Guys are smart in this league -- they know you're coming. The good players use that as an advantage. He's really moved himself up the depth chart. You can see that he's logging some big minutes. He's extremely difficult to play against. He's as physical as any defenceman in the league. Might Murray also be the most improved player in the NHL? But we've been blessed that this guy has grown and made this team that much stronger.
Tough question. A writer locally, I think it was Ray insert negative comment here Ratto said the Calgary Flames blueline was the deepest of the Western Conference playoff contenders. Without strictly being a homer, noting the injuries to Boucher and Zubov in Dallas, and Yahoo. But it is hard to pigeon hole them into one role. I think Brian Campbell has to be the clear 1.
The Sharks have drafted a very impressive honor roll of offensive defenseman over the years; Ozolinsh, Zyuzin, Stuart, Jillson, Carle and defensive defenseman like Hannan, Ragnarsson, and Rathje.
Matt of the Battle of Alberta said that Campbell is not god, but I think he is very close to being the total package. On the cusp. If he can tighten up his game in critical situations, get more pucks on the net, and maybe provide a second go-to option on the power play, he will be hands down the best defenseman to play in San Jose.
As far as a depth chart, after Campbell I would have to put Craig Rivet. A veteran defenseman who had another gear he was missing last year when he was not quite recovered from a bout with pneumonia he had in Montreal. In the game against Anaheim when the Ducks were tossing people around and kind of dictating play early, it was Rivet and Roenick who were basically yelling at their teammates to get it together. Rivet is smart enough to know when to play physical, when to back off, and when to jump in on a play when the Sharks need offense.
Vlasic can learn a lot from watching Rivet, because they are in the same mould, both play a very intelligent game. Douglas Murray blossomed in the first half of the season. He is massive, and it is surprising how often players still take a run at him.
In the last months, I have seen one opponent check him to the ice when I have been down on the glass. Many more bounced off. He makes solid reads, uses his reach and positioning to force people wide making up for a lack of speed, and he makes simple plays to move the puck out of the zone under pressure. Defensively, I might put Douglas Murray and Christian Ehrhoff as the top two defenseman, definitely two of the most improved players this year.
Ehrhoff has taken more of a defensive responsibility to heart this season, using speed, quick footwork and an active stick to get to pucks before opponents and get out of the way when they try to finish a check. He still throws down the occasional end-to-end rush, and you have to believe the offensive side to his game will develop more a couple of years down the road. He can create space and shooting lanes, he just needs to start bombing point shots on net.
Ozolinsh had over a year and a half off from the league due to substance abuse isssues, but was in traithalon condition at the start of the season. His skating and stickhandling didnt catch up with his conditioning quick enough for Ron Wilson, but Ozolinsh steadied the backline a little when they were pressing early in the season.
Ron Wilson mentioned that they needed the physical presence McLaren brings to the ice, but he has to make plays without taking himself out of position. And that has happened more than many are comfortable with, especially the last two games of the regular season against LA and Dallas.
Defensive zone coverage is also an issue. Hard to make a simple depth chart, with different defenseman being used more often in different situations, but with all of the above taken into consideration, here is a rough depth chart: 1. Christian Ehrhoff 4. Douglas Murray 5. Marc Edouard Vlasic 6. Kyle McLaren 7. Matt Carle 8. Alexei Semenov 9. Wilson traded a first rounder for Campbell, but having a first round pick in each draft is a big marketing bonus, so look for Wilson to try to trade for another late first round draft pick again if possible.
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