Analyzing The Chemistry Of The Sharks 70s Line

max miller

Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 1:38 p.m.·4 min read

The San Jose Sharks 70s line of Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, and Tyler Toffoli provides everything head coach Ryan Warsofsky and general manager Mike Grier hoped for.

On Tuesday, the line combined for eight points (two goals, six assists) against the Detroit Red Wings and responded whenever needed. Just 1:01 after Lucas Raymond scored against that line, Toffolli got the Sharks back their two-goal lead.

Tyler Toffoli wastes zero time capitalizing on Holl's turnover in front, 5-3 San Jose!#TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/jC6I0uAdfg
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 15, 2025

"At the end of the day, that's what competitive people do, right," Warsofsky said postgame. "We've seen that with [Celebrini] and his leadership capabilities. That line, in general, has really done a really good job of being vocal on the bench and having a feel [for] what's going on in the game, whether we need a gift to keep the momentum in a hockey game."

The underlying numbers for the line aren't the best, but the production is there. The 70s line has been together for ten games this season. It might've been together longer, but Celebrini's injury during the season's first game derailed that.

The trio have been on the ice for five goals for and three against, per Moneypuck.com. Against the Red Wings last night, the line only had four scoring chances for (two high danger) and six against (four high danger). Yes, they might be slightly behind the eight-ball defensively, but William Eklund is in his second full NHL season, and Macklin Celebrini is 18 years old and a rookie.

Warsofsky said he balances analytics with what he sees in games and on film.

"We look at [analytics]. We look at our opponents. We look at a lot of different analytical numbers, and we kind of dive through it [and] sort through things that we think make sense," Warsofsky explained after San Jose Sharks practice on Wednesday. "There's a lot of information that we have at our hands daily after games, pre-scout wise models that we get. There's a chip in the puck [and a] chip in the jersey. So you get a lot of information that you really have to sort through."

Celebrini has lifted Eklund to more offensive production since Eklund returned from an upper-body injury. Eklund has seven points in five games since returning. He has had four points in the last two games while being part of this line.

"He's worked extremely hard at skill, picking up pucks off the yellow [dasher]. [That] is one of the hardest things to do for young players, is picking up pucks off the yellow, getting your head up and making a play. We've noticed it all year that he's elite at that ability. It's… https://t.co/zOHNy2ZyAD
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) January 15, 2025

"We were talking about different looks and different ideas," Celebrini said about his pass to Eklund. "I mean, kudos to him, I kind of ripped that [pass]."

"It's a lot [of fun]. It's two great players that make it pretty easy for me out there," Eklund said of his linemates. "We have a lot of good players and [Celebrini's] one of them. He makes such good reads out there. So it's just being the right spot. With guys like that, you just try to get open."

Ryan Warsofsky said the biggest difference is William Eklund taking another step to create more offense by getting to the middle of the ice more.

"I think, as of late, Eklund has really figured it out and gone to the inside of the ice. He scores a goal because he gets off the wall, wins his race to the net, gets to the inside ice, something that we've been talking to him a lot about," Warsofsky said. "He wants the puck on a stick. He's a guy that wants to be out there in important moments. You know him and him and [Celebrini] and [Toffoli] have found a little chemistry."