Preview/Lines #6: Quinn on What He Wants From Bordeleau, Why Zadina Off Power Play

SUNRISE, Fla. – David Quinn is trying to find a winning combination.

So no more 11-7 for the 0-4-1 San Jose Sharks. That’s what Quinn tried on Saturday night against the Nashville Predators, a 5-1 loss, 11 forwards and seven defensemen, with center Thomas Bordeleau out and defenseman Ty Emberson in.

Tonight, Bordeleau is back in the line-up and veteran Marc-Edouard Vlasic is out.

Quinn, on scratching Vlasic: "He and I have had a few conversations before the season started and a couple during the season. It's pretty clear what we're looking for. Keep those conversations between Marc and I…If we were happy with what was going on, he'd be in the line-up."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 24, 2023

Vlasic Puts His Benching in Perspective (+)

Quinn, no surprise, is looking for more consistency from the young Bordeleau. He was pleased with the 21-year-old’s first two games of the season, but not so much his last two, which is why he sat against Nashville.

“Just understanding that, at this level, it’s just the pace of play, you can’t stand up and take a breath in between plays. You got to be fast to the middle,” Quinn said. “There’s got to be anticipation to your game, offensively and defensively.”

Bordeleau is also replacing Filip Zadina on the second power play unit.

#SJSharks power play, Bordeleau in for Zadina on the PP, so TB17 is playing:

PP1: Burroughs-Duclair-Hoffman-Barabanov-Hertl

PP2: Knyzhov-Zetterlund-Eklund-Labanc-Bordeleau

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 24, 2023

“[Kevin Labanc’s] played very well. That was one of the reasons why,” Quinn explained. “Obviously, we’ve got two D on power play now. All of a sudden, spots aren’t as available as they were before. Going from a five-man unit on the forward front to two units with at least a defenseman on it took away an opportunity.”

Especially on the second power play unit, where Zadina has played most of the season. That group will typically have a defenseman in the mix, because it’s the unit often on the ice when a power play ends. You want to have at least one defender out there when play goes to 5-on-5 again.

We’ll see if this change-up helps the Sharks snap their three-game losing streak.

San Jose Sharks (0-4-1)

Barabanov-Hertl-Duclair
Eklund-Peterson-Labanc
Zetterlund-Sturm-Hoffman
Zadina-Bordeleau-Kunin

Ferraro-Rutta
Benning-Burroughs
Knyzhov-Emberson

Blackwood

Florida Panthers (2-3-0)

Florida Panthers Could Get Sam Bennett Back This Week

Where to Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers is 4:45 PM PT at Amerant Bank Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.