stoll and Vlasic battled in the Sharks defensive zone. After Stoll applied an initial hit, he added an elbow to the back of Vlasic’s head. The blue liner seemed shaken up and left the game before he could complete the first period.

The Sharks defense has been hidden by their explosive offense this series. Antti Niemi, who hasn’t been sharp in his own right, has been left on his own far too often. The play of Pickles during the season led the Sharks to be one of the best defenses in the league. He was a gaudy +31 through the regular season. Ninth in the league and second best among defensemen in that category, Vlasic was also the leader for time on ice per game on the penalty kill. In the current series, Pickles was leading the Sharks with 9 blocked shots before he was forced off on Saturday. With Vlasic injured, the Sharks depth on defense will undoubtedly be tested.

Problem: The Sharks Have No Defensive Depth

A quick look at the Sharks defensive pairings without Vlasic injured:

Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers

Brad Stuart and Justin Braun

Scott Hannan and Dan Boyle

Outside of Justin Braun, the Sharks are in trouble on defense. Dan Boyle and Jason Demers are decent, but are both used to playing the right side of the blue line. But Brad Stuart and Scott Hannan, the remaining left side defensemen, are not exactly what I would call stalwart.

Hannan has enjoyed some very sheltered minutes with Dan Boyle so far in the postseason. His job has been to mark Willie Mitchell, a player with only 12 points for the entire season. So, naturally, with the Sharks offense exploding as it has been, his stats are bloated. Other than his ability to give the puck to Dan Boyle, Hannan is a non-factor.

As for Brad Stuart, his pairing with Justin Braun pits him up against the tougher competition that the Kings can offer. Stuart’s Quality of Competition is a full percentage point higher than Hannan’s. But he has not coped well with the increase in work load. He has a Corsi relative of -14.3% which is even worse than his -2.7% of the regular season.

Vlasic injured

The Sharks other defensemen must step up (Icon SMI)

Who Steps Up to Replace Pickles?

Next in line to play defense for the Sharks would be Matt Irwin. The defender played over sixty games this season but fell from the lineup down the stretch. He was a fairly sheltered player as well. Per Extra Skater, over half of his shifts started in the offensive zone. Almost three percent more than Vlasic (who was second to Braun in offensive/defensive zone start percentage). Irwin hardly ever played on the penalty kill either. Just over four percent of the Sharks shorthanded time was under his watch. With Vlasic injured, someone else will have to take up his key role on the penalty kill. How vital was his role? In the regular season, Vlasic occupied over 49% of San Jose’s penalty kill minutes.

Vlasic injured

The Sharks may have big skates to fill on the blue line (Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE)

Here’s Hoping to a Speedy Recovery

There is no way around it. Without Vlasic, the Sharks are in trouble. The minutes he eats up are far too valuable. He is always matched up against Anze Kopitar. Just like last season’s series against LA, he has kept the Kings sharp shooter under control. Kopi is without a single power play point and only has one goal in a series in which each game has at least one team scoring three. Vlasic’s contributions will never make headlines outside of San Jose, but without him, be prepared for a very porous Sharks blue line.

The Sharks are still in the driver seat in their current series. That offense can explode for one victory and help them move on. But with Vlasic injured, the Sharks do not have a chance to go far past this round. San Jose can win maybe a single game without their defense, but in these playoffs, you can’t expect to score seven goals every night. The Sharks need their Pickles.

  • Tags
  • 2014 NHL Playoffs
  • Jarret Stoll
  • Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 20th 9:15 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens See What They Hoped for in Allen’s First Start

Jan 20th 9:05 AM
Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames News & Rumors: Lucic, Monahan, Gaudreau & More

Jan 20th 8:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Keefe Changes His Mind: Maple Leafs’ Lehtonen Ready for Prime Time

Jan 20th 8:45 AM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Still Searching For Some Offense

Jan 20th 8:35 AM
Chicago Blackhawks

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 20

Jan 19th 7:42 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Wild Acquire Ian Cole From Avalanche for Greg Pateryn

Jan 19th 6:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Need to Be More Disciplined if They Want to Stay Hot

Jan 19th 5:50 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

9 Blue Jackets’ “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” Fun Facts

Jan 19th 5:40 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Babcock Bombs as Former Leafs Coach Tries to Clarify Marner Drama

Jan 19th 5:25 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Are 3-0, But Still Have Plenty of Work To Do

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information