One year ago the San Jose Sharks were the worst team in hockey. Then Macklin Celebrini scored 45 goals, put up 115 points, and broke Joe Thornton’s franchise record at nineteen years old, dragging a rebuilding team into a late playoff race.
Now the Sharks have added the second, ninth, and twenty-first picks in the draft, plus Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse, and Mason Marchment, and signed Celebrini to a five-year extension worth ninety-four million dollars, the richest annual cap hit in NHL history. The rebuild was supposed to take years. Celebrini may have just destroyed that timeline.
In this video we break down how dangerous San Jose is actually becoming: the 34-point jump in the standings, Celebrini’s record-breaking season, the young core of Will Smith, Michael Misa, Yaroslav Askarov and Ivar Stenberg, and Mike Grier’s shift from collecting prospects to adding veterans who can help now. We also make the honest case against the hype, because the Sharks still gave up 292 goals and leaned almost entirely on one player.
Which player becomes San Jose’s second true star? Will Smith, Michael Misa, Ivar Stenberg, or someone else? Drop it in the comments.
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Yes, yes, they do. Finally.
I don't understand the question as to whether the Sharks are good enough to make the playoffs. They damn near made the playoffs last year with my grandmother on the 3rd D pairing.
As much as I dislike the Nurse deal, their defense is WAY better than it was last year. They are going to have legitimate NHL defenseman in at least 5 of the 6 spots.
As a full season of Sherwood, Marchment and Stenberg, improvement from at least one of their young forwards and this team should compete for the Division title.
The only real question I have is Askarov. He needs to step up. Become the goalie the Sharks think he is.
Yrah, they showed the Serbian beating up on "Bob"
If they don't learn to finish in the third period we will be having the same talk next year! I'm not sold. Misa has to pick his game up or he drags his line down. Stenberg, could have rookie jitters? The defense will need time to figure how to best support each other. I'm saying I'm not buying playoff tickets just yet. I'm hopeful but still realistic.
Celebrini, a college drop out, at least a mil/month after taxes. yikes
The Sharks have a defense problem
They doomed themselves with the 18.5 salary clfor celebrities. Can they a cup. Yes. But not multiples. They set a bar for paying their players too much money and the rest of them are going to want big salaries