Faceoffs are quietly deciding hockey games — and the San Jose Sharks have brought in a specialist to nudge the needle in their favor.
But here's where it gets controversial: the team has tapped a former faceoff ace to tinker with technique midseason, and some people wonder whether relying on a consultant is a smart short-term fix or a band-aid on a deeper coaching issue.
Zenon Konopka is back in the Sharks’ orbit to help their forwards win more scrums. His résumé is straightforward and impressive: across nine NHL seasons (2005–2014) with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres, Konopka compiled a career faceoff win percentage of 59.6% — elite territory for that specialized skill.
He previously spent time working with San Jose during training camp and is on the ice with them again this week. At the same time, Konopka is serving as a faceoff consultant for the Washington Capitals, so this is a short-term but high-value role he plays for teams seeking an edge.
Ty Dellandrea — who enters this stretch as the Sharks’ team leader in faceoff wins at 51.6% — described Konopka as part of a small group focused on faceoffs, alongside assistant coach Jeff Ulmer and player development coach Mike Ricci. Together they’re drilling forwards on the mechanics and tactics of the draw.
"It’s just little details, right?" Dellandrea said. He unpacked what he meant: timing the drop of the puck, positioning your nose over the faceoff dot to influence where the puck goes, taking your stick either underneath or over the top of an opponent’s blade, and a variety of subtle strategic and technical adjustments. For beginners: that "nose over the dot" cue basically means leaning slightly forward to change your center of gravity and create leverage; coming "underneath" or "over the top" refers to where your stick blade makes contact relative to the other player’s stick — small changes that can swing possession in tight situations.
What does Konopka add beyond those basics? Dellandrea emphasized that Konopka brings an array of counter-moves tailored to different opponents and game moments. Every centerman has a different style of taking draws, and Konopka’s experience lets him recognize patterns and recommend specific counters.
Konopka scouts recent opponents to prepare. Dellandrea used Calgary’s Morgan Frost as an example of a tricky matchup: "He’s a very unique guy when it comes to taking faceoffs," Dellandrea said, noting Frost’s hand is extremely low — almost touching the blade — which shrinks the space for the opponent to get a stick in. That kind of detail affects how you approach the draw.
When asked what the counter is to a player like Frost, Dellandrea smiled and declined to reveal the team’s secrets. Still, his point was clear: that’s why Konopka is brought in — to teach specific responses so players will know, “When you see him again, or a guy like him, something [I] can do.”
Controversial point: does bringing in a specialist during the season imply coaching staff gaps, or is it simply smart use of available expertise? Some will argue the former — signifying a shortfall in prep — while others see it as efficient problem-solving. Which side do you fall on?
Quick team status and lineup info:
San Jose Sharks (17-14-3)
- Per the Mercury News and Sharks Hockey Digest, Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to start in goal. Adam Gaudette will slot in for Jeff Skinner. Ty Dellandrea was listed as questionable yesterday but will be in the lineup.
My best guess for tonight’s forward and defensive groupings for the Sharks (expanded slightly with context on roles):
- Graf — Celebrini — Chernyshov (likely a line with speed and puck retrieval emphasis)
- Eklund — Wennberg — Toffoli (a playmaker with finishing ability)
- Gaudette — Dellandrea — Cardwell (grit, faceoff skills, and net-front presence)
- Goodrow — Ostapchuk — Reaves (checking line, energy and physicality)
Defense pairs:
- Orlov — Klingberg
- Ferraro — Liljegren
- Mukhamadullin — Iorio
Goaltender: Nedeljkovic
Dallas Stars (22-7-5)
- Jake Oettinger is projected to start in net, per reporter Mike Heika (tweet link: https://twitter.com/MikeHeika/status/2001742847738024117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). No other changes were reported.
NHL.com projects these Dallas forward and defensive lines:
- Matt Duchene — Wyatt Johnston — Mikko Rantanen
- Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Jamie Benn
- Justin Hryckowian — Sam Steel — Mavrik Bourque
- Oskar Back — Radek Faksa — Colin Blackwell
Defense pairs expected for Dallas:
- Esa Lindell — Miro Heiskanen
- Thomas Harley — Alex Petrovic
- Nils Lundkvist — Ilya Lybushkin
Why faceoffs matter (a quick primer for new fans):
- Faceoff wins lead to more immediate puck possession after stoppages, which can increase control of play and scoring chances. In close games, one extra defensive zone faceoff win can prevent an opponent from mounting a scoring threat; in a power-play situation, the team that wins the initial draw often gets the puck right where they want it. Specialists who can lift a team’s faceoff percentage even a few points can influence the game flow.
Where to watch:
- Puck drop for Sharks vs. Stars is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT at SAP Center. The TV broadcast is on NBC Sports California and the radio audio is available on the Sharks Audio Network.
And this is the part most people miss: improving faceoffs isn’t just about one player’s skill — it’s about pattern recognition, preparation, and those tiny technical cues that teammates and coaches must coordinate. A consultant like Konopka supplies both the technical nuance and the scouting perspective.
So what do you think? Do you view bringing in a former specialist midseason as a savvy competitive move or a red flag about coaching? Are faceoff consultants the future of specialized hockey coaching, or a gimmick? Share your take — agree, disagree, provoke — and let’s get a discussion going.
