With consecutive Western Conference Finals' appearances, the San Jose Sharks have shed their reputation as postseason underachievers. Call them annual bridesmaids, if you will.
Finishing second in the West is still short of the goal, but it's not like the team has lost to bad teams in early rounds as it had in the past. If anything, they've had a bad sense of timing the last two springs.
Two years ago, loaded for a long Stanley Cup run, the Sharks simply ran into a quicker, deeper, more talented Chicago team and sat at home as the Blackhawks followed a sweep of San Jose by skating the Cup with a six-game series win over Philadelphia.
Last postseason, Vancouver's superior blue line and exposed weaknesses on San Jose's defense was the biggest difference in the Canucks' advancing in five games over the Sharks only to lose Game 7 on home ice to Boston in the Finals.
After each disappointment, general manager Doug Wilson took a long, analytical look at what had just happened and made changes to support a familiar core – Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dan Boyle and Joe Pavelski. Wilson has resisted the temptation to blow up the mix, ignoring the cries to trade a Marleau or Thornton, and by sticking to his guns may still pay off.
But Wilson is running a gamble, he's banking on his top players aren't past their prime and still will have enough in the tank to play their best hockey during the grueling two months of the playoffs after another 82-game regular-season grind.
As the season starts, Thornton and Marleau are both 32 years old. And Boyle is 35. They have already combined for 2,782 regular-season games and 38 seasons in the NHL. It's a safe bet that Boyle will lead the Sharks in average ice time (he was second in the entire league last year) and that Marleau and Thornton will lead the team among forwards.
So once the winter turns to spring, and the regular season turns to the pressure-packed atmosphere of the playoffs, there's no guarantee San Jose's Big Three will be healthy for another long run. Marleau is a fitness freak. Thornton started dedicated himself more in the offseason since turning 30. Boyle made adjustments this offseason to better prepare for the long season. Still, players are more and more susceptible to injury the older they get. And the older they are the longer it takes to bounce back.
Not that we're trying to paint a picture of gloom, but look what has won the Cup the last couple of seasons – a Pittsburgh team three years ago led by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury. Two years ago it was a Chicago team paced by Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.
Maybe the real beauty of this San Jose team is what's been added around its core. Because he played defense for 14 successful seasons – 12 in Chicago and the last two with San Jose – Wilson has a soft spot for the blue line. And he knew it needed to improve. Last year's version was not mobile enough, not offensive enough and not gritty enough.
It looks a lot better on paper this time around thanks to quite a bit of tinkering.
Wilson fetched Brent Burns from Minnesota and quickly convinced the 26-year-old to sign a five-year contract extension. Burns will chip in offensively, pose as top stopped with an edge to his game and log big minutes. Journeyman Jim Vandermeer was acquired for his toughness. Now Douglas Murray has a little help. Jason Demers took a step last season, and he could take another one this year.
San Jose will be looking for a bounce back season from Marc-Edouard Vlasic while Justin Braun should build on a decent rookie campaign. Niclas Wallin and the acquired Colin White add veteran presence. Mike Moore and Nick Petrecki supply depth.
Up front, Wilson moved the disappointing Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat in one of three separate deals with Minnesota. Havlat starts the season rehabbing from late offseason shoulder surgery, but could be a better postseason performer than Heatley. Michal Handzus assumes the third-line center role, should help on faceoffs and be counted on to improve a poor penalty kill.
Pavelski moves up to a top-six role. Logan Couture was a pleasant surprise, and must avoid the pitfalls of a sophomore jinx while the Sharks will look for Ryane Clowe to continue to work in the dirty areas of the ice and provide leadership.
Checking-line forwards will come from a group that includes Torrey Mitchell, Andrew Desjardins, Benn Ferriero, John McCarthy, Tommy Wingels, Frazer McLaren, Ben Guite, and Brandon Mashinter.
The Sharks should be set in goal as Antti Niemi came on strong during the second half of the season to seize the No. 1 spot. He's only 28 and poised to lead a long run. Antero Niittymaki isn't 100 percent as training camp commences, but there is an insurance policy in former backup Thomas Greiss with Alex Stalock waiting in the wing.
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