San Jose Sharks: 3 Players Poised for A Big Second Half of the Season

Their opponent was the 13-31-6 Columbus Blue Jackets, but the San Jose Sharks' game on Tuesday night had just about everything a fan could want in the first game back from the All-Star Break.

Scoring, numerous fights, defense, goaltending.

For a team that has struggled to get on a consistent roll this season, the Sharks looked like this was going to be the start of something we had not seen so far in 2011-12. Credit that to a whole bunch of Sharks: The big-name players, Antti Niemi, Jim Vandermeer? There was no wrong answer on Tuesday night.

Again, it was just against the Blue Jackets, but we can clearly see who is gearing up for a good second half run and who is not.

Here are three players poised for a big second half of the season.

Jamie McGinn

I am not sure anyone was expecting 10 goals from McGinn all season, let alone one game past the All-Star break.

He has definitely filled the role as the hard-hitting annoyance skating madly across the ice. But adding an offensive mentality to boot sure makes McGinn look awfully good these days.

For how long many have waited to see this player reach his full potential in this league, we may be seeing somewhat of a start this season. His 10 goals and eight assists are more than expected, but it is the plus/minus of +10 that has McLellan relying on him to make plays when possible.

Asking for another 10 goals out of him the rest of the season may be stretching it just a bit, but we should see that plus/minus continue to increase if the Sharks go on their usual second half run up the Western Conference standings.

Jim Vandermeer

Vandermeer's role with the Sharks is still really blurry. Usually, we see him blocking shots or getting physical on the boards on defense, but on Monday McLellan positioned Vandermeer on the offensive fourth line. It worked.

Vandermeer was physical and was much like adding a third defenseman out on the ice. He can have an offensive mindset if asked to, but McLellan said we will probably be seeing him out there on the fourth line only when the Sharks need an extra chippy hard-hitting player against a physical opponent.

If Vandermeer keeps producing when he gets his time on the ice, we should be seeing a lot more of him in the second half of this season -- both on offense and defense.

Patrick Marleau

Heading into this season, the over/under of goals scored by Patrick Marleau was 40. He currently has 18 and will need to raise his play if he is to get his second career 40-goal season. This time last season, he had the same 18 goals and finished the season just about as expected with 37 goals.

However, with Martin Havlat returning within the next month from injury, Marleau's stock will only rise. Also, any trades for a winger made by GM Doug Wilson will only contribute to Marleau's offensive touches on the ice. With Havlat returning, we are sure to see that top line of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Marleau return to form.

With Havlat in the line-up on the second line, Marleau put up 10 goals in the first two months of the season. When Havlat went down with injury, Marleau had a terrible offensive December (3 goals) and the team played awful because of it.

When Havlat returns in early to mid-March, Marleau will see more pressure applied by their opponents towards that relentless line of Ryane Clowe, Logan Couture and Havlat, and see more opportunities come the way of his first line.

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San Jose Sharks' Penalty Kill Growing As A Unit

It is funny how the NHL works. From week to week, it seems that you can never tell which part of the team will either break down or become clutch in the right moments.

For the Sharks, a penalty kill that was the weakest part of their game just two weeks ago seems to be a key force on the ice in the last week.

San Jose still ranks near the bottom of the NHL in terms of penalty kill percentage, but it was their streak of eight-straight penalty kills recently that has some wondering if this defense could be as good as advertised.

The players have even said with more time on the ice comes more opportunity to mesh as a team, focusing solely on the penalty kill, which has been the team's biggest weakness to date.

With Henrik Sedin's power play goal on Saturday night against the Sharks' penalty kill, San Jose's streak was halted at eight opposing attempts.

However, this is a good sign for the Sharks, who will take anything these days when it comes to defending the zone while down a man. Maybe the biggest difference for San Jose on the penalty kill was the addition of Jim Vandermeer and the subtraction of Colin White.

Vandermeer, who has played in just seven games for the Sharks this season, is a major defenseman when it comes to blocks and grinding defense in tough spots on the ice. He has consistently been the seventh defenseman on the San Jose depth chart this season, and is attempting to provide that gritty performance game-to-game that the San Jose defense has seemed to lack this season.

Of course, we can attribute great defensive play when down a man to the fact that Antti Niemi is as solid as any goalie in the game right now.

After shutting out the Blackhawks last Wednesday, Niemi stopped 24 of the Canucks' 27 shots on Saturday night. He has only let up more than two goals once in the last five games.

Demers and Vandermeer have clearly been the best third line pairing the defense has to offer in recent games. After seeing Demers and Justin Braun share time with the bulky Colin White, the introduction of Vandermeer on the line has seemed to be that gritty final piece that the Sharks needed. Or maybe it is the subtraction of White that has made the difference.

White is that large man in the middle that every team could use, but it seems like the Sharks have reaped zero rewards from such a force in the middle. GM Doug Wilson was absolutely clutch when he acquired the massiv veteran, but it has not seemed to pay off of the team.

With White coming through on the penalty kill comes the Sharks efficiency heading upward. Until then, San Jose will have the veteran Vandermeer working hard for time on the ice and on the penalty kill.

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San Jose Sharks: Todd McLellan Tinkering With the Defensive Third Line

The San Jose Sharks have clicked as a team, simply said. Martin Havlat has made an impression that second line and the team is continually growing together to gain chemistry with one another as the season is progressing.

Something things are taken care of and have become a staple night after night on the ice, and others not so much.

The top two lines on offense are as good as they come in the NHL these days. However, the penalty kill could use some work, and even the third and fourth offensive lines could be contributing much more.

As much as they creep under the radar, the third line on defense in another part of the Sharks' game that could use some work.

Coach Todd McLellan has appeared unhappy with what he has seen from a defense that was supposed to be ranked with some of the best in the NHL. However, Jason Demers has been a disappointment and Colin White is flying to far under the radar to even be noticed on the ice at times.

McLellan's frustration with the line has caused him to make several changes, most of which happen on a night to night basis now. On any given night, we can see Demers, White, Vandermeer or Braun back-skating against the opposing team. McLellan may not even have a clue which defensive pairing works best on this line, and if he does not know, then what hope is there for the rest of us.

I am going to take my best shot, though.

Here are the third line pairings that give the Sharks the best chance to win.



3. Jason Demers/ Jim Vandermeer

Jason Demers has slowly become a regular for a healthy scratch these days, which goes to show how aggravated with him McLellan is. There were such high hopes with him coming into this season that most cannot help but feel disgust toward someone so set-up to thrive in San Jose.

Demers has played in seven of the team's 13 games thus far, tallying just two assists and a +/- of -6.

Vandermeer has played in just four games so far, but has made a mark on both defense and offense with two assists and a +/- of +3.

Is it time to give Vandermeer a shot?

As long as Demers let's him.

This would be a nice pairing of moderate offense and a good defense, which may just work for a struggling Demers.



2. Justin Braun/ Colin White

We have seen this pairing over the past couple weeks, and it has seemed to work for the most part.

McLellan, at this point, is just trying to find anything and everything that will work on this line, which is why Braun is getting his shot at claiming a starting role on this defense.

Braun has flown under the radar, as well, but he is someone who keeps a flow on the ice with minimal damage to result.

Pairing him with White gives a "tough guy" mentality to this line, as Braun is no slack at 6'2."

Braun supplies the offense and White supplies a force in front of the net, which has panned out quite well for the Sharks so far.



1. Jason Demers/ Colin White

We all know this has not worked so far, as coming into the season this was the starting pair on the third line.

I have documented the struggles of Demers in the previous slide, which is more on him than anyone else playing with him.

White is a player that goes about his business on the ice, and maybe that has not worked well with Demers so far.

But how could this not work?

Demers is the young talent with decent finesse ability on both defense and offense, and White is the bully in the trenches intimidating players.

In McLellan's wildest dreams, this pairing was the lesser version of Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray. However, Demers has not played up to par, and White is still creating chemistry with anyone and everyone that gets penciled in with him on the third line.

As much as Demers has stunk it up, this is the best defensive pairing available on the third line for the Sharks, and McLellan should give it more of a chance to succeed.

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San Jose Sharks: 5 Players We Can't Wait To See On the Ice Next Season

The San Jose Sharks will be throwing a whole different team out on the ice next season. This summer, it seemed GM Doug Wilson and the Sharks were a little fed up with back-to-back Western Conference Final defeats, and they decided to re-tool.

While many teams would be content with making it to the third round of the NHL playoffs two years in a row, GM Doug Wilson evidently was not. He made that clear when he traded sniper Dany Heatley and young talent Devin Setoguchi to the Wild this past offseason.

In return, the Sharks acquired speed and defense, making them a force to be reckoned with for yet another year.

Here are five Sharks we cannot wait to see on the ice in October.

5. Jim Vandermeer

The Sharks acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer this offseason in order to help solidify the third line and promote a more physical style of play on the defensive end.

His strengths were clear weaknesses for the Sharks last season. They were hits and blocked shots. Vandermeer is able to fill those holes.

It will be interesting to see how much Vandermeer will be apart of this defense. As it stands, San Jose is looking to carry seven defensemen to start the season, with Demers, Vandermeer and recently-acquired Colin White to switch off on the third line.

4. Michal Handzus

Handzus specializes in three things that the Sharks will be happy to welcome to the team this next season. The 36-year-old plays in a ton of games, is great on the penalty kill and thrives in the face-off circle.

Losing Manny Malhotra last offseason was a clear blow to the Sharks in the face-off circle and Handzus helps to bolster that area for the Sharks.

He will also be greatly appreciated on the penalty kill. After losing PK-extraordinaire Scott Nichol during the offseason, Handzus should fill the void left by the pesky forward.

The former LA Kings forward is able to play so many roles for the Sharks that he is expected to be a major focal point on how San Jose is able to contend against the better teams in the Western Conference.

3. Colin White

Colin White is a big boy. Let's make that clear.

The Sharks acquired him for the sole reason that they need someone to get physical in the trenches right in front of the net. White certainly does that, and at 6'4", 220 lbs., he will do that will a little emphasis behind it.

He will be fighting for time on that third line with Demers and Vandermeer, but when the Sharks need a defensive stopper with power, you better believe coach Todd McLellan will have White on the ice.

2. Martin Havlat

The Sharks traded Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for Martin Havlat this offseason, and he is set to change the tone of San Jose's offense.

While Heatley brought a scorer's mentality, Havlat brings speed and finesse to the second line for the Sharks.

He is set to play with two other crafty players in Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture.

Keeping up with the opposing team on the ice became a problem for the Sharks last season and it was obvious in the playoffs. Havlat solves that problem for the Sharks.

The 30-year-old is set for a big season, stats-wise.

In Minnesota, the offense was stagnant at best last season. On the Sharks, offense comes in flurries and Havlat should benefit in a large way from that.

We can expect around 25 goals and close to 70 points from him next season.

1. Brent Burns

For the occasional Sharks fan who does not know about Brent Burns, I will say that they should get familiar with him.

Burns is 6'5" and 215 lbs with moderate speed, physical play and a giant shot from the point. The only thing he needs to do is prove it on a winning team. Thanks to the Sharks acquisition of him in the offseason, Burns will get that chance.

The 26-year-old takes a part of the Sharks' game that was a huge weakness for them, ever since the retirement of Rob Blake, and turns it into a clear strength.

Burns will be playing on the second line with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and the two young defensemen should be able to play off each other and turn it into a shutdown second pairing.

Make no mistake about it, when the power play is on and Burns is on the ice, it will be sheer entertainment watching him get open for a shot and then letting it fly.

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