San Jose Sharks 2014-15 Preview: A Familiar Story
As the season begins the San Jose Sharks face numerous obstacles both on and off the ice. A new season means fresh opportunity not just for rookies but for anyone and everyone the roster. Throughout the year make sure to keep your eyes on the following developments.
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- Norris Trophy odds show Erik Karlsson a step above the rest
- Red hot Couture provides a much needed boost
- Sharks return to SAP in sight
- Ryan Donato shines in his revenge game
- Tomas Hertl is off to a hot start
- How will captaincy rotation work and who will become the next captain of the team?
- Who will win the goal-tending duel, Stalock or Niemi?
- Can the Sharks forget about the historical loss in 2014 to the Kings?
- Can they also forget about the trade rumors, rebuilding rumors and other off ice issues?
- Will rookies such as Mueller and Tierney exceed expectations?
- Are the younger veterans such as Demers, Braun and Wingels ready to accept a larger role on the team?
- What about Nieto and Hertl? Will they continue to play like they did in 2014?
- How will the Sharks handle their fourth line? Will they veterans or young players more?
- What about injuries? Will the Sharks be able to develop chemistry if they get into injury trouble like last season?
All of these questions will be answered in time but for now we have to wait and see. The Sharks won their first game of the season looking like a very well rounded team but April is a long ways off. At the end of the day this Sharks team is not very different than the team from 2014. Dan Boyle, Brad Stuart and Marty Havlat are the only players gone from the roster The Sharks didn’t make any major additions either, picking up John Scott and Tye McGinn. Instead the team is relying on the talent they already posses. The Sharks have done this before in 2013 after trading away Ryane Clowe, Douglas Murray and Michael Handzus while only picking up Raffi Torres and Scott Hannan.
Back in 2004 the Sharks used this same strategy and it led to what is still the best season in franchise history. Before the 2004 season the Sharks lost key veterans; Owen Nolan, Teemu Selanne, Marcus Ragnarsson and Bryan Marchment. Moving forward they put faith in their talented rookies; Jonathan Cheechoo, Christian Ehrhoff and Niko Dimitrakos. If Marco Sturm had not broken his leg before the playoffs that Sharks teams may have gone all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals one year after missing the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Don’t be surprised if the Sharks pull off a similar feat this season by relying on the talent they have under the age of 30.