Does Subban Make Sense for Sharks? – San Jose Hockey Now

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On the surface, P.K. Subban to the San Jose Sharks makes some sense.
San Jose Hockey Now, however, spoke with an NHL scout who was quick to throw cold water on the idea.
The Sharks could use a defenseman who might be able to hang in their top-four, especially since they lost potential top-four option Nikolai Knyzhov to a torn achilles.
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San Jose’s only surefire top-four defenders right now are Erik Karlsson and Mario Ferraro.
I know the 2013 Norris Trophy winner isn’t quite that anymore, but as recently as 2020-21, Subban was still playing top-pairing minutes for the New Jersey Devils.
Last year, however, he was fifth among Devils rearguards in average ice time.
“He’s really gone downhill,” the scout noted.
There’s a reason why Subban should come cheap to whoever signs him.
That said, the Sharks have literally just five right-handed defensemen in the entire organization: Karlsson and Matt Benning, and prospects Ryan Merkley, Gannon Laroque, and Mattias Havelid.
Now this was a void even before the left-handed Knyzhov went down, but the right-handed Subban could add to San Jose’s balance and depth in that department.
For what it’s worth, lefties Ferraro, Markus Nutivaara, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Santeri Hatakka have a lot of experience playing their off-side.
“He’s not a very good defender anymore,” the scout said of Subban. “His decision-making is all over the map. You’re never sure what he’s going to do on the ice. Some of the things that he does don’t make sense, so you can’t anticipate his moves if you’re his D-partner or teammate. He’s not trustworthy in that regard.”
But Subban can still help on the man advantage, right?
The Sharks desperately need a second-unit power play quarterback to emerge after Karlsson. It’s one story if the skilled Merkley is ready for regular NHL duty. But if the 2018 first-round pick isn’t, who’s San Jose’s next best power play blueliner after Karlsson? Nutivaara? Ferraro? Vlasic?
So again, while Subban isn’t Subban anymore, he is experienced running a PP. From 2010 to 2018, Subban was third among league defensemen in total power play usage, after Karlsson and Keith Yandle.
But the scout cautioned: “He’s not a very good power play guy now, even on the second unit. He’s a shooter, and his shot is hard, but he’s not in control of it. He scares his net front forwards to death.”
One interesting wrinkle: San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier knows Subban well. Grier was a Devils assistant coach during Subban’s first season in New Jersey in 2019-20.
Keep in mind, the scout who I spoke with was addressing whether Subban could still fill a top-four or a power play spot on a team. He still should be able to be able to help an NHL organization, just in a far more limited role than he might be accustomed to?
“I think based on his play recently with New Jersey and all of the positive comments that [Devils GM] Tommy Fitzgerald has made about his play and his support for his teammates and his likability by his teammates,” Subban’s agent Don Meehan told the Montreal Gazette in late July. “The way he contributed this year, I think he played effectively. He’s not the P.K. of eight years ago, but then nobody is. But I think there’s a place for him that he can contribute to a team and contribute well on a positive basis.”
Of course, Subban isn’t the only UFA defenseman available, just the most celebrated one.
Other possibilities for the Sharks include left-handers Calvin de Haan, Danny DeKeyser, Andy Greene, Kris Russell, and Ryan Murray. Off the top of my head, Greene and Russell have a lot of experience manning their off-side.
Right-handers Anton Stralman and Michael Stone are also available.
SJHN is checking up on all these free agents and their fit with the San Jose Sharks, more on this later.
By the way, thanks to the Young Guns Podcast for putting the idea of Subban to the Sharks in my head during my recent interview with them – that, and Knyzhov’s injury made me dig a little.
Check out my chat with them here:

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Do it! No matter what a scout says, he’s a warm body who can possibly rise to the occasion. He does have skill. He’s feisty. And that shot of his is not anything to scoff at.
Could you imagine
Burns subban
Karlson dillon
Merkley Ferraro
We would need 2 goalies on the ice
Nope, makes no sense
Now we are taking about adding Subban? Burn in hell Doug Wilson
Well, the Sharks are not talking about this, it is just speculation by a writer. Also Wilson has retired so not sure what this has to do with him.
I think you were looking for the athletic?
I don’t understand your comment, what does the Athletic have to do with this?
Sharks might consider Subban because they are searching for half-eaten hamburgers in a dumpster left by Doug Wilson and his LTC failures. The athletic is where the smartest shark fans post amazing information and comments
The athletic is where the smartest shark fans post amazing information and comments
ROFL!
hey, sign Chara to play with Karl!;)
😂you’re killing me smalls
Stralman can still bring some offense to a middle/bottom pairing. gotta limit his minutes though. his defensive game suffers the more he plays (ARI had him playing 21+mins a night, YIKES!). he does bring leadership/experience with him. i’d use him on PP2 as well. this guy was a fantastic 2-way D in his prime.
i could see playing him with Ferraro making a lot of sense.
I’ll have a note about Stralman soon
Let Merkley step in. If not now, it will never happen.
What games was this scout watching?Subban was effective playing more minutes with the Devils. They dropped him down with Ty Smith who was terrible and used him almost not at all on the PP. He can help a good team.
I don’t just ask random people for comments, this scout watched a good amount of Subban
No it doesn’t make sense. Sharks can only have one primadonna and that is Karlsson. 😂
This is Merkley’s time. They need to see what he can do or move on before signing his next contract. Not playing Merkley creates more problems than it solves. This is a transition year, and what to do about Merkley is among the biggest questions the team needs to address. Lots of things open up if you play him: he becomes the solution, he shows he is a bust, or he does well but does not fit long term and increases his trade value, Playing him is the ONLY path the Sharks should take on the blue line.
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