Postseason Depth Chart

So who is going to start in the playoffs for the Sharks?  That is a question coach Todd McLellon will have to answer by Wednesday, and it may take that many days to figure it out.  In San Jose's final regular season game against the Kings, the line-ups were as follows:

Marleau - Thornton - Setoguchi                       Blake - Vlasic
Michalek - Pavelski - Clowe                             Boyle - Lukowich
Moen - Goc - Grier                                         Ehrhoff - Murray
Lemieux - Plihal - Shelley

The defense looked like it always does but how about all the healthy scratches on the forward lines?  Roenick, Cheechoo, Semenov, Huskins, and Staubitz.  These are normally all third/fourth line guys, but they're all key role-players in McLellon's system.

The first two lines will probably stay the same going into the playoffs, but is there room on the third line for Cheechoo?  Is the tough guy Shelley, who was brought in just for that extra edge in the playoffs, actually going to play given that his only role up to now has been to be a fighter?  What about Lemieux?  He has outstanding postseason numbers but he has barely skated this season.  Roenick was clutch in the playoff series against the Flames last year; who is going to be bumped out or down for him?

Just looking at the stats, Roenick would center the third line, with Plihal being scratched and Goc being bumped to the fourth.  Cheechoo and Moen would be interchangeable between the lines and Lemieux would be the odd-man out, as Doug Wilson probably got him just for his leadership in the locker room in the playoffs.  But if San Jose faces Anaheim in the postseason, will Huskins be called upon to play against his old team?  What about Staubitz, who had a late season surge in terms of providing his team with energy on the ice (especially after his beatdown of Tootoo)?

If I were to make the lines:
Marleau - Thornton - Setoguchi                       Blake - Vlasic
Michalek - Pavelski - Clowe                             Boyle - Lukowich
Moen - Roenick - Cheechoo                             Ehrhoff - Murray
Grier - Goc - Shelley/Staubitz

Shelley and Staubitz are interchangeable as they both play the same role on the team, and both do it so effectively.  If punking other teams' players isn't working, then both of them would be replaced by Lemieux.

And here's something to think about as this post winds up: Kyle McLaren.  Yes, he's still a Shark, and yes he's healthy.