This is looking like a rebuilding season despite the recent success the team has had. This is okay; we’ve seen the success of this franchise over the years, and the old core is now gone. All of the legendary San Jose Sharks of old are gone now. Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Tomas Hertl are the only links back to the teams we all loved. But time doesn’t wait for anyone, and in order to see a new team, it’s time for a rebuild.
We’re not brainless as Sharks fans. If you follow this sport, you know dropping to the bottom of the standings is the only way to collect some of the elite emerging talents the junior leagues have to offer. That means drafting well and getting high draft picks, and preferably as many as you can. Well, the Sharks have as many as three potentially this summer, and two come from some friends in the Metropolitan Division.
Start with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh traded their first-round pick to the Sharks in the Erik Karlsson trade. This pick is subjective on the Penguins not having a pick in the top 10. According to Tankathon, that pick would be 14th overall if the draft was held today. So when if the Penguins finish around 11th in the standings, the Sharks will get another first round pick, which is always a good thing.
As for the other, we have to go further east to the Garden State. New Jersey traded its second this year to the Devils in the Timo Meier deal. This is a conditional second that will become a first-round pick if the Devils reach the Eastern Conference Finals. This seems a little more unlikely given how the Devils have performed to start the season, but the Devils are more than capable of repeating the run we saw the Florida Panthers go on in the East.
So, reasons to cheer for teams on the other side of the country this season. Following the Sharks this year will be painful, I will not act like it won’t be. There’s not a single person who doesn’t understand this kind of deep rebuild is not fun for fans. But it is what is required. However, misery loves company so let us hope for the downfall of the Penguins and the success of the Devils.