November 1st 2024.
The San Jose Sharks have been on a roll lately, winning three consecutive games. However, Coach Ryan Warsofsky is not resting on his laurels and is still making changes to his lineup. It seems that there will be at least two changes for their upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks. Newly acquired defenseman Timothy Liljegren will replace Jack Thompson, and Ethan Cardwell will take Danil Gushchin's spot on the second line.
It's no surprise that Liljegren will be joining the lineup, as the Sharks have been eager to get him on the ice since acquiring him from the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Cardwell's promotion to the top-six role is a bit unexpected, considering he has only played two games in the NHL so far. Coach Warsofsky has been impressed with Cardwell's defensive skills and feels that he is responsible enough to play in a higher position. Additionally, Cardwell has shown offensive potential, scoring a team-high of 23 goals last season with the Barracuda.
"Cardwell has been performing well since joining the team and hasn't looked out of place at all," Warsofsky praised. "We trust him on the ice, especially in crucial moments. That's why we're putting him in this position."
During Friday's practice, Cardwell skated alongside Fabian Zetterlund and Alexander Wennberg, while Gushchin was moved down to the "fifth line" with Macklin Celebrini and Klim Kostin. However, Warsofsky mentioned that the lineup is not set in stone and could change before Saturday's game. Nevertheless, it's still a significant promotion for Cardwell, who was called up from the Barracuda earlier this week after Ty Dellandrea was placed on injured reserve.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to play with two great players like Zetterlund and Wennberg," Cardwell said. "They create a lot of space on the ice, and I just need to be ready to shoot and make plays."
"Cardwell brings a lot of energy to the team," Warsofsky added. "He's a great skater and can hunt for pucks, which will be beneficial for his line."
Although Cardwell has not yet scored a point in the NHL, he has created some scoring opportunities and has been averaging just under 11 minutes of ice time per game, with some time on the penalty kill. "I'm always relaxed on the ice," Cardwell shared. "Even in my debut, I felt comfortable out there. But it's nice to settle in and have some familiar faces from training camp."
On the other hand, Gushchin, who made the Sharks' season-opening roster after a strong preseason, has only recorded one assist in nine regular-season games. "He has been a bit inconsistent," Warsofsky commented. "He does some good things, but we need more from him."
The Sharks have not had a four-game winning streak since the beginning of the 2021-2022 season. To achieve that, they will need to defeat the Canucks on Saturday and continue their winning streak. Liljegren, who will be playing his second game of the season, will be paired with Henry Thrun and will also play on the first power play unit with Mikael Granlund, Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, and William Eklund.
"It's a new chapter for me here, and I'm just going to go out and have fun and play my game," Liljegren said when asked if he feels he has something to prove.
The Sharks' power play has been ranked 12th in the NHL, and Liljegren's ability to work the blue line will be a valuable addition to the team. "He makes good decisions with the puck and can work the blue line well," Warsofsky mentioned. "He hasn't played much hockey recently, so we'll ease him in and then let him go."
In other news, Macklin Celebrini, who has been skating with the team for over a week, will not be playing against the Canucks as he continues to recover from a hip injury. However, Warsofsky mentioned that Celebrini's return is getting closer, and he will join team activities soon. There is no set timeline for his return, but he could potentially be available for the Sharks' games next week against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild.
As for other injuries, Ty Dellandrea, who is eligible to come off IR on Sunday, remains day-to-day. He skated with the Sharks' fourth line during Friday's practice. Additionally, defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has resumed skating on his own, but there is no timeline for his return to practice. The Sharks will need to continue to adjust their lineup as they strive to maintain their winning momentum.
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