Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 30: Dylan DeMelo #74, Brent Burns #88, Logan Couture #39, Joe Pavelski #8 and Evander Kane #9 celebrate Kane’s third period goal in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 30, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dylan DeMelo;Brent Burns;Logan Couture;Joe Pavelski;Evander Kane
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 30: Dylan DeMelo #74, Brent Burns #88, Logan Couture #39, Joe Pavelski #8 and Evander Kane #9 celebrate Kane’s third period goal in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 30, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dylan DeMelo;Brent Burns;Logan Couture;Joe Pavelski;Evander Kane /

9. San Jose Sharks

Time is running out for the San Jose Sharks to win with their current core of players. They have eleven contracts expiring at the end of the year, and this could be their last chance to really go for it all.

Last season the San Jose Sharks finished tenth in the league with 100 points before bowing out to Vegas in the second round of the playoffs.

Why they could win

Everything is in place for the Sharks to take one last shot at the Stanley Cup before next year’s dreaded offseason. They’ve got the stars, the depth and the incentive to take make a run, but it all has to come together.

The Sharks’ top six isn’t star-studded, but it’s chalk full of solid talent. Joe Thornton, Joe Pavaleksi and Logan Couture have been the guys there for awhile now, but they’re finally getting some real support. The addition of Evander Kane last season at the deadline pushed them to another level, especially in the playoffs; Tomas Hertl took a big step and is now a permanent top six talent; and Timo Meier should be ready for full time top six responsibilities next season.

Joe Thornton is currently the league’s most pitied player now that Ovechkin has a Cup. With it being increasingly obvious that he may not be long for the league anymore, the Sharks can find that extra motivation to if nothing else to win for him.

Martin Jones has flown under the radar and quietly become a solid goaltender. He can lead the Sharks far as long as they give him a chance.

Why they won’t win

San Jose needed to make a bigger splash in free agency than what they did. They were close to landing Tavares, but there was apparently no plan B for when it ultimately failed. The Sharks are bringing the same team they had last season, just aged another year.

The core of the team is getting too old, and regression could begin to really sink in this season. Thornton is 39 and has both knees reconstructed over the last two years, who knows if he can move on the ice anymore. Brent Burns and Pavelski are past their athletic primes now, and both of them taking a step back would be devastating on both end of the ice.

Conclusion

This is the Sharks’ last chance to win a Stanley Cup with this core, but they need one final piece to complete the puzzle. If nobody regresses and all the youth steps forward, then the Sharks are easily Cup contenders. Everything else is in place, but this isn’t the year to be conservative. They need to go for it now; they may not get another chance.

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