SAN JOSE – One other season during which the San Jose Sharks have completed on the backside of the NHL standings has, maybe mercifully, come to a conclusion.
The Sharks hoped to complete the yr on a constructive observe. However with their 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night time at SAP Heart, they ended with simply 20 wins and 51 factors, solely marginally higher than their totals from a season in the past.
Ty Emberson and Max Jones scored for the Oilers, who handed the Sharks their eleventh straight loss (0-8-3) to finish the season. The Sharks completed with a report of 20-50-12.
Additionally solely marginally higher for the Sharks? The objectives in opposition to complete, as San Jose allowed a league-worst 312 objectives over 82 video games, a barely smaller determine than the 331 they allowed final season throughout 19-54-9 marketing campaign.
If the Sharks hope to make strides subsequent yr and have this be the final season they’ve the perfect probability to win the NHL Draft Lottery, it’ll begin with how they defend.
A portion of that can come from inner development from their massive cadre of youthful gamers. However assist from the Sharks’ entrance workplace in that respect wouldn’t harm, as a part of the crew’s ample wage cap house must be used on gamers – forwards, defensemen, and goalies – who can assist San Jose lower down on the variety of objectives it permits.
No crew within the high 16 within the NHL’s general standings has allowed greater than 240 objectives this season.
Naturally, adjustments are coming, with a handful of gamers within the Sharks’ lineup Wednesday doubtless taking part in their final recreation for the crew. That group may embody goalie Alexandar Georgiev, defenseman Jan Rutta, and ahead Noah Gregor, though these three ought to solely bear a lot accountability.
This was a crew effort via and thru.
However, the hope amongst the Sharks is that the worst is behind them, and that the group can begin to construct again up.
“We’re definitely on the right path. We are,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky mentioned Wednesday morning. “I know our win-loss record doesn’t look like that, but we’re on the right path.”
Sharks captain Logan Couture, who formally introduced on Tuesday that his taking part in days are over, was in attendance Wednesday. The Sharks confirmed a video tribute for Couture, and the sold-out crowd at SAP Heart gave him a deserved standing ovation after a 15-year taking part in profession within the NHL.
Couture, arguably essentially the most clutch playoff performer in Sharks historical past, led San Jose’s playoff crew in 2019 with 20 factors in 20 video games.
Couture mentioned his two favourite reminiscences as a participant had been in 2016, when he scored an empty-net aim in Sport 6 of the Western Convention Ultimate in opposition to the St. Louis Blues, sealing the Sharks’ first-ever journey to the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
In Sport 7 of the Sharks’ first-round playoff sequence in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019, Couture scored twice within the third interval to guide an epic comeback after San Jose fell behind by three objectives. The Sharks received the sport 5-4 in time beyond regulation on a aim by Barclay Goodrow.
“I went back and watched those games, and you get goosebumps watching the building, the atmosphere, what those teams were all about, the competitiveness,” Warsofsky mentioned.
“Clearly (Couture) scores that aim, he jumps into the bench within the greatest recreation. So I wish to expertise that. I would like our gamers to expertise that. I would like our gamers to undergo a playoff run. It’s the funnest time in your profession, and people are the perfect moments.
“I hope we can get to there very, very soon. But I do think we’re on the right path.”
