The 106th season of the National Hockey League kicks off Tuesday October 10th with a triple header of action on ESPN. With this in mind, we will be doing a rundown of every team heading into what will be another season of joy, heartbreak and unnecessary anger from a plethora of fan bases across North America.
San Jose Sharks
2022-23 Record: 22-44-16 (7th in Pacific Division)
Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
A fun game to ask your hockey friends: Which team had the fewest wins during the 2022-23 season?
Answer: The San Jose Sharks
Surprising right? A team with a 101 point, Norris Trophy winning defensemen won the fewest games last year. And if you look past Erik Karlsson’s spectacular offensive performance, you can see why. Constant focus on scoring resulting in tepid defensive play, a lack of scoring outside of the top six, and goaltending on par with the 1980s. You may ask, how can it get any worse? The thing is, it probably won’t be worse…but it won’t be a whole lot better either
Forwards
On the attacking front, team captain Logan Couture and fellow familiar face Tomas Hertl will look to develop chemistry with a plethora of new additions to the squad. Trade acquisitions Anthony Duclair, Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman will all look to hit the ground running with what will likely be spots on the top two lines for the Sharks. Guys like Luke Kunin, Kevin Labanc and Alexander Barabanov will look to make the make noise as each of those men is in a contract year. All in all, the Sharks forward group could be a lot worse, expect some goals and maybe some actual defense on the backend!
Defense
Behold! The worst defense in the National Hockey League! You can have your Anaheims and your Chicagos, but my money goes to the Sharks. Erik Karlsson is gone, and now Mario Ferraro will have to take over top paring minutes alongside…Marc-Édouard Vlasic? Radim Simek? Jan Rutta? Without the offensive flash that Karlsson provided, this defense is just not going to be able to keep up with the Joneses of the Pacific Division.
Goaltending
Last year it was Kappo Kahkönen (.883 SV%) and James Reimer (.890 SV%), this year it is Kappo Kahkönen and Mackenzie Blackwood. In fairness, not even Martin Brodeur could salvage the mess that is the San Jose blue line. God speed gentlemen, we’ll be praying for you.
Individual To Watch: Filip Zadina
The sixth overall selection in 2018 bet on himself. Now is his chance to show why. This is a San Jose lineup that should see Zadina be given his shot to show what he can do. At 23 years old, we aren’t at last chance territory yet, but we are certainly getting close. If this prove-it deal doesn’t work out, Zadina may be out of opportunities.
Standings Prediction: 7th in Pacific
X/Twitter: @hunt37595
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