2009-10 NHL preview: San Jose Sharks
Clearly the San Jose Sharks are a great hockey team. The only real question is just how great they are, or how great they actually good be. Last year they went out and scored 117 points and won the President’s Trophy, then lost a first round playoff series in six games to an 8 seed. Granted the Anaheim Ducks were not your typical 8 seed, but Sharks have a long history of disappointing runs in the post season.
The reality is the Sharks, and their fans want to be counted among the elite teams in the NHL and that is going to come as soon as this team can put together a few deep runs in the playoffs. With that goal in mind General Manager Doug Wilson and Head Coach Todd McLellan did a lot of figuring over the off season. They waited all the way until the eve of training camp to make their big move. Then they traded for two time 50 goal scorer Dany Heatley, and really changed the whole dynamic of their team.
While adding Heatley makes them an even better regular season team, his career post season numbers; 10 goals and 24 assists in 34 career games may just be the post season push this team needs.
Additions- D Joe Callahan, F Dany Heatley, C Dwight Heiminen, C Manny Malhorta, C Scott Nichol, RW Jed Ortmeyer, and D Daniel Rahimi
Subtractions- W Riley Armstrong, G Brian Boucher, F Jonathan Cheechoo, D Christian Ehrhoff, W Lukas Kaspar, RW Claude Lemuiex, D Brad Lukowich, F Milan Michalek, LW Travis Moen, and D Brett Westgarth
