San Jose Sharks Preview | 
| Last Season | |
| Record | 53-18-11 |
| Points | 117 |
| Conference | 1st |
| League | 1st |
| Offense | 3.06 GPG (7th) |
| Defense | 2.43 GAA (3rd) |
| Power Play | 24.2% (3rd) |
| Penalty Kill | 83.3% (5th) |
| Points leader | Joe Thornton – 86 |
| Goals | Patrick Marleau – 38 |
| Team Facts | |
| GM | Doug Wilson |
| Coach | Todd McLellan |
| Arena | HP Pavillion at San Jose |
| Capacity | 17,496 |
| 08/09 attendance | 17,488 (15th) |
| AHL Affiliate | Worcester |
Departures
Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo, Mike Grier, Jeremy Roenick, Travis Moen, Marcel Goc, Claude Lemieux, Kyle McLaren, Tomas Plihal, Alexei Semenov, Christian Ehrhoff, Brad Lukowich, Brian Boucher
Arrivals
Dany Heatley, Scott Nichol, Jed Ortmeyer, Dwight Helminen, Joe Callahan
Forwards
Doug Wilson told his players in the off-season that no one should feel safe with their jobs. With that statement Wilson started making changes. Small at first working his way to what he believes to be the final piece of his puzzle. Dany Heatley. Heatley will take the now departed Milan Michalek’s spot on the top line beside Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi. Heatley had back-to-back 50 goal campaigns with the Sens in ‘06 and ‘07 and there’s no reason to believe he won’t reach that again especially alongside Thornton.
Having Torrey Mitchell healthy is like a free-agent signing after the center missed all of last season to injury.
Now former captain Patrick Marleau shut up a lot of naysayers with a huge bounce back year compiling 38 goals and 71 point in 76 games. He is in a contract year and after having his “C” removed he’ll be even more motivated this year.
Defenseman
Dan Boyle and veteran Rob Blake are still the go-to guys on this defense corps. Youngster Derek Joslin will get a chance to stick with the big club after a 12 game audition last season. Marc-Edouard Vlasic is looking to take another step forward and take on a more prominent roll after the Sharks dealt Ehrhoff and Lukowich to the Canucks. Doug Murray and Kent Huskins will have to be the big body presence that this team needs.
Goalies
Evgeni Nabokov played a more reasonable 62 games last season after playing 77 in ‘08. The 34-year-old still racked up 41 wins and only 12 losses. He’s in the final year of his contract and if the Sharks don’t win in the playoffs this season he’ll be on his way out. Thomas Greiss has spent the past three seasons in Worcester waiting for his chance to back up Nabokov. He’ll get that this season.
Strengths
- This team is loaded with firepower. Marleau and Setoguchi are both 35+ goal guys, Pavelski and Thornton will chip in at least 25+ and Heatley should be a 50+ goal scorer this season. Maybe pushing Ovechkin for the Rocket.
- Evgeni Nabokov is as steady as they come. His GAA last season was higher than in years past but his SV% was par for the course. After being beaten quite handily in the goaltending department last spring by Jonas Hiller of the Ducks. Nabby has a fire under him for the first time in a couple years.
- This team has to be hungry. Season after season they’re at the top and projected as Cup contenders. They don’t want to go down in history like the Buffalo Bills of the early 90’s..
Weaknesses
- The Sharks aren’t overly deep on defense especially after dealing away Ehrhoff and Lukowich. They are going to have to rely on unproven guys like Joslin, Joe Callahan and Mike Moore.
- As much as it could be a strength, the Sharks seem to burn out when it comes to the playoffs. Thornton was shipped out of Boston because they didn’t think he had enough hart in the playoffs. The fans in San Jose are starting to think that too.
Analysis
The Sharks have never had so much to prove. With no captains and new sniper Dany Heatley in the mix the Sharks should once again compete for first in the West. However, should they falter out of the gate, don’t expect Doug Wilson to wait long before he pulls the trigger on more moves. Nabokov and Marleau could be the next to go.
Prediction: 1st in the West
Topics: Dan Boyle, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Evgeni Nabokov, Joe Thonton, NHL Preview, Patrick Marleau, Rob Blake, San Jose
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