Pacific Notes: Shore, Lewis, Shipachyov, DeMelo, Boeser
A change of coaches in Los Angeles has turned two defensive-first players under former coach Darryl Sutter into new scoring options under new head coach John Stevens. Nick Shore and Trevor Lewis have been showing off some of their offensive skills so far this season, which including a highlight reel pass and shoot goal from Shore to Lewis in Thursday’s victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The shift to Stevens’ offensive focused system was picked up quickly by the two forwards, according to Curtis Zupke of the Los Angeles Times. While the 25-year-old Shore only has one goal and two assists so far in 10 games, it’s still an improvement on last year’s six goals and 17 points that he had in 70 games. As for Lewis, the long-time King has never had more than 25 points in a season in all his years, but he might break that number this year as he already has four goals and three assists in 10 games. Both were at one time in their minor league careers considered to have some offensive talent and they feel they can show more.
“I think we’ve really put a focus on scoring more and offensive zone play,” Lewis said. “Obviously the new system we’re playing, I think starting off with Shoresy and [Kyle Clifford], we grasped it right away. I think that helps and it helps create more.”
- With Vegas Golden Knights’ Vadim Shipachyov filing voluntary retirement paperwork rather than having his contract terminated, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels tweets that Vegas will still retain Shipachyov’s NHL rights until the veteran turns 35 years of age. Many believe, however, that the 30-year-old center has no interest in returning to the NHL.
- Staying with the Golden Knights, the team picked up their ninth win of the season today, tying the 1980-81 expansion Winnipeg Jets, according to the Vegas Golden Knights. The team is just one win away from tying the inaugural Ottawa Senators.
- Paul Gackle of The Mercury News writes that with the injury to veteran defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks defenseman Dylan DeMelo will be given the opportunity to prove he belongs. After playing in the first two games of the season, the 24-year-old defenseman lost his job to Tim Heed and Joakim Ryan and has been a healthy scratch for the last 10 games. Now, the prospect who had already played 70 games with San Jose before the season even started, gets a second chance to prove he belongs.
- Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Sun writes that the Vancouver Canucks have been working on their power play and have now moved rookie Brock Boeser to the left of the face circle on their first team in hopes to take advantage of his release. The move is supposed to unleash the talents of the highly-touted prospect who has two goals and seven assists so far this year in nine games.
Pacific Notes: DeMelo, Kings Injuries, Bieksa
Sharks defenseman Dylan DeMelo came into the season with the expectation that he’d get some more playing time after the team lost David Schlemko in the Expansion Draft. However, that hasn’t been the case as he has played in just two games so far this season and is set to be a healthy scratch for the tenth straight game tonight having been surpassed on the depth chart by call-ups Tim Heed and Joakim Ryan.
Despite the lack of playing time, DeMelo told Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News that he still wants to remain with the Sharks: “I want to be here, plain and simple. I want to be here. I know the team, I know the guys here. I’ve worked hard since I was 18 to gain equity in this organization. For me, it’s not even in my mind to go anywhere else. This is where I want to be and I really want to make it work here.”
This is the second straight season where DeMelo has basically been the Sharks’ full-time seventh defender which has largely been dictated by being eligible for waivers. With Paul Martin getting closer to returning to action, the 24-year-old may soon find playing time even harder to come by.
Elsewhere in the Pacific:
- Kings head coach John Stevens told Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider that wingers Marian Gaborik and Kyle Clifford are progressing well from their injuries. The team is hopeful that Gaborik will be able to start participating in full practices in the next little while. However, Clifford, despite being listed as week-to-week with his upper-body issue, is still not close to returning to the lineup. Still with the Kings, first-round pick Gabriel Vilardi skated in full gear for the first time today since sustaining a back injury over the summer, notes Helene Elliott of the LA Times (Twitter link).
- Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa could be available to return to the lineup as soon as Friday, head coach Randy Carlyle noted to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. The veteran rearguard is set to miss his fourth straight game due to a hand injury against Toronto. Anaheim has been dealing with injuries on the back end all season; they’ve been without at least two of their regular defenders in every game so far.