The San Jose Sharks had a dismal season, finishing with the NHL’s worst record. In order to improve, they plan to focus on enhancing their defense and becoming a tougher team to play against. The Sharks were the league’s worst 5-on-5 team, allowing a league-high 226 goals, while scoring a next-to-last 119. They also allowed roughly 10 more shots per game than they took, the NHL’s widest discrepancy. According to Sharks center Nico Sturm, there were too many nights where they didn’t appear to belong on the ice with the other team. The reasons for their poor performance could be attributed to puck management, game management, a lack of talent, or a lack of know-how and confidence. However, Sharks captain Logan Couture emphasizes that there should be no lack of will to prevent goals. He believes that every player on the ice needs to take pride in not giving up goals. Unlike in recent years, the Sharks now have tens of millions of dollars in salary cap space available this summer to make personnel changes. However, general manager Mike Grier is not expected to hand out long, expensive contracts to top-of-the-line free agents. Instead, he is likely to use some of the money to acquire players who can help establish the identity the Sharks desperately need. According to Grier, they will go after players who fit the mold of what they want their identity to be. They are looking for forwards who know where to be on the ice and can bring something to the table even when they’re not scoring goals. They are also looking for defensemen who can end plays in their own zone, make the right reads, and not get caught watching the puck. Acquiring players with these qualities will positively affect the team’s younger players and help build the culture the team has strived to attain. Sharks coach David Quinn believes that being tougher to play against is partly driven by DNA but also by a culture and attitude among the group that can draw it out in young players. He emphasizes that when seasons get tough, players can’t be looking to pad their stats but instead need to commit to the wider team concept. Playing a smarter, sounder, all-around team game should also make things easier for their goalies, as the Sharks allowed a league-high 2,881 shots on net this year. Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood believes that once everyone is on the same page, it will lead to a lot of positive things. While none of these changes guarantee that the Sharks will be vastly improved next season, it is a significant phase of the rebuild, and the Sharks have a clear idea of how they want to proceed. They recognize the need for players who are committed to improving their defense and toughness, and they believe that this will be a key factor in their success going forward.
Sharks Aim to Improve Defense, Toughness in Rebuild
