A look at the Sharks 2010-2011 defensive minute allocation

by Matthew_Taylor on Jan 14, 2011 11:00 AM PST in Statistical Analysis

SAN JOSE CA - JANUARY 11: Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past a diving Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion on January 11 2011 in San Jose California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Even before Rob Blake left during the offseason, the allocation of minutes for the defense was an issue. We covered it here extensively, believing that the high amount of minutes played by both Blake and Dan Boyle were detrimental to the team as a whole.

Don't get us wrong, both players are fantastic talents. Rob Blake could probably come back and play 18 minutes a game right now. But every player has their limit, and it appeared as if both Blake and Boyle were pushing theirs for the better part of the regular season. A move to truly alleviate those minutes was never made, and the toll taken on those players was noticeable down the stretch.

This season, the problem is even more pronounced. Although the team is awash with capable NHL defensemen, they are missing a player who truly fits into one of the top four spots in the depth chart, the spot vacated by Rob Blake. Without that player, the Sharks have been less than spectacular in the defensive end, evidenced in their inability to hold six third period leads this season.

Dan Boyle is currently carrying the heaviest load, at an NHL leading 26:59 minutes per game. No words, really. It's a 46 second increase from last year, a year in which we already thought he was gassed down the stretch.

Boyle will be the first to admit it when he's made a mistake, and he's had to do that with increasing frequency lately. The minutes are undoubtedly affecting him.

What's interesting, though, is that we expected he'd be playing even more than this when Rob Blake, who was playing 21:21 per game, left. Those minutes didn't just dissapear. So who's taking them?

Thanks to behindthenet.ca, we are able to look at the change in minutes for the Sharks top six defensemen season-over-season, by situation. You will find the info below.

	Even Strength			Power Play			Penalty Kill
	2009-2010	2010-2011	Change	2009-2010	2010-2011	Change	2009-2010	2010-2011	Change
Dan Boyle	18.33	19.09	0.76	4.10	4.61	0.51	2.38	2.15	-0.23
Marc-Edouard Vlasic	16.36	17.23	0.87	1.72	1.07	-0.65	2.80	2.24	-0.56
Douglas Murray	16.46	16.20	-0.26	0.48	0.74	0.26	2.44	2.00	-0.44
Jason Demers	12.09	14.46	2.37	2.35	2.79	0.44	0.62	1.34	0.72
Niclas Wallin	13.82	13.40	-0.42	0.26	0.18	-0.08	2.51	1.49	-1.02
Kent Huskins	14.52	14.29	-0.23	0.68	0.12	-0.56	1.59	1.46	-0.13

While it's important to note that Boyle and Vlasic have had their workload increased, the thing that really jumps out to you is the increase in minutes played by Jason Demers in just his second NHL year. He's seen an increase in every category; 2.37, 0.44 and 0.79 in even strength, power play and penalty killing situations, respectively.

Although we have expressed confidence in Demers and have lauded his growth, he's not the guy who should be seeing the brunt of the minute increases. If anything, his power play minutes should be increasing most, based on his skill set. That's not the case.

Right now, he's your number four defenseman. The Sharks are leaning on him too heavily.

Wallin and Huskins have seen their minutes decrease this season, a factor of both their role and their less than stellar play to date. Take a look at their showings in last night's game against Edmonton, and the explanation for their reduced minutes stares you straight in the face.

At this point, it seems almose futile to hammer the point home any further. The horse is dead, beaten to a slimy, stinky pulp of horsey goo. The team needs a defenseman. I think I've typed that statement once a week for the past two years now.

Dave Pollak and Mark Spector seem to think that the Sharks will wait for the deadline to make any moves. For a need this pressing on a team that's been losing, the deadline may be too late.

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The trade for another defenseman has to happen soon...

If you trade Seto, and either trade or bury Huskins or Wallin (replace with Braun), the Sharks could add a salary a little more than $4M (Regehr? Kaberle?)

Problem is, the roster players we are trading aren’t worth that much, so the Sharks are going to have to throw top round picks into any deal OR prospects like Petrecki, Stalock, Sexsmith, McIntyre OR both.

Either way, something needs to happen soon, because the difference between this losing streak and the Capitals losing streak is that players appear to be turning on each other.

by jhu12 on Jan 14, 2011 11:11 AM PST reply actions

Serious Question

Anyone know what type of shape Blake is in right now? Is there a remote possibility that he could be brought back a la Bourque or, perhaps more closely related, Niedermeyer?

I believe that technically he is a free agent and we could get him for something like $1M or even less since it is just half a year.

by TnSD11 on Jan 14, 2011 11:34 AM PST reply actions

Serious Answer

I don’t know what type of shape he’s in right now, but unless he’s been hitting the gym, constantly surfing, or whatever (i.e. not hitting the golf course), I doubt he’d be able to to suit back up. Plus, I don’t think he’d see the benefit in coming back now to try to right a sinking ship to be honest with you.

Another thing to weigh is I’m pretty sure Blake has been working his way into getting an executive role with the League (if he already hasn’t done so). So I think that puts the kibosh on any comeback hopes.

"Burnside seems to hate these guys. Oh wait ... I seem to love these guys!" - Pierre LeBrun

by DownRUpLYB on Jan 14, 2011 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

ROB BLAKE INTERVIEW: Reflections On LA

From January of 2010. Not sure what he’s been up to, but I cannot imagine he’s coming back having won a cup in Colorado and with about $30 or $40 million in the bank (guess). But during the interview an interesting question was asked:

How about getting the ‘C’ in San Jose. Was that captain by default? Does it bother you when people say Joe Thornton is the real leader of the team?

Not at all. We have more of a leadership group. It’s definitely not one guy wearing a letter that’s going to be able to lead this team. We needed a group. We didn’t look at it so much as Patty losing the captaincy, he’s a big part of this team and anything going forward. When we go into meetings and whatnot we have four or five guys go in as a group, so its obviously not just one guy in there. That’s the way this team has been set up. You have a lot of guys capable of handling things at different times, so we kinda do it as a group.

You can twitter the guy if you’d like to find out if he knows what’s up with RB: www.twitter.com/Mayor119

by douchebags on Jan 14, 2011 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

Should Murray's numbers surprise me?

Cuz they do… Down on 5-on-5 and PK’s and up on PP’s? What am I missing…
And Demers seeing a huge increase on the PK along with his other minutes while everybody else dropped, especially Brine Time and Wallin?

Frankly I hadn’t been able to put my finger on what was going on with our D, aside from spending a lot of time on the ground and not getting much help from our forwards. Looks like some poor (or at least questionable) minute management might have a large hand in it.
Thanks for a very informative set of stats!

"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.

by CloweMyWord! on Jan 14, 2011 12:28 PM PST reply actions

I think for Murray, it's the injuries.

He’s got to take more PP time with Pavelski and now Couture out. And I think he got some when Demers was out, too. And his own injuries dropped his even strength time.

I just talk a lot and somehow accidentally say things that sound smart. It’s all smoke and mirrors, I tell ya.

by Auth0r on Jan 14, 2011 12:37 PM PST up reply actions

Have to agree, Huskins and Wallin have not delivered up to the roles they were given at the start of the season. I think the question is, which players might have to be moved in order to aquire what the Sharks need.

by pj48 on Jan 14, 2011 12:28 PM PST reply actions

But then again, who is willing to take those two? Huskins is overly paid for his horrid performances. Wallin is 38 years old who is SEVERELY overpaid. He’s slightly better than Huskins but he’s being paid the most in his career and not playing like he’s worth half of that. He also has a NTC.

DW’s biggest mistakes have been the contracts both of those men have. Now he has to fix his mistake. I’m not saying ‘fire him’ or that he deserves it, he just HAS to stop the bleeding he caused on that blue line.

by winthecupsj on Jan 14, 2011 1:17 PM PST reply actions

No one is going to take them unless you package them with extra picks… Huskins’ deal expires this season, so somebody may take him in a package. Otherwise, you waive him and bury him in the minors.

by jhu12 on Jan 14, 2011 3:20 PM PST up reply actions

Not sure what metric you’re using to decide that Wallin is “slightly better” than Huskins.

Huskins is +5, compared to Wallin’s -11, and plays 40 sec more per game than Wallin while being $800k less of cap hit. Don’t know how the qualcomps match up, but how Wallin finds the time in only 15 minutes per game to amass a -11 rating is beyond me.

Do I think Huskins is overpaid? Yes. But for all the bagging on him everyone loves to do, he does his job as a sixth defenseman. Wallin on the other hand does not belong on an NHL roster and his contract is LUDICROUS. He’s the guy that needs to get waived above all others.

by SharkFanSB on Jan 14, 2011 3:37 PM PST up reply actions

I will also say that although I think highly of Demers, his minutes should not be that high. The only minutes that should be rising are the PP- so I’m on board TCY. :)

by winthecupsj on Jan 14, 2011 1:20 PM PST reply actions

I said it in the last thread

But Kent Huskins is probably going to get Kyle Mclaren’ed really soon. And the guys over at Dudes on Hockey made a bold prediction… that Kent Huskins will not be in the league next year AT ALL.

I find it kind of ironic that a former defenseman would have so much trouble evaluating the skill of his defensemen. DW does a pretty good job of reading the skill level of forwards, and has brought many along with good success. But Wallin/Huskins are total overpayments, Murray is probably the most overrated player on our team, and a proper evaluation of Justin Braun in the offseason would have made signing Wallin unnecessary anyways.

by ruben398 on Jan 14, 2011 1:33 PM PST reply actions

When Murray is laying people out, I can live with his overall game. He’s making $2.5 million per for the next 2 seasons.

by douchebags on Jan 14, 2011 1:38 PM PST up reply actions

I don't know if it's necessarily an overpayment or talent evaluation issue

…more so than a saving face issue. I tend to think that the resigning of traded-for players such as Huskins and Wallin is maybe more related to not having it equate to a purely rental situation if they decide to sign elsewhere. That way, maybe it’s less likely to be perceived as a total loss when you give up Nick Bonino, Timo Pielmeier, and conditional pick in 08-09 (Huskins & Moen), and a 2nd round pick for in 09-10 (Wallin) – the Sharks still retained something out of the deal. To do so, that’s when they are paid more than they are worth.
In essence, I guess my argument is that overpayment based on talent level is more of a symptom of salvaging a deal than the actual root problem. Hope that made sense.

"Burnside seems to hate these guys. Oh wait ... I seem to love these guys!" - Pierre LeBrun

by DownRUpLYB on Jan 14, 2011 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

or in other words, I’m thinking that DW just didn’t want to get Brian Campbell’d again.

"Burnside seems to hate these guys. Oh wait ... I seem to love these guys!" - Pierre LeBrun

by DownRUpLYB on Jan 14, 2011 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

that is entirely possible, and if so one of the few weaknesses DW has as a GM. Sunk costs, Mr. Wilson… economics 101

by ruben398 on Jan 15, 2011 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

I love Braun.

I mean, I already wear the dude’s jersey. But the guy had never played in any professional league before this year. That makes it hard to judge for the people assessing him in the offseason. Hell, I don’t remember being particularly impressed with him during the preseason Young Stars tournament (while I remember Schaus and Petrecki and Moore from there). His team was a good one in college, but the Sharks aren’t going to change their “watch and develop” system unless the talent of the player is phenomenal. I think Braun ended the Young Stars with a single assist and an even +/-, not exactly breaking down the door.

I won’t argue that he’s made one of Huskins/Wallin easily replaced. I just don’t think there was ever much chance of Braun making the team out of camp. And that’s not a fault of the scouting, but he just wasn’t making that statement yet. The fact he’s made it to the NHL in his first pro season shows a dramatic shift in the situation.

Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!

by Auth0r on Jan 14, 2011 6:38 PM PST up reply actions

That is a good point, Auth0r. I thought I remember Braun making a good impression during training camp, but I guess that was too late as Wallin had been signed already.

Murray, I dunno, I have just never been a fan. I am not saying he is a bad defenseman, but he would be a bottom pairing defenseman for the Hawks or Wings or Flyers. Here, not only is he slotted as as a 1/2 pair Dman, the team seems to think his talent level is that of a 1/2 pair dman.

by ruben398 on Jan 15, 2011 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

Demers minutes...

Will help his growth down the road. Yes, it’s hurting the team now with some horrendous giveaways, but if he’s part of the future, I can live with his mistakes now.

As for DW, I wonder if he would ever admit that re-signing Wallin was a major mistake? When I hear him talking, he’s still speaking like this team will be contending for the cup this year. He also doesn’t often show his hand before and so he’s hard to read and has pulled off some major trades in the past. So we’ll have to wait and see what he can pull off this year, if anything at all?

by douchebags on Jan 14, 2011 1:35 PM PST reply actions

Another great post TCY. Sure, it’s been said time and time again. Everyone was expecting DW to make the right moves in regards to defense when Blake retired, but it never happened, and anything from this point on will probably be too little and too late. Wallin and Huskins are a liability. Boyle is struggling with his workload and Demers is getting too much of an increase in ice time as a sophomore trying to play like an elite d-man. Our top forwards are either underachieving or injured and our goaltending is average. Let’s face it, we’re f**kin screwed this season!

The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda

by 408SharksFinatic on Jan 14, 2011 1:40 PM PST reply actions

My vote for our next big FA signing on D

GO SHARKS!

They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn

What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.

by ElvisVF101 on Jan 14, 2011 1:47 PM PST reply actions

How bout Wedge Antilles on wing?

That dude was the best shot next to Luke in Rogue Squadron (and without the help of the Force) and he survived BOTH death star assaults! Gritty, determined, accurate, and best of all him and Patty would be perfect awkward mirrors on either side of Jumbo.

"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.

LET'S GO SHARKS!!!!

by CloweMyWord! on Jan 14, 2011 2:02 PM PST up reply actions

The pattern of knots in the wood behind him

Makes it look like Patty’s got an earring. I did not notice this until now.

GO SHARKS!

They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn

What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.

by ElvisVF101 on Jan 14, 2011 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

Poor Patty.....

Isn’t there an agent or a PR person to stop him from doing stuff like this? :) GO SHARKS! Kick some ass tomorrow.

by Sharkgirl on Jan 14, 2011 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

The hilarious thing is

the average Stormtrooper has better accuracy than most of the Sharks offense do right now.

----
Fear The Fin Mod Squad's Mike Rathje
My Twitter

by Nael M. on Jan 14, 2011 2:09 PM PST up reply actions

Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.

Fear the Fin: "I've always said that if you don't have the motivation within you... It's not Doug Wilson's job to motivate me. I've got motivation within myself, especially going through some of the experiences that I had last year." - Nick Petrecki

by Matthew_Taylor on Jan 14, 2011 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

All this star wars talk has given me a mental image of Douglas Murray knocking someone over, then raising his stick over his head and grunt-shouting like the Tuscan Raider in episode IV.

It's nothing but crumpled porno and Ayn Rand.

by strongrobot on Jan 14, 2011 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

you guys are killing me with Stormtrooper analogies…

The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda

by 408SharksFinatic on Jan 14, 2011 2:34 PM PST up reply actions

Bruce Garrioch you are not my father.

by pj48 on Jan 14, 2011 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

Oh Come on!

Couture has been Bullseyeing Womprats since… Blah Blah Blah someone else finish this nerdfest of a joke.

by Morti on Jan 14, 2011 4:22 PM PST up reply actions

Since he was old enough to fly a T-16.

Love me some star wars nerdfest, takes my mind off these painful losses!

"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.

LET'S GO SHARKS!!!!

by CloweMyWord! on Jan 14, 2011 4:24 PM PST up reply actions

This reminds me

Puckdrawn is having a concept design contest based on Star Wars right now. Some of them are actually pretty nice.

"BEAT DAT BEAT!!!"

by DownRUpLYB on Jan 15, 2011 1:56 PM PST up reply actions

Help me OB1!! You’re my only hope!!
In this case, would DW be OB1?

by Tiberon07 on Jan 14, 2011 3:22 PM PST reply actions

CloB1?

"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.

LET'S GO SHARKS!!!!

by CloweMyWord! on Jan 14, 2011 4:28 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

<3

how this dissolved into a StarWars fest.

The Shark’s MO has always been on that’s easily pushed around despite their size. It seemed last year they were willing to take the man to the boards but this year it’s just sad. They look like a bunch of cotton balls out there.

No one’s said it, but what’s Heatley’s trade worth?

Remember Marty McSorely as Color guy? ... ouch.

by banx on Jan 14, 2011 5:04 PM PST reply actions

I JUST WANT MY SHARKS BACK

"I have a picture of him, I look at it everyday on my computer screen." (Jim Harbaugh referring to Bill Walsh)

by GrayDilla on Jan 14, 2011 7:08 PM PST reply actions 3 recs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v4a6NaU5Rg&feature=related

A beautiful song… God bless the Sharks.

And you think you live in a non-traditional hockey market...
Randy Hahn: "That is one angry Swedish person."
"I flew 5,000 miles for this?"
And if you want more of this kind of thing, I'm spouting nonsense on Twitter too...

by BritShark on Jan 14, 2011 7:11 PM PST reply actions