Goaltending
Last season, Kaapo Kahkonen and Mackenzie Blackwood were the best-performing members of the San Jose Sharks. The two were by far the shining lights of a dark season. Kahkonen played well enough to earn himself a trade to the New Jersey Devils in a swap deal for Vitek Vanacek, who spent the rest of the season on the injured reserve after being placed on it by the Devils.
So, with Blackwood and Vanacek now the two netminders, are they strong enough for the San Jose Sharks to compete for the postseason? We have a straight answer with Vanacek. He was the starting goaltender for the upstart New Jersey Devils when they made it to the second round in 2022-23 and has shown that he can backstop a competitive roster.
Blackwood's injury history suggests that he cannot be relied upon as a starter, but he showed last year that he can be a great goaltender when he's healthy. He was among the few bright spots in a dim season for most of the campaign. While the Sharks would love to get him into a position to be a consistent figure, the likelihood is that it won't happen. He's a good goaltender when he's healthy but struggles with his health.
So, overall, is the team good enough? You could argue they are. This is the scary thing. This roster has weaknesses; any roster has weaknesses. The question becomes simple- can the Sharks outscore their defensive issues? Probably not, and it'll likely mean another year hunting for a high draft pick, but the future is getting very bright in the Bay Area.