Seattle Kraken: A Beginner’s Guide to the Pacific Division
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a major example of what happens if a general manager refuses to commit to a rebuild when the team is no longer competitive. They have a large number of aging players with massive contracts and very few top prospects.
The Next Wave
San Jose had a few young players make the jump to the NHL. However, most of those who made their debut in the last three years are decent at best. Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc are two of the best young players on the Sharks, but they’ve already been in the league for five years. After that, a majority of players showed very little promise when coming up to the NHL level.
There are a few decent prospects in the Sharks development system, including former first-round picks Ryan Merkley and Ozzy Wiesblatt. But it’s their 2021 first-rounder who has the most star potential. William Eklund could be a top-line winger if developed correctly.
Old Guard
The previously mentioned aging veterans are most prevalent on the defensive core. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Erik Karlsson, and Brent Burns are all past the 30-year mark, with Burns being the oldest of the bunch at 36. They also have a few older players up front, with leaders Logan Couture and Evander Kane who are both over thirty and playing on massive contracts.
In the Net
Goaltending is one of the biggest question marks for the Sharks this season. Adin Hill is a proven NHL-caliber backup, but it’s unknown if he can step up to a starting job. Meanwhile, veteran James Reimer has been a starting goaltender in the past, but it has been a few years since he has been in that role, and it was never the best fit for him.