San Jose Sharks: 5 burning questions for 2018-19

1. Is this the year?

It’s a broken record by now, but it has to be speculated for a perennial playoff contender such as the Sharks.

Is this the year that San Jose finally wins the Stanley Cup?

Professional sports has been more exciting than ever in recent memory and in large part because teams such as the Washington Capitals (2018), Philadelphia Eagles (2018) and Chicago Cubs (2016) have all won respective league championships after either never winning a title, or overcoming a curse that lasted over 70 years.

With that being said, the Sharks are on the clock and now the odds are arguably in their favor more so than in the past. There’s a fair argument to make that since the NHL’s overall competitiveness and parody is the best among all four major sports that the league will begin to see fewer dynasties, and teams winning multiple Stanley Cups in a handful of seasons.

Due to the growth of San Jose’s roster, the timing is right for the Teal to make another deep run in the playoffs and reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history. San Jose has a commendable mix of young assets that are ready to take that next step toward becoming key contributors for a legitimate contender, veterans who are still capable of competing at the highest level and a goaltender in Martin Jones that’s on the verge of becoming the best in the NHL.

The Bay Area knows the Sharks’ story and playoff history all too well, but 2019 could be San Jose’s time to finally hoist Lord Stanley and in Joe Thornton’s final NHL season.

Still, San Jose will have to face and answer the five questions addressed in order to make history next June.