STILL NO HOLY GRAIL
Sharks have been the NHL’s best team since Wilson took over, but a Cup has been elusive
THE SHARKS ARE
loyal to their veterans and, in turn, the veterans are key cogs for a franchise that deceivingly has had the NHL’s best points percentage (.6313) since 2003-04, when Doug Wilson took over as San Jose GM. Detroit is a very close second at .6308, but it’s a big drop to Anaheim (.603) and Pittsburgh (.596). With the passage of time, however, a changing of the on-ice guard is coming soon. Very soon.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS: So much depends on how far the Sharks make it in the playoffs this spring and what that means for UFAs Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. If they win or come close, do the vets come back next year at 38 and try again? Or does the team move on and get younger? If it’s the latter, San Jose will be looking for dynamic offensive players and can pitch free agents on opportunity and a winning culture. LONG-TERM NEEDS: San Jose has a need to get younger everywhere, but nowhere is that more acute than on the blueline. Brenden Dillon is the only regular defenseman not yet 30 and is best suited to the third pair. There are a couple of promising names in the system, and they’ll need fast advancement in the next couple of seasons. CAP SITUATION: Thornton and Marleau took 3.5 percent pay cuts when they signed extensions three years ago when they were 34. Chances are they’ll take another modest haircut on one or two-year deals to keep a good thing going in San Jose. That will give Wilson a bit more money and time to restock. IN THE SYSTEM 2017-18: Danny O’Regan is a small, crafty center who had an impressive rookie season in the AHL after a standout career at Boston U. He’s 23 and ready for another challenge. Space will be made for him to work with San Jose’s talented but aging top six. Step forward, D-man Mirco Mueller: your time is now.
DID YOU KNOW: San Jose went goalie crazy at the 2004 and 2005 drafts, taking six goalies among their 18 total picks. Thomas Greiss and Alex Stalock made the NHL. In the 11 drafts since, the Sharks have taken just six more.