Five bold Sharks predictions ahead of 2021 NHL season
The Sharks might be one of the NHL’s most interesting teams in 2021. Various simulations and projections predict them finishing eight-to-12 points shy of a playoff position. Yet, one look at their hungry and healthy roster could easily convince you that a stiff rebound from last season is inevitable.There are a lot of questions, including about the power play, team defense, goaltending, and even group chemistry. But with enough track record, more stability and healthy key pieces in hand, answers could be a lot closer than they were in 2020.Here are five bold predictions for the Sharks' season.
Only once in his career has EK65 been a point-per-game player. In 2015-2016 with Ottawa, he notched precisely 82 points in as many games. But in this shortened campaign, Karlsson should benefit from the last 10 months of rest and recuperation much as anybody in the NHL.
Each of his prior two seasons in San Jose have been cut well short by respective groin and thumb injuries.
However, when the veteran has been right, his puck-moving abilities are more than apparent. In addition, coach Bob Boughner will be asking all his defensemen to be more activated in the offensive zone.
Don’t be surprised if 47 of Karlsson's 56 points are assists.
It should first be established that not even the likes of Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy or Dominik Hasek would have performed well behind the Sharks' team defense in 2019-20. Teal skaters put their netminders in less-than-desirable spots on a regular basis throughout last season, and absolutely have to be better without the puck this time around.
With a refocused Martin Jones and rejuvenated Devan Dubnyk in a new chapter, it’s my instinct (and statistical guess) that one of the two veteran backstops is going to put themselves back on the map in 2021. It’s not to suggest that the other will slouch, only that we’ll see one defiantly emerge in storybook fashion and not let go of the reins.
It’s not to know how many minutes Ferraro will be logging, or who his defensive partner will be by the end of 56 games. Only that we will officially certify the sophomore of “top four” caliber, if he wasn’t already that from last season.
Ferraro has been getting high marks from his head coach during training camp, including the declaration of "best defenseman on the ice" certain days in Arizona. That’s high praise with the likes of Karlsson (two Norris Trophies), Brent Burns (one Norris) and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (2014 Norris snub) sharing a blue line.
Via his YouTube channel this offseason, we got to see the Ontario native's workouts and work ethic, and so far, they seem to be paying great dividends. It wouldn’t be surprising if an ascent to the top defensive also is in Ferraro’s near future with the Sharks.
The earliest Patrick could get to 1,768 games played (knock on wood) would be April 19 in Las Vegas (knock on wood, again). That's precisely one week after the NHL’s April 12 trade deadline. Would the Sharks move Marleau to a Cup contender, if they are not one, as they did in early 2020?
While "Mr. Shark" would again be desirable across the league for his contract, his résumé, his tangibles, and his intangibles, there’s something instinctual that says either the Sharks will be in contending position, or oddities of a pandemic-shortened season won’t create the traditional flurry of deadline deals. On a personal level, I should also declare I’d fully accept Marleau breaking Howe’s record with another NHL team, so long as they ultimately also win the Stanley Cup for him.
It’s not to guarantee them in or out of the second season by March 20, only that they will have either established themselves as a team who definitely can or can’t qualify after just nine weeks. This is mostly unique to 2021. Shortened seasons are a full sprint, and how things begin are imperative.
It’s unlikely any team will edge their way back into contention after a complete blunder out of the gates. For San Jose, that’s the difficult part: The Sharks don’t have a full 82 to help detach themselves from the last-place finish of last season. We should have a good read after 30 games how the team defense, depth scoring and special teams have repeated themselves … or better yet, redefined themselves.
