Sharks’ Klingberg takes a seat after miscue; Will roster spot be available for young center?

SAN JOSE Say this about the way the San Jose Sharks current roster is put together When coach Ryan Warsofsky wants to make a change on defense he has no shortage of options Sunday it was again John Klingberg s turn to take a seat in the press box as the Sharks prepared to face the Boston Bruins at SAP Center to finish a four-game homestand Playing on back-to-back days Warsofsky reported he demanded to get fresh legs into the lineup Sunday as rookie Sam Dickinson entered the lineup for Klingberg But it was clear too that Warsofsky thought Klingberg s miscue helped the Ottawa Senators earn a - win over the Sharks on Saturday Klingberg scored a power-play goal for the Sharks in the first period But he was also on the ice late and out of position in the third period when the Senators got a -on- and scored what would become the game-winning goal As Sharks forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev headed off the ice on an ill-timed line change Klingberg was too far to the outside when Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson sent a pass right past Shakir Mukhamadullin to Drake Batherson Batherson passed to Dylan Cozens whose shot on a forehand-to-backhand move was saved by Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic Klingberg got back but was unable to clear the puck off the goal line before Tim Stutzle arrived and poked it across with left in the third period for the go-ahead goal We don t scan well enough as a defense we don t read it Warsofsky reported Sunday It s a quick match So we ve got to be able to read quick Again the change isn t ideal but it s a - - neutral-zone forecheck We should be able to defend that pretty easily Klingberg signed to a one-year million contract as a free agent in July was a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Tuesday when San Jose hosted Utah I m a defenseman I ve got to know what s going on behind me Klingberg declared after Saturday s meeting But I m thinking it s a - - so I m gapping up on Stutzle and then they pass it and there s a breakaway -on- behind me So I ve got to realize that a lot quicker Nedeljkovic obviously makes a huge save and then I kind of get stuck with my stick in his pad Otherwise I m clearing out the puck on the goal line Veteran defenseman Nick Leddy will also be a scratch for a third straight match Sunday as the Sharks had eight available defensemen against the Bruins They will soon have a ninth as Vincent Iorio finishes up his two-week conditioning loan with the Barracuda The overabundance of blueliners has created a bit of a tricky situation for Warsofsky who has to dress the best lineup he can for every match while ensuring that Dickinson and Mukhamadullin are still playing and progressing the proper way Solicited Sunday how tenable it is to continue to have nine defensemen while only having forwards Warsofsky announced It is what it is We ll focus on in the current era and the guys on the roster and we ll make do Related Articles Sharks lament poor line changes in loss to Ottawa Senators Timeline for Sharks Skinner Misa to return to practice clears up somewhat Kurtenbach Macklin Celebrini is the talk of hockey but these other Sharks can really play SAP Center is rocking again The Sharks rookie goalie is a big reason why Sharks veteran defenseman talks about healthy scratch how he must improve Not having a spot available for a th forward could soon force the Sharks to make a challenging decision as forwards Jeff Skinner and Michael Misa are progressing from their lower-body injuries and might be able to return to practice sometime next week After Skinner was injured against the Calgary Flames on Nov the Sharks recalled Zack Ostapchuk from the Barracuda and Warsofsky has liked how the -foot- -pound center has played ever since When Skinner and Michael Misa get healthy enough to play Ostapchuk could be returned to the AHL But Warsofsky stated Ostapchuk is fighting scratching and clawing to stay here Competes every shift skates gets physical plays towards his identity He s playing like there s no the next morning We need more guys with that attitude The Sharks have another challenging week ahead they excursion to play the Colorado Avalanche who are atop the NHL standings on Wednesday return home to play the Vancouver Canucks on Friday and excursion to play the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday