2008 Woodie Awards
San Jose Sharks Season Preview
Team continues quest for first Stanley Cup in franchise history
Reed Porter
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Sports
One question has been loitering on the minds of San Jose Sharks hockey fans for the 2008-2009 season; can the Sharks win a Stanley cup?
Last season the answer was a painful NO as the team was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in only the second round of the playoffs in a game that reached into quadruple overtime.
The game left Sharks fans feeling sick and Sharks management puzzled. How could a team with so much talent not make it past the second round?
Fans, players and even the owners know that San Jose is a team with the potential to advance to the Cup finals, if not win their first cup in Sharks history.
The Sharks have had no trouble making the playoffs the last four years, and in '07-08' the team had the second best regular season record in the NHL.
The demand for better playoff performance has led to some changes in leadership and some additional personnel that has soothed the sick feelings of the Sharks nation and left fans optimistic about the upcoming season.
Here are some of the keys to the Sharks having a great year and moving past the second round of the playoffs:
Coaching:
Ron Wilson was replaced during the off-season by former Redwings assistant coach Todd McLellan, who directed the team's power-play lines.
This is a huge move by the Sharks because McLellan is coming off a Stanley Cup winning season with the 'Wings. This is McLellan's first head coaching job in the NHL but the Sharks want someone with winning experience in the playoffs, and this is a great move because McLellan will fine-tune the Sharks power play and beef up their penalty kill squad as well (only 75 percent in the playoffs last year).
There is no doubt that the Sharks will make the playoffs again this year, and with McLellan at the helm, who knows how far they can go.
Trades:
The Sharks have made a couple of moves over the off-season, including trading defensemen Craig Rivet, Matt Carle and Brian Campbell and left winger Patrick Rissmiller. In return they have picked up:
Last season the answer was a painful NO as the team was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in only the second round of the playoffs in a game that reached into quadruple overtime.
The game left Sharks fans feeling sick and Sharks management puzzled. How could a team with so much talent not make it past the second round?
Fans, players and even the owners know that San Jose is a team with the potential to advance to the Cup finals, if not win their first cup in Sharks history.
The Sharks have had no trouble making the playoffs the last four years, and in '07-08' the team had the second best regular season record in the NHL.
The demand for better playoff performance has led to some changes in leadership and some additional personnel that has soothed the sick feelings of the Sharks nation and left fans optimistic about the upcoming season.
Here are some of the keys to the Sharks having a great year and moving past the second round of the playoffs:
Coaching:
Ron Wilson was replaced during the off-season by former Redwings assistant coach Todd McLellan, who directed the team's power-play lines.
This is a huge move by the Sharks because McLellan is coming off a Stanley Cup winning season with the 'Wings. This is McLellan's first head coaching job in the NHL but the Sharks want someone with winning experience in the playoffs, and this is a great move because McLellan will fine-tune the Sharks power play and beef up their penalty kill squad as well (only 75 percent in the playoffs last year).
There is no doubt that the Sharks will make the playoffs again this year, and with McLellan at the helm, who knows how far they can go.
Trades:
The Sharks have made a couple of moves over the off-season, including trading defensemen Craig Rivet, Matt Carle and Brian Campbell and left winger Patrick Rissmiller. In return they have picked up:
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