San Jose Sharks X-Factors
September 22nd, 2018 We continue with our preview of the San Jose Sharks season with a look at the team's X-factors -- the sort of player who might emerge from a less visible role and deliver something critical to the team’s ultimate success. For the San Jose Sharks, I’ve identified two players -- one forward and...
Three Sharks Trades, Plus One
September 20th, 2018
Side Effects of the Karlsson Trade
September 18th, 2018
San Jose Sharks' Major Vulnerability
September 15th, 2018
Three-Headed Shark: Karlsson, Burns & Vlasic
September 15th, 2018Sharks Contributors
Zeke
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San Jose Sharks
How the San Jose Sharks Measure Up
As the San Jose Sharks get ready for the upcoming season, the fans are getting ready, too. We’re onto the second of several articles where I’ll help define the issues for the Sharks' upcoming season. The first looked at the roster heading into training camp. The Sharks have played the last three seasons under head coach Peter DeBoer. The regular season results appear remarkably consistent, the team finishing with 98, 99 and 100 points in the three seasons—either 45 or 46 wins—and a playoff berth each time. Alas, what appears to be consistency is actually the product of some miserable slumps, some incredible hot streaks, some key injuries and some critical acquisitions. It would be easy to predict another Sharks season hovering near the 100-point mark and forecast another playoff appearance. Rinse, lather, repeat. The truth is, the Sharks are quite vulnerable, due to both roster issues and improvements among their divisional foes. At the same time, they are quite...
San Jose Sharks
Vlasic Has Been the Sharks' MVP of the Last Decade
San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic is one of the most overlooked players in the NHL. He was recently left out of the NHL Network's Top 20 Defensemen list, as our Zeke pointed out recently. Die-hard Sharks fans have always praised Vlasic's game (as does Team Canada) and there hasn't been a more important player to the Sharks in the last 10 years. Since the 2009-10 season, the Sharks have recorded a 25-31 record (44.64% win percentage) without Vlasic in the lineup and a 302-218 (58.08% win percentage) record with him in the lineup. Let's address the first thought that probably comes to mind after reading that last sentence. It's easy to say that Joe Thornton has been the most important player for the Sharks since he arrived in 2005, but defense is what wins games. Vlasic plays against the opposing team's best players every night and continually shuts down the best offensive players in the world. When Thornton is out of the lineup, there are other players who have...
Sharks Prospects
A Predictable Sharks Camp Begins
The San Jose Sharks 2018-19 season begins with training camp. While the first full practice session is slated for Sept. 14, the preseason is already swinging into motion. On Sept. 8, a rookie tournament featuring players from six NHL franchises, including San Jose, began in Las Vegas. In other words, the annual ramp up to the start of the NHL season is now underway. For the Sharks, though, a largely predictable preseason awaits. While there are always a few surprises early on, such as players not participating since they are not fully recovered from injuries which weren’t reported, this camp is about as predictable as any in recent history. Familiar Sharks The roster, for example, is essentially set. At most, competition exists for one, perhaps two spots on the team’s fourth line. The seven defenseman are locked in, as are the two goalies. If continuity is a goal, the Sharks have plenty of it. Only one everyday player has departed from last season’s squad, forward Mikkel...
San Jose Sharks
A San Jose Sharks Snubbing
Every sport has it’s offseason, and with fewer stories, it’s a perfect time for making lists. In the case of the NHL Network, they produced four lists of the league’s top players, by position. And if the NHL Network is putting out lists, you can pretty much bet San Jose Sharks fans (and others) will be outraged by who was overlooked. How the Sharks Fared The Sharks had none of the top 20 wingers, nor a top ten goalie. Neither of these should come as a shock. The Top 20 Centers list also failed to include any Sharks. While some Sharks probably have a case to be on these three lists, none have an overwhelming case. Center Logan Couture is probably the closest, but I’d have a hard time moving him ahead of all but a couple of the players on the network’s list. Only one Sharks player made a top 20 list, and he was on the list for defensemen. Brent Burns was rated as the fourth best. Alas, Burns was overrated (due to even strength liabilities) while his teammate, who...San Jose Sharks
Five Great Moments in San Jose Sharks History
The month for looking back at San Jose Sharks history continues, and this time, it's a chance for us to check in on some of the best moments in team history. We covered the most gut-wrenching moments earlier. And the most fun players to watch. Now a time to look at some brilliant, exciting and...
August 25th, 2015
