San Jose Sharks postmortem: One last ride
The San Jose Sharks could be in for a retooling after a first round exit against the Edmonton Oilers. But what a ride it’s been.
Few teams have seen more regular season success over the past decade than the San Jose Sharks. It’s been a heck of a run for them. Led by the top two picks of the 1997 NHL Draft (Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau), the Sharks have nine playoff appearances in their last 10 seasons. Among them includes a Stanley Cup Final run along with two additional Western Conference Finals appearances. However, mixed among those three deep playoff runs are four first round exits. Their latest one against the Edmonton Oilers could be their last with Thornton and Marleau.
Both forwards are getting old, though they’re still productive. But at this point in their careers, retirement is something the two 37 year olds will consider. Considering both have refused to waive their no movement clauses, even during threats of a recent rebuild, maybe they’re at peace with their respective legacies.
The Sharks are a tad bit spoiled. They’re used to having one of the best passers ever (Thornton) and one of the most consistent wings in recent memory (Marleau) in the lineup every night. Sure, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns have taken over and give San Jose a new core they can build around. But even with them, the clock is ticking as both are over 30 years old.
Where do they go from here?
San Jose’s in a unique situation. While they need to retool and continue to add young talent, the Sharks owe it to Pavelski and Burns to remain competitive. Even if they lose both Thornton and Marleau, San Jose has enough talent to be a playoff team next season. So the Sharks could rebuild on the fly. While it’s tough to do, they have what it takes to pull it off.
Assuming the $73 million salary cap ceiling is stagnant for next season, the San Jose Sharks will have about $17.2 million of cap space. Most of their core (excluding Thornton and Marleau) are under contract long-term. The Vegas Golden Knights will likely take one of Mikkel Boedker, Joel Ward, David Schlemko or Brendan Dillon. This could leave the Sharks with up to $21.2 million of cap space before dealing with their own free agents.
While Melker Karlsson, Chris Tierney, Marcus Sorenson and Joonas Donskoi will each need new deals as restricted free agents, none of them should get more than a short-term bridge deal. So if the Sharks play their cards right, they’ll be able to retool their roster through free agency and the trade market, even if Thornton and Marleau re-sign.
However, it feels like for this group, this was their last chance. Thornton and Marleau are no longer the superstars they were. Though each would likely like to return to San Jose, it would have to be in a lesser role for both. Of course, this means taking a pay cut as well.
Hope for the future
San Jose isn’t done yet. They still have Pavelski and Burns, both of whom are among the best at what they do. If Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl can stay healthy, they have a very strong lineup. A lot of young talent could be on the way. Timo Meier has what it takes to be a contributor, as he held his own in his first professional season in North America.
Must Read: NHL Mock Expansion Draft: Golden Knights Get Joe Thornton
If this is truly the end of the Thornton and Marleau era in San Jose, it’s a tragedy it ends without a Stanley Cup. Few players have given more to a franchise than Marleau has to the Sharks. Thornton is forever grateful San Jose made the bold decision to trade for him in 2005 and the feeling’s probably mutual.
Even if they return, the San Jose Sharks are no longer their team. The torch has been passed to Couture, Pavelski, and Burns. Since Thornton and Marleau have never won a Stanley Cup, they might decide to try to win one somewhere else. Regardless of what happens, it’s been an unforgettable ride for the Sharks. Hopefully it can continue.