Coach: Peter DeBoer (since 2015). 5/10
2018-19 record: 46-27-9, 101 points (2nd in the Pacific Division, 2nd in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in Conference Final to St. Louis Blues.
Departures: Joe Pavelski (C), Joonas Donskoi (RW), Gustav Nyquist (RW), Joakin Ryan (D), Justin Braun (D), Francis Perron (F), Kyle Wood (D).
Arrivals: Dalton Prout (D), Jonny Brodzinski (RW), Trevor Carrick (D), Tom Pyatt (C).
Top forwards: Tomas Hertl (60-70 points), Logan Couture (50-60 points), Joe Thornton (40 points), Kevin Labanc (40-50 points), Evander Kane (30 goals, 50 points if he remains healthy), Timo Meier (50-55 points), Joel Ward (30 points but clutch in the playoffs), Melker Karlsson (25-30 points).
Must-improve forward: Ward was acquired to provide some playoff scoring acumen, but he hasn't been able to show it in years, in addition to being a regular-season disappointment as a bottom-line forward when he was expected to be a luxury third-liner of decent second-liner.
Top defensemen: Brent Burns (70-80 points), Erik Karlsson (70-80 points), Marc-Édouard Vlasic (25-30 points), Artemi Kniazev (20-25 points), Tim Heed (10 points), Prout (10 points).
Goalies: Martin Jones (79/100), Antoine Bibeau (72/100), Aaron Dell (70/100).
Top rookies: Dylan Gambrell (22 years old, C, point-per-game AHLer), Ryan Merkley (19, D), Jonathan Dahlen (21, F, already on his third team, may remain in Europe for a while), Alexander True (22, F, point-per-game AHLer), Mario Ferraro (20, D), Kniazev (19, D).
Analysis:
This is a make-or-break year for head coach DeBoer, who cannot keep choking like his predecessor Todd McLellan.
They have the best one-two defensive punch in the league with Karlsson and Burns - two of the four game-breakers at their position with Dustin Byfuglien and P.K. Subban - and their GM Doug Wilson keeps finding a way to rejuvenate his core and/or have his players perform well past their expiry date that keeps them contending without ever having to fully rebuild.
Soon enough, when he retires, Thornton will join Marcel Dionne as the best players to have never won a Cup. Through no fault of his own, mind you - he's one of the best playmakers of all time - he just either has never played with good/lucky enough teammates or just didn't have that little extra gear that turns very good players into championship winners.
And that won't happen with either goalie the Sharks currently have between the pipes.
They'll take advantage of a weak Pacific Division to make it to the final dance, perhaps a point or two ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, who aren't as deep, but even the Sharks' depth took a hit when they had to clear three players to make room for Karlsson on the back end, who they didn't actually need.
Prediction: 3rd in the Pacific Division, 9th in the NHL.
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