Why isn\u2019t Michael Misa playing against the New Jersey Devils?<\/p>\n
Is it the match-up, against the Eastern Conference leaders? Misa sat out against the New Jersey Devils last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot so much in this case tonight,\u201d San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, noting that tonight is not a back-to-back, like in New Jersey.<\/p>\n
Warsofsky did add, \u201cA lot of hockey this week, so got to manage it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The San Jose Sharks do play four games this week, Tuesday versus the Los Angeles Kings, tonight against the Devils, a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
These aren\u2019t clear stated reasons to sit out the 18-year-old, who had an impressive eight shots in just 10:10 of playing time against Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
So we\u2019ll have to dig a little deeper then? Two reasons come to mind, caveat, these are my opinions.<\/p>\n
First, despite the gaudy numbers, Misa struggled in the first period against the Kings, getting stripped of the puck on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n
\u201cUrgency from the puck drop [wasn\u2019t as great]. It\u2019s a hard league to play in,\u201d Warsofsky said about Misa\u2019s performance. \u201cThese guys are understanding that and what it takes to prepare your bodies, mentally, physically, to get ready to go for an 8 o\u2019clock start, 7 o\u2019clock start, time change, schedule, practice the next day. It\u2019s a lot on you mentally, more than probably physically.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, credit to Misa, like the rest of the team, for picking it up after the opening frame. But eight shots in 10 minutes isn\u2019t the only story about his game, that\u2019s my point.<\/p>\n
Second, perhaps more importantly, and at a level above Warsofsky\u2019s pay grade, the Sharks are at 49 of their maximum 50 contracts. Once Misa and Sam Dickinson play their 10th NHL game, their contracts are not slide-eligible anymore and will count against the 50.<\/p>\n
Dickinson is playing his ninth NHL contest tonight (Misa is at six), so let\u2019s say the top defensive prospect gets his 10th game, that\u2019s 50 Sharks\u2019 contracts. You can\u2019t go over that.<\/p>\n
In that scenario, slow-playing Misa\u2019s march to No. 10 makes sense, because the Sharks have to get rid of \u2014 perhaps in a trade? \u2014 a pre-existing NHL contract. That takes time and is easier said than done.<\/p>\n
San Jose Sharks (2-6-2)<\/p>\n
Warsofsky, by the way, was armed with a one-liner when asked about Dickinson getting his ninth game tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe plays great tonight,\u201d Warsofsky quipped. \u201cHe\u2019ll stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
How many goals and assists does Dickinson, pointless through eight games, have to score tonight?<\/p>\n
\u201cSix goals,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n
Alex Nedeljkovic will start.<\/p>\n
Shakir Mukhamadullin will draw back into the line-up, as Adam Gaudette goes on IR.<\/p>\n
Misa will come out in favor of Patrick Giles.<\/p>\n
These are how the Sharks should line up:<\/p>\n
Toffoli-Celebrini-Smith
Eklund-Wennberg-Kurashev
Graf-Dellandrea-Skinner
Goodrow-Giles-Reaves<\/p>\n
Orlov-Liljegren
Ferraro-Klingberg
Dickinson-Mukhamadullin<\/p>\n
Nedeljkovic<\/p>\n
Credit to Patrick Giles for earning the call-up above more prominent San Jose Sharks prospects on the Barracuda.<\/p>\n
The message from the Sharks to Giles?<\/p>\n
\u201cJust keep doing what I\u2019ve been doing down in the Barracuda,\u201d Giles said. \u201cA lot of that is faceoffs, penalty kill, playing hard and not straying away from that.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Jersey Devils (8-2-0)<\/p>\n