Sheng Peng
Doug Wilson spelled it out last week — and if it wasn’t clear, player agents know too.
The San Jose Sharks have “five NHL-quality d-men” and need another one, probably a right-hander. I would also presume, considering their cap situation, that they’re also looking for blueliners who would accept around the league minimum.
Why a righty? After all, don’t the Sharks have Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns?
However, after Karlsson and Burns, they have Nick DeSimone, Nicolas Meloche, and Ryan Merkley, three right-handed defenders with a combined zero NHL games played. Granted, Mario Ferraro and Jake Middleton can slide to their off-side, but an NHL-quality RHD makes a lot of sense here.
I can say that a couple player agents have pitched the San Jose Sharks on their NHL-proven UFA right side defensemen clients…and haven’t heard back.
So let’s evaluate the candidates: Will San Jose sign one of these 11 cost-friendly right-siders? And who might fit best with Ferraro?
I asked three scouts about Jan Rutta, Yannick Weber, Trevor Daley, Madison Bowey, Korbinian Holzer, Deryk Engelland, Tim Heed, Michael Stone, Slater Koekkoek, Cody Goloubef, and Christian Folin.
Jan Rutta
I gave an NHL scout this 11-defensemen list and he thought only two were solid bottom-pairing defenders.
Scout #1 said: “The other guys are seventh defensemen or just depth.”
The 30-year-old 2020 Stanley Cup winner was one of the two — I’ll get to the other one later.
“Rutta is my first choice,” Scout #2 noted, adding, “very simple guy, no frills, slow the game down a bit for Ferraro, who is more erratic.”
Scout #3 added: “Rutta has some size, but he’s not overly physical or hard. A little vanilla, more defensively tilted.”
He did think the 6-foot-2 defender could be a fit with the smaller, younger Ferraro: “Ferraro needs to be partnered with a player with size, preferably an older partner with experience since this will only be his second year. They could be more of a steady bottom pairing with sheltered minutes that doesn’t need to provide offense, keeps it simple with their play.”
For this scout, Rutta was his second-favorite blueliner on this list.
When Rutta suited up for Tampa Bay, he was also a regular on the penalty kill.
Yannick Weber
On Monday, Erik Fowle touched on why he thought Rutta and Weber fit the type of bottom-pairing defenseman that Wilson was looking for, at least last summer:
“His one major strength is breaking up plays at his blueline,” Fowle wrote of Weber. That’s what Wilson highlighted about Dalton Prout when he signed him last summer.
Of course, Wilson might have changed his search parameters for a bottom-pairing defender.
Anyway, for Scout #3, Weber was his favorite of this bunch to provide generally solid minutes — but he thinks the 5-foot-11 skater is a little small to pair with the 5-foot-11 Ferraro: “I like Weber arguably the most here, but not in this context. Above-average skater, not the biggest body, but he competes. I like him as a seventh defender on a good team.”
Korbinian Holzer
Scout #1 also liked the 32-year-old as a legitimate third-pairing guy.
“Holzer can kill penalties, has bite, and can defend,” the scout said. “He also moves the puck reasonably well.”
As this scout noted, the 6-foot-3 defender was a regular on the Anaheim Ducks penalty kill.
Scout #3, however, wasn’t as enthused: “Depth guy. There’s size, but he’s not overly physical or hard. Limited offense, average hockey sense.”
Madison Bowey
“Bowey second,” Scout #2 said. “Big, mobile kid with good hands and strong on his stick.”
Scout #3 agreed, but with a caveat: “I like the size and skating and he has some skill. But there’s also real questionable hockey sense and decision-making.
“He’s still young though and might be worth the swing — but I have him pegged as more of a No. 7 guy right now.”
The 6-foot-2 rearguard also killed penalties and played on the power play for Detroit. The 2013 second-round pick is also just 25.
In this case, however, Bowey’s relative youth might work against him if the San Jose Sharks are looking for a stabilizing veteran presence as their No. 6 blueliner.
Michael Stone
“Stone third,” Scout #2 offered. “Good experience with a big shot. Hard to play against in the defensive zone.”
“He’s had injury troubles,” Scout #3 said. “His skating has dropped off a bit, but I like the size and reach.”
The 6-foot-3 Stone, 30, also helped Calgary kill penalties.
Scout #3 also sees Stone as a good fit with Ferraro.
Slater Koekkoek
“He’s fourth on this list for me,” Scout #2 shared.
Koekkoek is a left-hander who has recent experience on the right side.
However, Scout #3 wasn’t as enamored with the 6-foot-2 defender: “I didn’t love his season play. Was better in the post-season. Like his size and skating, but I question his hockey sense and how well he thinks the game. More of a depth guy on a good team.”
Koekkoek may also be in Bowey’s boat in this regard. If the San Jose Sharks are looking for more of a veteran presence, the 26-year-old may not fit the bill.
Deryk Engelland
Engelland was actually the Golden Knights’ most-used defender on the PK — when he suited up.
After January 21st, the 6-foot-2 defender skated just two games and made zero playoff appearances.
Does the 38-year-old even want to continue playing?
“He’s listening to offers,” his agent Allain Roy told San Jose Hockey Now. “A few [teams] have reached out.”
Scout #3 offered mixed reviews about Engelland: “Another seventh defenseman. Aging and slowing down. His skating has dropped off, but I do like the compete, that physical element, and his leadership qualities.”
He also sees Engelland as a good fit with Ferraro.
Trevor Daley
The 5-foot-11 blueliner is left-handed, but he’s spent a lot of time playing his off-side.
It’s striking that none of these scouts had a positive word to say about Daley — the 37-year-old two-time Stanley Cup winner is easily the most decorated and experienced of this bunch.
It’s possible that Daley has lost too much of his trademark mobility in recent years.
Scout #3 agreed: “He’s slowing down. Depth defender whose better years are behind him.”
Tim Heed
Of course, the San Jose Sharks know Heed well.
While he looks exceptional in a variety of puck-moving and zone entry denial analytics, he hasn’t passed the mustard with any scout that I talk to.
Essentially, he’s a talented puck-mover, useful on the power play, who’s considered a little soft in his own end.
His strengths might also mirror Karlsson, Burns, and Merkley’s too closely.
I also asked the scouts about Christian Folin (“Didn’t mind his game in Los Angeles, but he wasn’t great in Montreal”) and Cody Goloubef (“Eighth defenseman”), but frankly, they’re probably the most marginal of this already-marginal list.
It’s also possible — considering a stagnant UFA market — that the San Jose Sharks might be able to pluck a higher-profile RHD for a bargain rate.
Fowle wrote about Sami Vatanen on Monday, while Cody Ceci, Andy Greene, and Ron Hainsey might take significant haircuts. Greene and Hainsey, like Daley, are both veteran left-handers who are accustomed to the right side.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now spoke more on Ceci, Greene, and Hainsey recently: