Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro has a simple team goal in mind for the upcoming NHL season: find who they are as a team.
In an interview with Ted Ramey of the Sharks Audio Network, Ferraro said that finding out how the team plays early in the season is crucial.
"I think the biggest thing for us, I think, is to find our identity as a team," Ferraro told Ramey. "Find our identity early on in the first five games, first game of the season."
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Ferraro added that training camp and exhibition games should be when the Sharks identify who they are as a team moving forward.
He also noted the importance of staying committed to the game plan new coach David Quinn puts out, especially since San Jose's play style has changed over the last few years.
"I think that's very important with new guys and obviously a new coaching staff and a new staff in general, all around the organization that we just find our identity both as a team and as just an organization," Ferraro said.
San Jose Sharks
What's more, Ferraro believes that having a solid identity can help the Sharks in the long run in their quest to lift the Stanley Cup in 2023.
"I think as long as we do that, we're in good hands and we're heading toward that playoff spot. So, I'm excited for this year," Ferraro concluded.
For the 23-year-old to be excited for the upcoming year says a lot about how confident Ferraro is in the Sharks.
Since signing with San Jose in 2019, the Sharks have yet to make the playoffs during Ferraro's tenure. From 2000 to 2019, the Sharks only missed the playoffs twice, and San Jose is hoping that this offseason's new additions can help break the playoff drought.
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However, if San Jose is to make the playoffs again, they will have to know who they are as a team heading into the season.
If they are able to identify who they are as a club sooner than later, the Sharks could be back to their winning ways.