Sharks Urgently Need Offensive Boost Fromโค Defensemen’s Shots
SAN JOSE, CA – The San Jose Sharksโฃ are looking for โincreased offensive production from theirโ defensemen, specifically veteran additions Dmitry Orlov and Erik Klingberg, as well as top prospect Sam Dickinson,โฃ to unlock the team’s power play potential.A key focus is simply getting more shots โon net from the blue line.
Throughout the 2023-24 โseason, the Sharks struggled with shot volume fromโฃ their defense. Veteran defenseman Radim Simek registered a shooting percentage โคof โjust .5%โ inโ 18 โฃgames.
In the 2024-25 season,โ Walman led Sharks defensemen with 164 โฃshots on goal, 125 of which cameโฃ while playing for the Sharks. The next closest was Timothy Liljegren with โ102 shots in 68 games.
Theโ Sharks aren’t necessarily โขseekingโ a return to theโฃ high-volume shooting days of formerโค players like Brent Burns, butโ aโข consistent threat from the point is crucial, particularly on the power play.
“Sometimes โwhen you shoot, you create more offense. When you just get too many passes, especially [against] quadrant teams who play zone positioning. They’re alwaysโ kindโ of โคback. It’s hard to makeโ too many passes,” Orlov said. “Sometimes you โคhave to make a couple โคshots, and then they’re going to worry about getting close to you. Then there’s going to be some things that open up.”
Orlov recorded 117 shots in 76 games in 2024-25, while Klingberg had 139 shots in 74 games in his lastโค complete season.
Top defensive prospect Sam Dickinsonโค is โalready demonstrating a willingness to shoot. in 55 โgames for the London Knights in 2024-25, Dickinsonโ took 245 shots, significantly outpacingโ the next highest total on his team (245 to 188, Oliver Bonk). He led the Knights inโ points and was second in goals with 29, including a team-leading 12 โฃpower-play goals.
Dickinson has been working on the top power-play unit during training camp in Klingberg’s absence due to injury and could see power-playโข time if he makes the opening night roster.
The Sharks’ biggest offensive threat, Macklin Celebrini, will benefit from a more active shooting presence on theโข powerโ play. Celebrini’s one-timer will be โฃmore effective if opposing penalty kills are forced to respect the shot from โthe point.
Klingberg, orlov,โ and Dickinson โare identified as the most likely candidates to provide that offensive โคboost โto the Sharks’ roster.
