The San Jose Sharks made some curious moves last summer, trying to get tougher instead of better, and it resulted in a team that didn’t make the playoffs in 2014-2015.

That uncomfortable season cost head coach Todd McLellan his job and now it is up to Peter DeBoer to figure out how these Sharks can get back to swimming with the best of the Western Conference.

They still have a formidable group of forwards, with veterans Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau still hanging around. Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture are proven scorers, Joel Ward and Tommy Wingels are physical complementary players and young forwards Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney have upside. Overall, it’s a solid group.

The defence received a boost with the signing of Paul Martin as a free agent. He joins Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brenden Dillon, Justin Braun and Mirco Mueller on the blueline. Again, it’s a pretty strong unit, so the Sharks have a better-than-average collection of skaters.

Goaltending is where the Sharks made their most significant change, letting Antti Niemi go to Dallas, then trading for Martin Jones, the former Kings backup. If Jones is up to the task of handling a starter’s workload, the Sharks could be right back in the playoff picture.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

May 27: Sharks hire Peter DeBoer as head coach

June 30: After trading Antti Niemi to Dallas, Sharks acquire G Jones from Bruins

July 1: Sharks, defenceman Paul Martin agree on four-year deal

July 3: Sharks agree to three-year deal with winger Joel Ward

 

2015-16 SAN JOSE SHARKS

* Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lines

LW C RW
Melker Karlsson Joe Thornton Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau Logan Couture Joel Ward*
Matt Nieto Chris Tierney Tommy Wingels
Tomas Hertl Ben Smith Raffi Torres
  Mike Brown Barclay Goodrow

Fighting For Jobs: RW Joonas Donskoi*, LW Nikolay Goldobin, C Bryan Lerg, LW Frazer McLaren*

 

Projected Pairs

LD RD
Brent Burns Paul Martin*
Marc-Edouard Vlasic Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon Mirco Mueller
  Matt Tennyson

Fighting For Jobs: LD Mark Cundari*, RD Dylan DeMelo

 

Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Martin Jones Alex Stalock Troy Grosenick

Off-season Departures: G Antti Niemi, D Matt Irwin, D Taylor Fedun, LW John Scott

Projected Lineup: Curtis Pashelka/San Jose Mercury News

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Will the Sharks name a captain for the 2015-16 season?

2. Can Finnish import Joonas Donskoi crack the roster?

3. Will Peter DeBoer commit to keeping Brent Burns at defence all season?

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

RW Timo Meier (Halifax, QMJHL): Plays a game that is very similar to that of Marian Hossa. Skilled, hard and determined.

Long-Term Prospect

D Jeremy Roy (Sherbrooke, QMJHL): Very smart, puck playing blueliner who can add offecse and has a very steady calm in his play.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

Three-Year Breakdown (League Rank)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 97 (11th)* 111 (5th) 89 (22nd)
Goals For 2.4 (24th) 2.9 (T-6th) 2.7 (15th)
Goals Against 2.3 (6th) 2.4 (5th) 2.8 (24th)
Power Play 20% (T-7th) 17% (T-19th) 22% (6th)
Penalty Killing 85% (6th) 85% (6th) 79% (25th)
SAT% Possession 51.3% (12th) 53.7% (5th) 51.5% (13th)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $70.4M/$71.4M

The Sharks are nudging up against the cap, but it looks like they enter training camp with a pretty clear idea of what their 23-man roster will be, so there isn’t a lot of fluctuation to expect. They’re top-heavy with four forwards (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski) each costing at least $6-million per season against the cap.

 

PARTING SHOT