Flying Under the Radar - Derek Joslin
There has been a good amount of discussion has gone about the emergence of Jason Demers and Kent Huskins as a very solid third lining d-man pairing, who are also giving the Sharks good PP mins - and rightfully so. Defensive depth was a major concern for most of us coming into the season and watching those two strike up such a reliable partnership is another feather in our coaching staff's hat.
However, I was more then a little concerned when Blake went down. We were already stretched relatively thin when our full compliment of d-men were healthy, and to lose one of our dynamic players and leaders only further shook the confidence of some of us who were still weary that the defense might not be as for real as our start had indicated. Worcester had four or five names who feasibly replace Rob (Derek Joslin, Mike Moore, Joe Callahan, Danny Groulx and, somewhat of pipe dream, Nick Petrecki). Moore has struggled with injury, Callahan and Groulx have both been good for the WorSharks (Groulx is their current points leader), Petrecki's early professional struggles have been noted, and then there was Joslin. Callahan's previous NHL experience, size, and ability to give you something on both ends of the ice surely seemed to lock him in for at least some games. I figured it would come down to either Callahan or Joslin, with them perhaps splitting time the way our AHL forwards have. And maybe it would've happened like that if Joslin had not come and taken the position by the horns.
Jos' offensive prowess has been his most notable quality, including making the AHL all-star game last year on the back of his numbers and winning the hardest shot award. However, what's been so impressive to me is his accountability in his own zone. Has he been perfect? No, but who has other then a small handful of elites? He's averaging about 15 mins a night of good quality hockey. In fact, the only place he's not seeing any real time has been on the PP, which would seem like his most suitable situation. His near seamless transition into Rob Blake's 'spot' on the roster has allowed our two other defensive pairings to remain together and keep building on their generally good play - not to mention that Nabokov guy is making a strong case for a well-deserved Vezina.
Barring a remarkable return by the Captain, Joslin will make his 12th appearance of the season tomorrow night - which matches his total games played last year. When you lose an important player like a top 4 d-man or top 6 forward and have to bring up a rookie, you usually ask that he be solid if not unspectacular. You want him to be accountable in his role, and only then, after proving solid in said role, do you maybe allow him a bit more freedom to bring out his game. This is what we're seeing with Derek Joslin. The kid has done pretty much everything that's asked of him. Furthermore, the last 6 games he's averaging over that 15 minute ATOI, and has points in 3 of the last 4 games (his first three NHL points). What is even more remarkable is that two of those are shorthanded assists. I think the play that stands out most for me was on the Heatley shorthanded goal when he battled the hell out of a couple Flyers (a team noted for their grinding) for a good 10 or 15 seconds until Jumbo was able to get the puck free and the rest is history. It's also important to note that the game isn't flying by him too fast as he's only taken 3 minor penalties in 11 games.
I won't guess exactly what his recent plays says about his long-term future in the NHL, but I will say that his maturation and understanding of the game this season is very encouraging for a team that will battle the cap all season and may not necessarily be able to add any extra defensive depth - something many pundits think might be the Sharks only weakness. He may not be doing anything spectacular, but Joslin has to be given a ton of credit (and the coaching staff) for his work effort and the ability to allow Blake to fully heal without feeling like we're desperately lacking anything.
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Comments
Joslin is a very good Blake replacement
It seems like Petrecki won’t be ready after one year in the AHL. If that’s the case, and Blake doesn’t return next year, I’d have no problem in giving Joslin the job till Petrecki’s ready. While he won’t have the size and absurdly accurate shot that Blake does, (I saw calculations somewhere that showed that Blake literally had half as many shots (percentage wise) miss the net or be blocked last year as any other dman on the Sharks and was a good deal better than Lidstrom, Souray and Chara as well.), Joslin does have better footspeed, and seems less prone to taking penalties when he doesn’t have the perfect angle. He certainly isn’t as good as Vlasic or Blake yet in doing that (yet), but I’m pretty sure he can get there. Once Petrecki’s ready, we give the spot on Vlasic’s pairing to one of them and trade the other if they’re too expensive.
by tarlinian on Nov 24, 2009 1:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well, through the 16 games he played this year, Blake took 74 shots.
16 missed the net.
23 were blocked.
35 were on net.
Only 1 scored.
By the way, he’s blocked 37 shots of other players.
Jon Casey fan since '84
by stufflife on Nov 24, 2009 9:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty much agree with you.
Joslin’s been solid. (Oh no i stole Planks word!)
by idunno723 on Nov 24, 2009 8:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Joslin has not scored 60 goals yet.
Bust. But, in all seriousness you raise some great points. The Sharks have been able to keep up their great play without Blake, and Jos has filled in marvelously.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
Fear the Fin: Where Sharks Fans Aren't Like Other Sharks Fans.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Nov 24, 2009 9:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Doug Wilsons's daughter
Babe.
/Users/Adam/Desktop/101._Lacey_Wilson_fs.jpg
by Finagan on Nov 24, 2009 10:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
er
it’s completely unrelated as well
by idunno723 on Nov 24, 2009 10:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
Fear the Fin: "I'm gonna fuckin' kill you, lake!" - ZeroIndulgence, 11/15/09 in Chicago
by Conico do Mayo Miracle on Nov 24, 2009 11:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, completely unrelated
but, suddenly, this is more important than anything we were talking about. Is she a city girl or the outdoorsy type? what kind of flowers does she like? How does she feel about Asian dudes?
by Mr Tea on Nov 25, 2009 12:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
City, Roses, Not a chance Mr Tea
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by That'll Cheech You on Nov 25, 2009 10:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My guess on what they do for father daughter bonding?
Trip to the tanning salon!
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by That'll Cheech You on Nov 25, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If that’s the case, they must do a lot of bonding!
Jon Casey fan since '84
by stufflife on Nov 25, 2009 5:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
someone pulled out a win in the genetic lotto.
resident cartoonist @CouchTarts Lightning is seven times as hot as the surface of the sun.
That’s still not as hot as Douglas Murray. -mymclife
by CTGray on Nov 26, 2009 12:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not flying under the radar anymore!
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by That'll Cheech You on Nov 29, 2009 1:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs





















