San Jose Sharks: 5 Players That Need To Step Their Game Up

The San Jose Sharks have officially clicked as a team, after a 5-1 east coast road trip has revived this team's very early season blunders.

The addition of Martin Havlat has stabilized the Sharks' second line, and Joe Pavelski is having a field day with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau on the first line.

However, the team is having some trouble.

The penalty kill is a major part of this team and how it will fair down the stretch, and it has yet to show up.

Here are five players that need to step up their game.

5. Jamie McGinn/Brad Winchester

As minimal a role as these two players play on the bottom lines, it is all that more important that they contribute to the cause. The cause is tallying in the statistical category, and these players have just two points between them.

McGinn is a key part of this team with the way he works incredibly hard when on the ice, but we keep waiting for him to show up in the stats department on a regular basis. We have yet to see that.

Winchester is not a player that will be much of a factor when it comes to scoring, as he has scored over 10 goals only once in his career. However, he has flied virtually under the radar when on the ice, which can be good or bad.

His big body will keep him on this roster, but McLellan may want to see more from him down the road.

4. Brent Burns

It is tough to call out a premiere defenseman like Burns, but the fact is he has been rather sloppy when it comes to handling the puck.

Sure, he makes up for it with his bullet of a shot from the point, but the turnovers have been a key factor for the Sharks and him in particular this season.

3. Colin White

Where is the six-foot, five-inch behemoth of a defenseman that the team was in dire need of?

He is there, just not very noticeable yet.

The third line of White and Demers have been a combined -11 so far this season and that is simply not acceptable when we are talking about one of the best defensive teams in all of hockey.

White is there for physical purposes, but he needs to play more a significant role on this team if the defense is to play up to par.

2. Jason Demers

For a player supposedly on the verge of a breakout season, Demers' +/- of -6 is simply disappointing.

Many thought the physical/finesse duo of Demers and White would pay dividends for this team. It has yet to show even glimpses of dividends, and it is hurting this team.

Demers needs to play to his potential, but working intuitively with White is what needs to happen first.

1. Michal Handzus

As much of a Swiss Army knife that Handzus is, it is all that more imperative that he play all those roles well on the ice.

The penalty kill, which he plays a huge part of, is one of the Sharks' biggest weaknesses.

He heads a group penalty killers with huge potential in this kind of situation, and they have yet to show up.

Handzus, as captain of that penalty kill, needs to receive the blame.

Read More

San Jose Sharks: What We Learned in First Game of the Season

I don't mean to play off of the unoriginal use of "What did we learn today," which is so overplayed, but there is something to say about seeing the Sharks for the first time this season on TV, in the starting lines and in front of fired up fans.

We had not seen that, for the most part. The first game of the season showcased what the Sharks bring to the table this season, and there was no debating it—this team is good.

How much can we really find out about a team after one game?

Close to nothing, but it was different in San Jose on Saturday night.

We saw Brent Burns and Michal Handzus. Even seeing Thornton and Marleau again in actual competition was exhilarating.

Still, there were weaknesses shown against Phoenix. But for how many soft spots we found, we saw equal bright spots in the route of the Coyotes.

Joe Pavelski is Going to Like His New Role

Take one look at the game against Phoenix and you can tell that this first line is as in sync as any line in the NHL.

Chemistry is a great way to put it.

The player benefiting the most from the chemistry of Thornton, Marleau and Pavelski is Pavelski.

Two goals by "Little Joe" made that clear, and it showed that he could have quite a field day with Thornton and Marleau feeding him the puck and drawing the defenses all day.

Pavelski will get his allotted amount of shots, but he is set up to have quite a season in the statistics department.

The Defense is as Good as Advertised

It is one thing to see the Sharks impressive defense on paper, but it is another thing to actually see these players perform on the ice.

It was worth the wait on Saturday night.

It is obvious that this team will go as far as the defense takes them, and against the Coyotes it looked like it may take them to the elite of the NHL.

Not only does the blue line play tremendous lock-down defense, but it fuels the offense more than anything.

The Sharks looked incredibly quick on Saturday thanks to this defense.

Players like Boyle, Burns and Vlasic were able to stop the Coyotes' attack and push the puck ahead to forwards that can do something with it. I am talking about Marleau, Thornton and others. It set-up players like Pavelski for several scoring opportunities during the game.

The result was the Sharks putting up way, way more shots than the Coyotes, and clear difference of talent of both sides of the puck.

Michal Handzus is Key to Special Teams' Success

If we want to be picky, then newly acquired Michal Handzus played the worst of the bunch on Saturday, and it showed a lot about how this team functions when he is not at his best.

The Sharks rely on Handzus in the face-off circle, penalty kill and power play. With so many jobs, it is up to him to perform on the ice because he plays such a huge role on this team.

Despite Handzus' goal, he was on the ice for two Phoenix goals. This coming from a player whose best asset is on the special teams and defensive side of the puck these days.

He understands what his role on this team is, but he must perform up to par for the Sharks to do any damage in the Western Conference come playoff time.

Read More

NHL Free Agency: Ranking the New Players That Will Help the San Jose Sharks Make the Stanley Cup Finals

The San Jose Sharks made some deals this offseason, to say the least. GM Doug Wilson traded in offensive prowess for speed and bulky defense, giving this San Jose team a whole different look and feel heading into this season.

On paper, the Sharks look to be at the top of the Western Conference yet again. Even more, they have turned their biggest weakness into possibly its greatest asset.

San Jose's lackluster defense in during last season, and evident throughout the playoffs, has now been replaced with a stronger, more physical blueline that has some calling it the best in the franchise's history.

Credit Wilson with that. Not many GM's can turn a team around in just one offseason. Especially a team that has two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals.

Significant changes were made in San Jose. We will wait and see if they were for the better or not.

For now, here are the top new-comers that have the most affect on whether or not the Sharks go deep into the playoffs.




4. Colin White

White is essential to the Sharks' playoff aspirations this season.

Think of him as a slightly lesser version of Douglas Murray. Both will get physical in the defensive zone and neither will hesitate to drop the gloves.

It is for that reason that White will play a huge role for San Jose this season. The Sharks lacked a defenseman that could play in the trenches in front of Antti Niemi and move traffic. It cost the Sharks a few goals during the playoffs last season.

White will solve that problem rather easily, and he should look really good paired with Jason Demers on that third line.



3. Michal Handzus

Handzus is important to this team because of all the roles he will play for the Sharks this season.

The NHL veteran will be involved on the power play, penalty kill and face-off zone throughout the season. Not many players can say that.

He is the Swiss Army knife of the NHL.

He will also be important to the growth of young players like Tommy Wingels and Torrey Mitchell, who are set to line up with him to start the season the third line.

Being a veteran presence may be his greatest asset to this team this season.



2. Martin Havlat

Havlat's health may be mot important to this team.

On paper, it would seem that the Sharks offense was depleted this offseason with the departures of Setoguchi and Heatley.

Havlat adds speed to this team, as well as a nose for the puck, which will come in handy when playing with Logan Couture, or even sharing time on that first line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

Speed is what San Jose lacked in last year's playoffs and Havlat fills that crucial void.



1. Brent Burns

This one was not hard at all because of the fact that Burns fills the void that has plagued the Sharks ever since they lost their captain Rob Blake a few years ago.

San Jose will only go as far as their defense will take them, as proven by back-to-back Western Conference Final defeats.

Burns brings lockdown defense and physical attitude to the blueline, something that will be essential to the Sharks' Stanley Cup aspirations.

It is up to Burns to produce and be the total package on defense this season. If he does not fill that crucial void, the Sharks are just another team short of the Stanley Cup once again.

Read More

San Jose Sharks: 5 Players We Can't Wait To See On the Ice Next Season

The San Jose Sharks will be throwing a whole different team out on the ice next season. This summer, it seemed GM Doug Wilson and the Sharks were a little fed up with back-to-back Western Conference Final defeats, and they decided to re-tool.

While many teams would be content with making it to the third round of the NHL playoffs two years in a row, GM Doug Wilson evidently was not. He made that clear when he traded sniper Dany Heatley and young talent Devin Setoguchi to the Wild this past offseason.

In return, the Sharks acquired speed and defense, making them a force to be reckoned with for yet another year.

Here are five Sharks we cannot wait to see on the ice in October.

5. Jim Vandermeer

The Sharks acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer this offseason in order to help solidify the third line and promote a more physical style of play on the defensive end.

His strengths were clear weaknesses for the Sharks last season. They were hits and blocked shots. Vandermeer is able to fill those holes.

It will be interesting to see how much Vandermeer will be apart of this defense. As it stands, San Jose is looking to carry seven defensemen to start the season, with Demers, Vandermeer and recently-acquired Colin White to switch off on the third line.

4. Michal Handzus

Handzus specializes in three things that the Sharks will be happy to welcome to the team this next season. The 36-year-old plays in a ton of games, is great on the penalty kill and thrives in the face-off circle.

Losing Manny Malhotra last offseason was a clear blow to the Sharks in the face-off circle and Handzus helps to bolster that area for the Sharks.

He will also be greatly appreciated on the penalty kill. After losing PK-extraordinaire Scott Nichol during the offseason, Handzus should fill the void left by the pesky forward.

The former LA Kings forward is able to play so many roles for the Sharks that he is expected to be a major focal point on how San Jose is able to contend against the better teams in the Western Conference.

3. Colin White

Colin White is a big boy. Let's make that clear.

The Sharks acquired him for the sole reason that they need someone to get physical in the trenches right in front of the net. White certainly does that, and at 6'4", 220 lbs., he will do that will a little emphasis behind it.

He will be fighting for time on that third line with Demers and Vandermeer, but when the Sharks need a defensive stopper with power, you better believe coach Todd McLellan will have White on the ice.

2. Martin Havlat

The Sharks traded Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for Martin Havlat this offseason, and he is set to change the tone of San Jose's offense.

While Heatley brought a scorer's mentality, Havlat brings speed and finesse to the second line for the Sharks.

He is set to play with two other crafty players in Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture.

Keeping up with the opposing team on the ice became a problem for the Sharks last season and it was obvious in the playoffs. Havlat solves that problem for the Sharks.

The 30-year-old is set for a big season, stats-wise.

In Minnesota, the offense was stagnant at best last season. On the Sharks, offense comes in flurries and Havlat should benefit in a large way from that.

We can expect around 25 goals and close to 70 points from him next season.

1. Brent Burns

For the occasional Sharks fan who does not know about Brent Burns, I will say that they should get familiar with him.

Burns is 6'5" and 215 lbs with moderate speed, physical play and a giant shot from the point. The only thing he needs to do is prove it on a winning team. Thanks to the Sharks acquisition of him in the offseason, Burns will get that chance.

The 26-year-old takes a part of the Sharks' game that was a huge weakness for them, ever since the retirement of Rob Blake, and turns it into a clear strength.

Burns will be playing on the second line with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and the two young defensemen should be able to play off each other and turn it into a shutdown second pairing.

Make no mistake about it, when the power play is on and Burns is on the ice, it will be sheer entertainment watching him get open for a shot and then letting it fly.

Begin Slideshow

Read More