Karlsson, Vlasic can make a huge difference for Sharks
Things might have to go exceedingly well for the San Jose Sharks to make the 2021 playoffs.
There can’t be significant injuries to star players like there were last season, they’ll need bounce-back years from both of their goalies, and they’ll have get off to a good start despite playing 14 of their first 18 games on the road.
Here are five players who can make the Sharks better than expected this season.
ERIK KARLSSON » Healthy after a nearly 11- month layoff, Karlsson will have a better chance of getting off to a good start now than he did in 2019 when he spent a good chunk of the offseason recuperating from groin surgery.
Karlsson will also have to be the key ingredient if the Sharks are to improve their power play, which ranked 23rd in the NHL in 2019-20, down from sixth the year before.
KEVIN LABANC » Awarded a four- year, $ 18.9 million contract extension in the offseason, Labanc, 25, wants to show that he can play in a top-six role. Right now he figures to be the right wing on either the first or second lines, along with being a mainstay on the first or second power play units.
MARC-EDOUARD VLASIC »
Vlasic has to fight off the perception that his best days are in the rear view mirror.
Vlasic’s average time on ice in 70 games last season was more than two minutes fewer than what it was just two years ago when he finished 11th in Norris Trophy voting.
Still, Vlasic’s value to the Sharks hasn’t changed, and if he can get back to being an elite shutdown defenseman, it’ll go a long way
toward helping his team reach the postseason. DEVAN DUBNYK » Dubnyk, 34, will split goaltending duties with Martin Jones, who has played some of his best hockey with the Sharks when he’s faced some internal competition. With the Sharks slated to play a game every other day for almost four months, they’ll obviously need two capable goalies.
MARCUS SORENSEN » The Sharks’ top two lines will
likely have to carry most of the goal-scoring load. But depth players like Sorensen will still need to provide some scoring punch to help balance the offense.
Sorensen, 28, will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. The Sharks need production from their bottom two forward lines and Sorensen, a 17- goal scorer two years ago, can play a role in that if he finds some chemistry with new linemates.