Sheng Peng
Scratching Jack Thompson might not make much sense to some.
The 22-year-old rookie already has three assists in six games with the San Jose Sharks, and has been an asset to the power play, with all three of his assists coming on the man advantage.
But Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky chose to sit the young defenseman earlier this week.
“Playing this league as a young defenseman is really, really difficult. It takes time,” Warsofsky said.
San Jose Hockey Now spoke with two NHL scouts, neither with the San Jose Sharks, who gave a clearer understanding about what Thompson needs to improve to be an NHL regular. Warsofsky and Thompson also commented, and SportContract provided video clips.
Let’s start with the good and obvious, Thompson’s puck-moving. He was an AHL All-Star last season with six goals and 35 assists in 62 games. And with the San Jose Sharks this season, he’s been good enough with the puck to supplant Jake Walman, at times, on the team’s top power play unit.
“Liked him with the puck,” Scout #1 said. “Moved it well and looked confident on the point both 5-on-5 and power play. Good shot selection, got it through hard.”
What you didn’t hear on the broadcast but could be heard up in the Anaheim Ducks’ press box was Thompson (26) demanding the puck by banging his stick. You like that confidence from a rookie.
His quick shot release was also impressive here: He didn’t dust it off or get it blocked, “good shot selection” as noted.
On pure puck-moving, Thompson might be ready for the NHL. Now he’s not on the top power play unit elsewhere in the NHL except for San Jose — but three power play assists in six games isn’t all luck.
But defensively, Thompson leaves something to be desired, according to SJHN’s sources.
Both scouts, who scout for different NHL teams, had the same conclusion.
“He’s light,” Scout #2 said. “Impacts his game defending.”
“Defensively, looked really light,” Scout #1 said. “Struggled in coverage and net front.”
At 6-foot-1, about 190, the 22-year-old is not an imposing physical specimen.
That’s okay.
Thompson’s best chance to defend the front of the net is to use inside body position to keep opponents to the outside, basically stay between the goalie and the opponent. Make opponents go through you (a penalty) or around you.
Consistently, however, Thompson (26) doesn’t establish inside body position here.
At 00:02 on the clip, Phillip Danault (24) moves Thompson. It’s borderline interference but is a preview of what’s to come.
At 00:12, Danault brushes off Thompson’s stick check and uses his own stick to assert inside position. Danault’s stick appears to be free as Trevor Moore (12) circles the net.
At 00:22, Thompson tries to be physical on Kevin Fiala, but instead he loses position and Fiala beats Thompson back to the front of the net.
At 00:24, a Los Angeles shot comes through, and Fiala has forehand stick position on Thompson.
“He’s gotta use his leverage in front of the net. He’s got to box out early when he can, and then when he can’t, he’s got to get up underneath sticks,” Warsofsky said.
The San Jose Sharks bench boss also offered more boxes for Thompson to check defensively.
“Just defending, reading the rush, reading the game at a high speed. Happens quickly, something we talked to him about this morning, just how quickly it happens out there,” Warsofsky said. “Goes from neutral zone forecheck to a line rush against really, really quickly, where in the American League, it happens slower.”
Jack Eichel (9) gives Thompson a lesson in that here:
“It takes time for the game to slow down for yourself and understand the certain situations that you’re in,” Warsofsky said. “It just takes time for a young defenseman to develop those traits and develop that speed of the game. Just takes repetitions.”
Most importantly, Thompson appears willing to defend and to work on his weaknesses.
“He’s competing. He’s working. He’s really coachable,” Warsofsky said.
Here’s Thompson a week later, getting between Tyler Bertuzzi (59) and the net.
“A lot of it is grabbing like a stick. If I’m not going to be able to push out a guy who’s got 50 pounds on me, I’m going to have to get his stick, make sure that he doesn’t tip it, or get the second chance at it,” Thompson said. “Making sure I’m under him and staying low and just making sure the second opportunity doesn’t go in.”
But as Warsofsky noted, it takes time for a young defenseman. Consistency is always the challenge.
Thompson is a good prospect, but right now?
“He’s a reach as far as the NHL right now, needs time,” Scout #2 said bluntly. “He would have a tough time making most other teams.”
The 3-7-2 San Jose Sharks, of course, aren’t most teams, and not in a good way.
Credit to Thompson, he’s made the most of his opportunity, but all this is a reminder that he has plenty of work to do.