Yesterday, 07:42 PM

One aspect of coaching that will keep you up at night and dominate many meetings with your Assistants is line combinations. I'm sure Todd McLellan has already gone through a notebook scribbling down line combinations and defence pairings as well as Penalty Kill and Powerplay Units. So being a (very) ex-coach I thought I'd try my hand. Of course line combos are open to discussion and criticism.Unlike the real Sharks Coach I will try to explain why I am putting these guys together.

MARLEAU THORNTON CHEECHOO -I know RW tried this last year but he didn't stick with them long enough-It gives the Sharks a Zetterberg\Datsyuk
line if Todd can sell Joe and Patty on a new and necessary style of play.

MICHALEK PAVELSKI SETOGUCHI- I know what your thinking-lack of grit right?-Wrong. Pavelski proved in the playoffs he's got tons of grit and game
smarts. I'm concerned about Milan after taking a second big hit in the playoffs but I think that Todd will simplify
the game for Milan. With Devin on the right it could be three 20 goal guys on the line.

CLOWE MITCHELL GRIER -A solid third line with the ability to shutdown the opposition and provide a big momentum changing shift with the
speed of Mitchell and the size of Grier and Clowe. With those two big wingers it will be tough for the opposing D.

SHELLEY ROENICK ??? -I think the Sharks are light on the right side. I'd think there could be Doug Wilson's usual Training Camp surprise.
I'd like to see somebody from the farm make a statement, like Riley Armstrong. He's got some touch and he can play
with some edge. But I'm not thrilled with the right side after Grier.


VLASIC BLAKE -A young stay at home D with the most experienced D man on the squad. Vlasic's development will really jump
because of Blake.

LUKOWICH BOYLE -I don't know if these two have played together but I figure Lukowich will have the best idea what Boyle needs in a
D partner. Trust me after watching Boyle the only Campbell you'll think about is the Chicken Noodle kind.

EHRHOFF MCLAREN -Yeah, yeah.. MCLAREN!! What are you thinking Remenda? McLaren's done-terrible washed up. I think Kyle will have a
huge bounce back year because of the new coach. Christian really evolved last year and his game should be even
better this season with the help of Assistant Coach Trent Yawney a former NHL D man.

MURRAY -Douglas becomes the 7th D but things always change with in a season. Murray will replace Mclaren if I'm wrong
about Kyle.

NABOKOV BOUCHER -It will be interesting to see how Coach McLellan splits the job sharing between these two.


Well that's my July version of the Sharks. I wonder if my vision is even close to Coach McLellan's. If not I'll let him know where he went wrong!


For the Seagate Broadcaster Blog, I'm Drew Remenda

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