How could they not?! Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, was going to be paired with Brent Burns, a former Norris Trophy winner himself, on the same blueline. The Sharks also had Joe Thornton and Joel Pavelski, in addition to a good host of young talent.
Then came their 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff run that garnered more attention for what they got away with rather than their abilities.
The Sharks were tied for the second-highest scoring team in the NHL this season (289 with the Calgary Flames), only trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 319 goals. In fact, the Sharks’ 58 goals are one better than both the Boston Bruins and St. Louis blues, the two teams that will meet in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals Monday night.
Yes, a team with all that talent who finished second overall in the Western Conference was eliminated in six games by the Blues back on Tuesday night. The Sharks benefited from one of the worst major penalty calls in the history of the NHL in Game Seven of their opening round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, and caught a lucky break when an apparent game-tying goal was waived off in Game Seven of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche. Then the Sharks won Game Three of the Western Conference Finals against the Blues in overtime on a blatant hand pass that Karlsson scored on.
It would be the last win they had in the playoffs, as the Blues outscored San Jose 12-2 over the last three games to clinch their first trip to the finals since 1970.
Karlsson penned a letter thanking the Sharks organization on Friday, seemingly bidding the franchise adieu after one season, as he is set to test the free agency market this summer. Thornton, might have seen his final chance to hoist Lord Stanley slip through his fingers yet again. He and Pavelski are the longest-tenured Shark players, and are huge question marks for General Manager Doug Wilson. Pavelski is slated to make $6 million next season, the final year of his contract. Thornton is an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, the day before he turns 40, and signed a one-year, $5 million deal last summer.
Then there is the issue of goaltender Martin Jones. The Sharks did not advance as far as they did because of Jones, but rather in spite of Jones. Jones became the scapegoat Corey Crawford turned into towards the end of Chicago's recent dynasty. Jones was a dripping faucet at best at times in the playoffs, and the second biggest reason the Sharks are cleaning out lockers now, instead of in three weeks.
Naturally the first was the beneficial officiating in swing or deciding games in each of their three series.
The Sharks have only missed the playoffs six times since being founded in the 1991-92 season. Every great team with staying power this long goes through a dry spell. You’ve seen the regression of the Blackhawks, Rangers, Kings, and Red Wings. The Sharks still have the talent to compete in the Western Conference, but this may be the last time for awhile they can legitimately contend. Calgary, Vegas, and Arizona are poised to be 1-2-3 at the top of the Pacific Division for awhile, and the Central Division is always the most competitive in the league.
You had to see the writing on the wall as the postseason unfolded.
It may not matter what signatures are penned to contracts, as “Team Teal” is likely going to look like a fish out of water very soon.
-JC24