SJ might be switching up divisions

SAN JOSE » The Sharks might be in the toughest division in hockey if the NHL season is able to get started next month.

Thanks to the closure of the U.S.Canada border, the Sharks could be placed in a new division with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars this season, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. The Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings, all traditional rivals of the Sharks, would also be in the division.

The Blues, Golden Knights, Avalanche and Stars were the top four teams in the Western Conference last season in terms of points percentage. The Sharks, at a .450 percentage, were 15th and last. Vegas and Dallas met in the Western Conference final in September, with the Stars winning in five games.

The divisions would have to be realigned if the northern border remains closed to non- essential travel. So the Vancouver

Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, who have been in the same division as the Sharks since the 2013-14 season, will likely be in an all- Canadian division with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.

Also, per LeBrun, Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington would be in one division, and Carolina, Columbus, Detroit, Chicago, Florida, Minnesota, Nashville and Tampa Bay would be in another.

So, the Sharks say goodbye to Connor McDavid and Elias Pettersson for now. Here comes what may be a steady dose of Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan O’Reilly and Joe Pavelski.

The realigned divisions are not finalized and would still need approval from the NHL’s Board of Governors.