Excellent. From the tweeted article's embedded link https://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/326526548/binary-file/file.pdf, Viel has grown 2 inches this offseason.
Kudos to the trainers and scouting department.
How has Merkley looked? I haven't followed this pre-season, but he's to me one of our most intriguing prospects and one that could go a long way to us becoming contenders again.
I've been as negative as anyone if not more about his progress but between the prospects tourney and the preseason, I've finally seen the growth that I hoped would happen. It's been a great improvement from last season which was atrocious as far as effort goes. A player tried to take him wide in the last game and he drove the guy into the side boards. It was a very good defensive play. I'm still not sure he'll be ready to be a regular this season but I at least see a guy who can eventually be a useful player. As long as Burns and EK65 stay healthy though I would keep him the AHL this season and hopefully he becomes dominant. When he dominates at the AHL level then I think we can start talking about him being a regular in the NHL. I can see him getting a call up here and there though for injury fill ins. We'll have to see how much progress he makes this season.I think most would say he is having a good preseason, and is definitely playing like one of our top D prospects, if not the top.
He is not perfect, and has a steep hill to climb getting into the starting lineup given the current makeup of our defense, especially on the right side. I would be confident in saying that if we did not already have Burns/Karlsson he would probably be playing himself onto the team with his preseason so far.
He still needs work defensively, but his stick work defensively has been improved this year IMO, and while he still has some floating issues, does not seem completely checked out in defensive zone. His offense is also clearly evident this preseason, he is making lots of plays, moving the puck well, and showing up on the scoresheet from his own actions, not just accumulating secondary points.
All in all, I would think only the most staunch haters of Merkley could really still cling to the idea that he wont be in the NHL soon, maybe not on the Sharks sadly, but somewhere.
I've been as negative as anyone if not more about his progress but between the prospects tourney and the preseason, I've finally seen the growth that I hoped would happen. It's been a great improvement from last season which was atrocious as far as effort goes. A player tried to take him wide in the last game and he drove the guy into the side boards. It was a very good defensive play. I'm still not sure he'll be ready to be a regular this season but I at least see a guy who can eventually be a useful player. As long as Burns and EK65 stay healthy though I would keep him the AHL this season and hopefully he becomes dominant. When he dominates at the AHL level then I think we can start talking about him being a regular in the NHL. I can see him getting a call up here and there though for injury fill ins. We'll have to see how much progress he makes this season.
Apparently BB has liked Simek and Vlasic's camp so far and I think that he goes with HotTaco first due to his game being more risk averse and better defensively. I'm betting a guy like Middleton gets in some game too if they're looking for a more physical player. Now if Burns or EK65 get injured all bets are off. I could definitely see Merk getting the call up to play minimum 5 on 5 and getting PP time.Yeah I agree, the only way I could see him in the NHL this year is if he gets more time with Vlasic this preseason and they prove to be a very good duo for the third pairing. Vlasic will have his ice time boosted by PK time, and Merkley could have his boosted on the PP.
However I expect he will be starting in the AHL too.
Never ever call Hatakka HotTaco again. Ever.Apparently BB has liked Simek and Vlasic's camp so far and I think that he goes with HotTaco first due to his game being more risk averse and better defensively. I'm betting a guy like Middleton gets in some game too if they're looking for a more physical player. Now if Burns or EK65 get injured all bets are off. I could definitely see Merk getting the call up to play minimum 5 on 5 and getting PP time.
Apparently I'm not the only one who thought Middleton looked good the other night.
I wonder why they don’t try Simek with Karlsson.
Like communism every time it has been triedBecause Simek has almost always failed in that role.
ftfyLike communism every time it has been sabotaged
They were good together briefly last season but Simek couldn't stay healthy. I think Vlasic gets first crack since he's making 7mil then they'll reassess at the 10 game or so mark. Pretty typical that vets gets the benefit of the doubt out of camp in most instances unless some young guy just steals a job. I think a few of these guys are on a pretty short leash (especially Vlasic) after the last couple seasons.I wonder why they don’t try Simek with Karlsson.
You forgot the sharks are a California team lol, throw all the meta you want people will still get madI made the joke intentionally sarcastically. It’s double meta.
You forgot the sharks are a California team lol, throw all the meta you want people will still get mad
Yeah thats ridiculous. If Karlsson needs to be carried then hes a total lost causeI feel like it is worth bringing up, again, that Karlsson needs to perform no matter who's he's "saddled" with. Seems like there were times over the last two years that people blamed the left-side-partner for Karlsson's struggles, and that just isn't fair with Karlsson making literally more than all LHD on the Sharks combined.
Yeah thats ridiculous. If Karlsson needs to be carried then hes a total lost cause