Predicting the Sharks’ Defensive Pairings and Stats

Second Defensive Pair

Oct 3, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Irwin (52) and Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin (33) battle as San Jose Sharks right wing Brent Burns (88) reaches for the puck behind Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin (22) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

#88 Brent Burns – 82 GP – 26 G – 16 A – 42 P – +20 – 53 PIM

#52 Matt Irwin – 54 GP – 5 G – 21 A – 19 P – +4 – 46 PIM

Why this works: Brent Burns is very capable of being on the first pair. However, since the Vlasic/Braun pair just could not be split up, Burns is an obvious second pair guy.

Now, I had a hard time thinking about who to put with him. Mirco Mueller is starting his NHL career, and I do not think that it would be a good idea to put him with Burns who, if you have ever watched him play, is a wrecking ball and seems to be everywhere at once. Then there’s Jason Demers who is also somewhat of an offensive defenseman, which would also not be a good idea to put with Burns because then you have all offense, but limited defense.

So now its between Matt Irwin and Scott Hannan. Those two would work better than the others because they have more experience than Mueller, and are better defensively than Demers. In the end I predict that they will rotate with each other.