NHL 2020/2021 Season Preview - San Jose Sharks

West Division

Odds: Point totals 53.5, to make playoffs +230, to win division +2200, Stanley Cup +6000

Simulation results: 6th in the West with 52 points

The simulations seem to be back on track with the oddsmakers and San Jose is the next in line in the west after Kings and Ducks, counting from the bottom. So it seems like a rather dire season in California, with trio of teams out of the playoffs and manning the last three spots in the division.

Last Season

Pretty much a disastrous season after being a Stanley Cup contender for at least four seasons. Sharks finished last in the western conference. Some core players left and eventually head coach Peter deBoer was shown the door as well. Of course there were injuries to key players, but nevertheless it was a huge disappointment for the big name Sharks. They are likely looking for a new beginning, but still have a lot of package from the past - and potential to still be a contender.

Changes to 2021 and the divisional matchups

Somewhat of an end of an era with Joe Thornton moving to Toronto, but otherwise the team has only gone through small adjustments after the catastrophe of 2020. There is a huge upside compared to what we saw last season and the players are not that bad as they made themselves look. The regular season will see a repetition of Sharks playoffs-run two seasons ago, facing Golden Knights and Avalanche, which should be interesting. However, it is more likely that the Sharks are battling with the likes of Arizona and Minnesota for the playoff spot, if that. Making a complete U-turn from last season does not look likely, but stranger things have happenned.

Roster and lineups

First of all, in reality the team is lot better than they looked last season. They were snowballing downhill from the start and couldn’t stop until they were at the bottom. It is a new season, with new ideas and the key players are still top notch and they should be hungry for success. And to show the world they are not as lousy as 2020 would indicate.

Between the pipes Martin Jones and Devan Dybnyk make a good pairing, if somewhat inconsistent at times. The defense led by Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson is very skilled, especially offensively, if lacking a bit of depth – there could be still some moves coming up to strenghten that zone.

The offense is competitive, with Tomas Hertl, Logan Coutore, Evander Kane and Timo Meier leading the way, but here as well the depth and secondary scoring might prove problematic. Of course if these guys rise to a point-per-game players, not much secondary scoring is needed since the defense will help offensively as well. In order to avoid the gloomy prediction of the simulations, almost every playere will have to play to their potential and the Sharks simply can't afford to have any of the big guns failing yet again.

Season predictions

The western division is wide open for the fourth playoff-spot and that’s where San Jose is aiming. In the simulations they fail at that, if not by much. But it could be that the horrendous last season was just a fluke and San Jose will return to the playoffs and contending again. Simulations have them firmly as 3rd worst team in the West and it is up to the Sharks to prove us (and the oddsmakers) wrong.

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