2012-13 record: 25-16-7 (57 points)
Lost to Los Angeles in Conference Finals
Captain: Joe Thornton
Last year, the San Jose Sharks were flirting with disaster as they were on the verge of missing the playoffs. Trading away Ryane Clowe and Michal Handzus for draft picks and picking up the mercurial Raffi Torres did little to put out the fire. Then, the playoffs came, and the Sharks swept Vancouver in the opening round and were a win away from the Conference Finals. Little has changed, but the window to win it all is closing fast. The greybeards of the team (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle) are all entering the final year of their respective contracts, and the blue line could use another offensive stalwart. The good news is that all three still have a couple of good years left, and the likes of Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Brent Burns are all expected to lead the next generation of Sharks. Torres returns, which ought to make things interesting, especially if he is on his best behavior, as he provided the team with positive returns when he was on the ice. The bottom two lines could use some help, but having Tyler Kennedy in the fold should help, as should Pavelski being on the third line. Of course, it will be up to Thornton and Marleau to finally find that second gear if they want to do more than just make the playoffs. For all of the offensive troubles, the defense was actually quite good. There is no one superstar, as all three pairings are capable of playing well and rarely get caught out of position. They are backed by Antti Niemi, who finally put together a superstar season in which he netted a Vezina Trophy finalist nod. Defense will figure to be strong once again.
Prospects: Eventually, the Sharks will need to fit in some rookies, and the player with the best shot is Tomas Hertl. He played very well in the Czech League and could find himself on the top two lines this season. Nick Petrecki could also see some time in San Jose, as well, but given the depth on the blue line, that may wait until in-season. Beyond that, the Sharks won't likely rush anyone to the big club this season.
Prediction: 3rd in the Pacific Division
The Sharks return much of the same lineup that was in the playoffs last season. However, they need to find offense, and fast. Thornton and Marleau aren't getting any younger, and neither guy has even reached a Stanley Cup Final. Motivation should be there, but will the offense?
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