San Jose Sharks year in review

[yave1964]

PRESEASON OUTLOOK: An aging team that had missed the postseason the previous year with calls for the GM's head and the face of the franchise telling the GM to shut up, turmoil was the day. They added quality pieces Joel Ward and Paul Martin and traded for Goalie Martin Jones and brought in Peter Deboar as head coach and subtracted long time whipping boy Antii Niemi. An extremely busy offseason brought about hope that they could bounce back and fight for a playoff spot.

 FINAL RECORD: 46-30-6 98 points. 3rd in division, won the Western Conference with series wins against the Kings, Preds and Blues, lost in SCF in 6 games to the Penguins.

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR: The Sharks were the best team in Hockey on the road at an amazing 28-10-3 but were a puke worthy 21st at home at 18-20-3. Team penalty minutes was a strange mix, they had the 5th least minors of any team in Hockey but were not afraid to drop the gloves as they had the 5th most majors which says they were among the leagues smartest teams, not taking dumb penalties but afraid at all to mix it up. Studying why the team was so much better away than in their own barn is a mystery, stat wise, nobody really killed it away and laid down at home, the stats were fairly even individually fairly what you would expect for normal splits, not the insane differences seen. It says that 'puck luck' played a huge part in the road versus home disparity.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR: When they bested the Blues in 6 games to make the first ever Stanley Cup finals in franchise history. You could make the case for Donskoi's overtime winner in game 3 in the finals for the first ever SCF home game.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR: Lets face it, the Penguins dominated the finals in the same way that the Sharks dominated the Western conference finals against the Blues. A Sharks fan base that was thrilled with the ride was derailed once again after a strong playoff push that fell short.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT:  Well for starters, butt kicking in the finals and all the Sharks DID make it to the finals, further than 28 other teams and further than ever before in organization history. Joe Thornton (19-63-82) continues to age gracefully. Joe Pavelski (38-40-78) was near perfection all year. Brent Burns (27-48-75) was an unstoppable force of nature on the back end all year. M.E. Vlasic added some offense to his brilliant defense. Martin Jones was the perfect addition in net, calm and steadying the team and inspiring confidence in the defense, allowing them to join the rush knowing he was back there. Patrick Marleau while not aging as well as Thornton did chip in 25 goals. Tomas Hertl bounced back (21-25-46) with a solid year. No player dominated the postseason for San Jose or any other club like Logan Couture. Joel Ward (21-22-43) was his usual reliable steadying self in the middle six, same with Paul Martin on defense. All the signings worked out as well as could be hoped for. Joonas Donskoi (11-25-36) came from nowhere to play up and down the lines providing energy and speed wherever he played.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG: Couture missed significant time and never got on track during the regular season. Joe Thornton tied his career high in goals in the postseason-with 3. (Yeah I know he is not a goal scorer but after scoring 19 in the regular season his pace would have netted him 10 prorated for the playoffs). Tommy Wingels had a lost season. Brendan Dillon didnt do much. While she Sharks seemed to want to play a full roster of real players most nights, for some reason Mike Brown got into 44 games. Midseason acquisitions Spalling, Polak and Reimer did little.

 

MVP: Close four way race between Thornton, Pavelski, Jones and Burns. Take your pick. All were brilliant.

 

FREE AGENTS: The three new guys, Spalling, Polak and Reimer are all UFA and all likely gone and easily replaced. Zubrus is gone too, and again nothing much to worry about.

 

TOP PROSPECTS: Mirco Mueller got his feet wet at the NHL level this year and should replace Polak on the back end and add a touch of offense. Grosenick, not a super prospect but okay may replace Reimer watching Jones play every night. Timo Meier seems like the real deal but may be at least another year away. Nikolay Goldobin is a steady forward prospect but the truth is I am not a big fan, he can score but has a rep already for taking time off while away from the puck. Dylan Demelo may be the teams 7th D next year with a chance to move up.

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS: Now what? So close and then to lose in 6 games, the core another year older, who do they add? It was a magical year, how do they maintain this?

[J0e Th0rnton]

7 hours ago, yave1964 said:

PRESEASON OUTLOOK: An aging team that had missed the postseason the previous year with calls for the GM's head and the face of the franchise telling the GM to shut up, turmoil was the day. They added quality pieces Joel Ward and Paul Martin and traded for Goalie Martin Jones and brought in Peter Deboar as head coach and subtracted long time whipping boy Antii Niemi. An extremely busy offseason brought about hope that they could bounce back and fight for a playoff spot.

 FINAL RECORD: 46-30-6 98 points. 3rd in division, won the Western Conference with series wins against the Kings, Preds and Blues, lost in SCF in 6 games to the Penguins.

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR: The Sharks were the best team in Hockey on the road at an amazing 28-10-3 but were a puke worthy 21st at home at 18-20-3. Team penalty minutes was a strange mix, they had the 5th least minors of any team in Hockey but were not afraid to drop the gloves as they had the 5th most majors which says they were among the leagues smartest teams, not taking dumb penalties but afraid at all to mix it up. Studying why the team was so much better away than in their own barn is a mystery, stat wise, nobody really killed it away and laid down at home, the stats were fairly even individually fairly what you would expect for normal splits, not the insane differences seen. It says that 'puck luck' played a huge part in the road versus home disparity.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR: When they bested the Blues in 6 games to make the first ever Stanley Cup finals in franchise history. You could make the case for Donskoi's overtime winner in game 3 in the finals for the first ever SCF home game.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR: Lets face it, the Penguins dominated the finals in the same way that the Sharks dominated the Western conference finals against the Blues. A Sharks fan base that was thrilled with the ride was derailed once again after a strong playoff push that fell short.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT:  Well for starters, butt kicking in the finals and all the Sharks DID make it to the finals, further than 28 other teams and further than ever before in organization history. Joe Thornton (19-63-82) continues to age gracefully. Joe Pavelski (38-40-78) was near perfection all year. Brent Burns (27-48-75) was an unstoppable force of nature on the back end all year. M.E. Vlasic added some offense to his brilliant defense. Martin Jones was the perfect addition in net, calm and steadying the team and inspiring confidence in the defense, allowing them to join the rush knowing he was back there. Patrick Marleau while not aging as well as Thornton did chip in 25 goals. Tomas Hertl bounced back (21-25-46) with a solid year. No player dominated the postseason for San Jose or any other club like Logan Couture. Joel Ward (21-22-43) was his usual reliable steadying self in the middle six, same with Paul Martin on defense. All the signings worked out as well as could be hoped for. Joonas Donskoi (11-25-36) came from nowhere to play up and down the lines providing energy and speed wherever he played.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG: Couture missed significant time and never got on track during the regular season. Joe Thornton tied his career high in goals in the postseason-with 3. (Yeah I know he is not a goal scorer but after scoring 19 in the regular season his pace would have netted him 10 prorated for the playoffs). Tommy Wingels had a lost season. Brendan Dillon didnt do much. While she Sharks seemed to want to play a full roster of real players most nights, for some reason Mike Brown got into 44 games. Midseason acquisitions Spalling, Polak and Reimer did little.

 

MVP: Close four way race between Thornton, Pavelski, Jones and Burns. Take your pick. All were brilliant.

 

FREE AGENTS: The three new guys, Spalling, Polak and Reimer are all UFA and all likely gone and easily replaced. Zubrus is gone too, and again nothing much to worry about.

 

TOP PROSPECTS: Mirco Mueller got his feet wet at the NHL level this year and should replace Polak on the back end and add a touch of offense. Grosenick, not a super prospect but okay may replace Reimer watching Jones play every night. Timo Meier seems like the real deal but may be at least another year away. Nikolay Goldobin is a steady forward prospect but the truth is I am not a big fan, he can score but has a rep already for taking time off while away from the puck. Dylan Demelo may be the teams 7th D next year with a chance to move up.

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS: Now what? So close and then to lose in 6 games, the core another year older, who do they add? It was a magical year, how do they maintain this?

 

Brian Campbell if the price is right. We need a puck moving right side Dman.

Mueller plays bad on his off side. Demelo is a bit better on his off side. Mueller's pedigree might net a decent pick return, but thus far, I am not impressed and he is not worth protecting in an expansion draft.

 

Dillon regressed in my eyes this year. Let Nieto go and hope to get 3rd in return. Resign Hertl for 5 years and hopefully for a discount. Kid keeps getting better and better. Promote Goldobin and Meier and hope they can do well

[OccamsRazor]

@J0e Th0rnton