After a dismal 0-10-1 start to the 2023-24 season, a lot of people expected the San Jose Sharks to flame out and struggle to get wins and points on the board during the year. One point through eleven games had the Sharks on pace to rival some of the worst teams to have ever been assembled in this great league. It was a start that had most fans looking through their calendar to figure out when the season ended because the on-ice product was unwatchable. Being blown out every night started to get boring and difficult for this group of players and the front office. Something needed to change.
Well, here we sit. It's December 9th, and the San Jose Sharks currently sit just 10 points back of the Stanley Cup playoff places. Admittedly, this Sharks roster has played more games than any of the clubs it is competing against for the playoff places, but with a 3-1 record in their last four and a 5-2 record in their last seven, this is a team that's hot. If this continues in the final game of this prolonged road trip in Las Vegas, San Jose would be in a really unusual position for how this season has gone to this point.
With the gap to the postseason places not growing at the team starting to discover its footing in the season, there have been some questions as to whether or not the Sharks may actually be able to get to the playoffs. This may sound lucocrist to some, but stranger things have happened. San Jose's goaltending has not been the problem at all this season, and that combined with some offense (such as the Sharks recently discovered) is a strong sign that there are signs of recovery in the Bay Area.
Being candid, there's bery little chance for the Sharks to rescue this season. Even with the recent success, this team is still nine games below NHL .500. They need to win something like 70% of their remaining games from here to have a realistic playoff chance, and that is just not going to happen with this team, right? I would have said so, but their last three games have featured the Sharks attempting to roar back into a competitive position that they had no right to be in. Stranger things have happened, but it would need to start soon. With the Sharks open for business and looking to sell off, it's not going to happen.