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Slightly too early look at San Jose Sharks defensive pairings, goaltending

Earlier this week, we took a slightly too early look at the San Jose Sharks forward lines that could be iced on opening night. Now, it’s time to take a look at what the defensive pairings could look like.

The mission for General Manager Mike Grier this offseason was two-fold. He needed to add one or two puck-moving defensemen to help feed the breakout for young forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. He also needed to bolster the defensive prospect pool.

Key additions and subtractions to the San Jose Sharks defensive corps

Since we last checked in on the defensive pairings, a few things have changed.

The Sharks have parted ways with Nikolai Knyzhov who continued to drop down the defensive depth chart and clearly wasn’t going to find a roster spot with the Sharks. Management also traded Kyle Burroughs to the Los Angeles Kings for forward Carl Grundstrom. Calen Addison did not receive a qualifying offer, meaning he was allowed to enter free agency.

But perhaps the biggest coup of all was adding defenseman Jake Walman, who served alongside Moritz Seider on the Detroit Red Wings last season. Grier traded future considerations to the Red Wings for Walman and a 2024 second-round pick (Leo Sahlin Wallenius). In that one deal, Grier found himself a current NHL defenseman and a future one in Wallenius.

Potential opening night defensive pairings for the Sharks

With Henry Thrun and Ty Emberson now signed, the defensive group looks to be set.

So, here’s what the pairings could look like:

Mario Ferraro – Ty Emberson
Jake Walman – Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun/Shakir Mukhamadullin – Matt Benning

Alternate: Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Barracuda: Jack Thompson, Shakir Mukhamadullin

We hope Emberson is healthy and ready to play on opening night. If he is, he’ll pair nicely with Mario Ferraro and eat some serious minutes on the top pairing.

Walman will be a good, puck-moving defenseman on the second pairing with Jan Rutta.

On the third pairing, look for Henry Thrun to start things out unless Shakir Mukhamadullin absolutely blows the coaching staff away at camp. Thrun will pair with a healthy Matt Benning. The duo will take some of the easier assignments, giving Thrun a chance to really develop his game.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic will, sadly, be relegated to the press box unless there’s an injury.

Jack Thompson and Mukhamadullin will be playing with the Barracuda.

As a whole, this defensive lineup will not blow you away. It is, however, defensively sound. Remember, this is some of the battery that Grier put together at the start of last season before injuries knocked Benning and Emberson out of the lineup for considerable portions of the season.

At the deadline, San Jose could trade Rutta, clearing the way for Mukhamadullin to jump up from the Barracuda and Walman to slide over to the right side if necessary.

Potential opening night goaltending lineup for the Sharks

As for goaltending, there’s not a lot of mystery here. It will be Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek in the net for the Sharks. Blackwood will get the opening night start. Without seeing how Vanecek has recovered from his most recent injuries, it’s hard to say whether it will be a 1A/1B situation or if he’ll serve as backup.

The real decision will come as the trade deadline nears. Both Blackwood and Vanecek will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. The Sharks have the opportunity to move one or both at the deadline.

Right now, the Sharks only have Georgii Romanov and Magnus Chrona on the depth chart. While either might be ready to move up to the NHL, it might not be in the best interest of the Barracuda, a team that looks like it could have a much more competitive roster next season.

Conclusion

All in all, the defense won’t be hammering in goals, but it will be much better than it was last season. Considering the Sharks had a minus-150 goal differential, that’s not saying much.

Behind the defense is a bit more of a mystery. We expect that Blackwood will be as solid as he was last season, but Vanecek is a bit of a wildcard. Will he be ready to play to start next season or will his recovery take some more time? Even if he is ready, how good will he be?

Remember, this is the same pairing that New Jersey had two seasons ago, and the Devils didn’t seem thrilled by it—so much so that the team traded away both goalies.

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