SAN JOSE – Bob Boughner – a stout 205-pound defenseman throughout his NHL profession – had a particular approach of clearing visitors in entrance of his personal internet.
“Within the previous days after I performed, it will be proper right here,” stated the Sharks’ coach, utilizing his palms to imitate a tough cross-checking movement to an opposing gamers’ decrease again.
NHL officers are likely to frown upon such techniques lately. Apart from, it may not work for some smaller defenseman like Ryan Merkley, who's about 25 kilos lighter than when Boughner performed a era in the past.
So the Sharks and Merkley are determining what's going to work, because the 2018 first-round draft alternative tries to stay within the lineup with Erik Karlsson unavailable for just a few extra weeks, at the very least.
A part of it for Merkley is studying from these round him like Karlsson and from opposing defenseman of an identical dimension like Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes, who he’ll play towards Thursday at SAP Middle.
“Karl’s stick and skating are unimaginable,” Merkley stated. “He doesn’t must make bodily contact to get his stick on the puck, get the puck again and shut out that hole. It’s all about taking their time and house away. Don’t must be too bodily. Simply have a superb stick.”
Merkley’s offensive means was the principle cause why the Sharks took him twenty first general 4 years in the past, and Boughner hopes to see these abilities on show Thursday night time towards the Canucks. 
However to stay within the lineup and be an integral a part of that subsequent wave of younger Sharks gamers, like forwards William Eklund, Thomas Bordeleau and Ozzy Wiesblatt, Merkley, 21, can even must learn to successfully defend within the corners and in entrance of his personal internet.
It’s a piece in progress. Boughner feels Merkley has made strides, however there have been hiccups, notably towards the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 22 when he was on the ice for 3 even-strength objectives towards in a 7-1 Sharks loss.
Boughner flatly stated afterward that some gamers struggled and “didn’t seem like they have been prepared,” and Merkley had performed only one recreation with the Sharks since that blowout loss at SAP Middle earlier than Thursday.
“He’s not the largest man, so I’m not searching for him to overpower folks within the corners,” Boughner stated this week of Merkley, who has averaged simply quarter-hour of ice time per recreation with the Sharks.
“However I need him to get there, take time and house away, be certain that (forwards) cease their toes for a few seconds they usually don’t get that movement going. Simply making good performs. I don’t fear about him with the puck. It’s simply taking part in arduous protection.”
The Sharks have scored simply 12 objectives within the six video games they’ve been with out Karlsson, who had forearm surgical procedure on Jan. 24 and isn’t anticipated again till mid-to-late March. Since Karlsson’s been out, the Sharks are 1-3-2.
Boughner feels Merkley, who will exchange Radim Simek within the lineup, will help the Sharks break the puck out of their very own zone and support the second power-play unit. Earlier than Thursday, Merkley had a aim and an help in 15 video games.
“When he has an opportunity to get his shot via, he’s bought to crack it,” Boughner stated of Merkley. “That’s one factor we have now (Brent Burns) on that one unit is that, in case you get it to the highest, if he sees a lane to get it to the web, he’ll get it to the web.
“(Merkley’s) bought to do the identical factor. He can’t simply be distributing the puck. He’s bought to additionally be capable of get that puck all the way down to the web.”
Boughner nonetheless wants to have the ability to belief Merkley to do the correct issues in his personal zone. Merkley, as a substitute of being despatched again to the Barracuda, has practiced with the Sharks in latest days, coping with greater gamers like Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier.
“It’s fairly arduous if you’re taking part in at 180 or 182 (kilos) and also you’ve bought (Hertl), who’s like 220 up there,” Merkley stated. “Simply bought to give attention to good stick, good physique place, not letting him to the within.”
Slightly completely different from one in all Boughner’s previous strategies, in different phrases.
NOTE: Jeffrey Viel will exchange Jonah Gadjovich within the Sharks’ lineup Thursday night time and play on the fourth line with Lane Pederson and Matt Nieto. Boughner moved Noah Gregor to the third line with Andrew Cogliano and Nick Bonino, and Nieto to the fourth line. … Rudolfs Balcers will play Thursday after he blocked a shot in Monday’s loss to Edmonton, and can begin the sport on a line with Logan Couture and Jonathan Dahlen.