43-29-10 (96 points)
Lost to St. Louis in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Joe Thornton
The story of the San Jose Sharks last season was that they fell considerably short of their usually high expectations. A favorite for the Stanley Cup at the beginning of last season, they barely squeaked into the playoffs and were promptly disposed of by St. Louis in the opening round. Most of their offensive stars suffered career lows, and their biggest problem, secondary scoring, was not addressed in the offseason. It will be up to the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Ryan Clowe to recoup some of that lost offense. Martin Havlat was supposed to be a difference maker, but he couldn't even get over the boards without getting hurt. A full season of good health will go a long way in his hopes for a rebound. Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski had good years, but they shouldn't be your bell cows for offense just yet. Defensively, there is depth, but not a lot of grit, something that the re-acquisition of Brad Stuart hopes to resolve. Dan Boyle is on the wrong side of 35, and he saw a drop in offensive numbers, so it will be up to Brent Burns to be more of an offensive force. Antti Niemi is alright as a starting goaltender, but if the Sharks hope to entertain a long run in the playoffs, he has to be better than what he is.
Prediction: 7th in the West
Band: Stratovarius
Stratovarius is often talked up to lofty heights, yet isn't quite what everyone says they are. The Sharks are often pre-season favorites for Stanley Cup contention, but they fail to even reach the Finals.
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