Sheng Peng
So what do the San Jose Sharks have in Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano, James Reimer, and Lane Pederson?
As I wrote yesterday, this isn’t Bonino, Cogliano, and Reimer circa 2016, when Bonino and Cogliano were elite third-line forwards and Reimer was a top 1A goalie.
But they’ve still got a lot of game. Question is, how much?
Is Bonino, 33, still a legitimate third-line center for a playoff-hungry San Jose Sharks? How much has Cogliano, 34, slipped? Where is Reimer, 33, after being supplanted by Petr Mrazek and Alex Nedeljkovic in Carolina last season?
And do the San Jose Sharks have a sleeper with 23-year-old center Lane Pederson?
I checked up with four NHL scouts to answer these questions.
Nick Bonino
(This was originally published in June.)
Scout #1: An average 3C. In the Bozak mold. Not a great skater.
Good on faceoff, PK, and power play. Knows what it takes to win.
He was on my list of [3C] guys. He wasn’t at the top.
If Haula, Bozak, and Bonino were the same cost? It’s tough. Depends on your team, if you need a righty like Bozak or lefty like Haula or Bonino. But probably Bonino.
I trust Bonino more. I think he’s more consistent. I think he knows his role. Sometimes, I think Haula wants to be more of a second-line center. I think Bonino knows exactly what he is.
Scout #2: He has such sneaky compete in his game. I like the way he plays. He’s got another year or two left in his game too. Doesn’t skate that great, but smart, can take your game away.
I like him, Bozak, and Danault [among 3C options]. They would be guys I would target for a year or two. Good on faceoffs, good on penalty kill. A lot of great detail in his game. He’s a very good three-four center.
Bonino is stronger in a lot of [defensive] areas. Bonino has got some bite, he’s got some take your game away that I like. Bozak has a little more creativity. But both are good. It depends on the team you have, your team and your needs.
Scout #3: Bonino was playing mostly wing this year. It’s mostly because of his lack of speed. Never been a speedy guy. But a very smart player. Still played first-unit PK and PP, but at the same time, was fourth-line wing. It was a strange dynamic.
It shows how smart he is, but I don’t think he’s a great center option anymore. Just because of that speed. But he’s still a worthwhile guy to have on your team.
I’d probably have Bozak at this time.
[Bozak’s] still got a little bit more speed, maybe a little more offensive skill. It’s close.
Andrew Cogliano
Scout #1: I still like the skating, compete, and durability. He’s still good on the PK.
He’s more of a fourth-line role player for me, but I have time for him. He adds some experience and leadership to your group too.
Scout #2: He can still skate.
He’s a terrific penalty killer. He doesn’t create much offense, but he gives you speed. Also, he’s reliable — he hasn’t missed many games in the last 10 years.
Scout #3: Cogliano is a hard-working two-way guy. Still a good skater that can PK.
Scout #4: He was good last year. He’s a fourth-line penalty-killing vet now.
He’s still a great skater, and a true pro, on and off the ice. Still good on the PK. You can never question his effort.
James Reimer
(This was originally published on Jul. 15)
Scout #1: He’s more of a 1B, I’d say. He can give you some fits as he’s a blocking-style guy, pucks hit him and he leaves rebounds. But he’s a guy who can stop those rebounds.
He’s a hard-working guy, competitive. Maybe he’s more of a back-up now.
Scout #2: He’s below those other guys [like Jonathan Bernier or Linus Ullmark]. He’s down another tier for me. He’s just okay for me.
Scout #3: He’s a notch below Mrazek. He’s more of a 1B for me.
Lane Pederson
Scout #1: I always thought he had a chance to be an NHL regular.
Good size, some skills and smarts. But skating is just average for me.
Scout #2: I like Pederson. He can shoot the park, he’s a smart player, and can score. He should be on a power play; he’s got a dangerous one-timer.
He’s also got a good 200-foot game.
I might be surprised if he started playing on a third line? But it’s not impossible — he might just need experience.
Scout #3: Pederson is a right-handed center with some scoring ability. But he’s not an overly hard guy to play against.
But he might be a sleeper. He has to move his feet a bit more though.