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Young Sharks forwards have ‘answered a lot of questions regarding our depth': DeBoer

San Jose Sharks v St Louis Blues - Game One

ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 15: Troy Brouwer #36 of the St. Louis Blues skates against Chris Tierney #50 of the San Jose Sharks in Game One of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 15, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Hey, remember back in November when the Sharks were so desperate for bottom-six depth that they signed 37-year-old Dainius Zubrus?

How times have changed since then.

Now the Sharks’ forward depth is seen as a strength, thanks in large part to the growth of youngsters like Joonas Donskoi, Chris Tierney, and Melker Karlsson.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys we’ve asked to do a lot, put in big roles, big responsibilities,” coach Pete DeBoer said prior to Game 2 of the Western Conference Final. “They’ve all shown up and played hard and answered the bell, and I think answered a lot of questions regarding our depth.”

In that way, the Sharks are a lot like the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team they could possibly meet in the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins had major depth concerns as well; they’ve been buoyed by the likes of Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust, and Tom Kuhnhackl.

One youngster the Sharks won’t have tonight is forward Matt Nieto. He’s still out with an undisclosed injury.

“The fact he’s on the ice every day, he’s getting better,” said DeBoer. “He’ll be day-to-day.”

But Donskoi, Tierney, and Karlsson will be in there. And if not for them, their coach doesn’t think the Sharks would still be playing.

“I think they’ve been exceptional,” said DeBoer. “I think we wouldn’t be here without all those guys.”