San Jose is back in action tonight but things aren't looking good. The Sharks are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002-2003 and only the second time since 1997-1998.
Sportsclubstats.com has the Sharks with a 32.6% chance to make the playoffs – after being just over 85% after beating the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on February 5th. That was three weeks ago and they’ve managed to plummet over 50 percentage points. A 2-5-1 record will do that to you, though.
Here’s the sportsclubstats.com image of San Jose’s rollercoaster season.
The work they had put in to salvage the season and remain in a good position between the end of November and the beginning of February was all erased by the struggles of the past eight games. The teams around them surged while they floundered, it's as simple as that.
The Sharks are currently two points back of Calgary for the final wildcard spot in the West but Minnesota is ahead of the Sharks in the race with a point advantage and a game in hand.
Things aren't completely lost right now, that’s for sure, but they aren't far from being so.
The Sharks next eight games are against Detroit, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver (x2), Pittsburgh, Nashville and Chicago. Not a friendly schedule. The Sharks could very well have had the final nail in their coffin by the end of this stretch of games.
When you look at the upcoming schedule and you’re already looking up in the standings we have to wonder if it’s time to throw in the towel and sell as much as possible between now and March 2nd.
In Minnesota’s next 8 games they draw Nashville, Colorado (x2), Ottawa, Washington, Carolina, New Jersey and Anaheim. That’s a much friendlier schedule – and they’re already ahead of San Jose.
For Calgary, five of their next eight are against Toronto, Ottawa, Colorado, Philadelphia and Boston.
Don’t worry about tanking, though, it’s too late for that. As bad as they’ve been, they would still hold the 2nd wildcard spot in the East so there are a good chunk of teams ahead of them in the draft standings.
Right now the Sharks would select 14th. With a little luck they could get to 10th, but that’s probably their ceiling for the draft this year. The focus should be on selling every UFA possible for anything – although that’s not an easy task with the list of available players for the Sharks. The future is bleak as far as the playoffs go and, let’s be honest, the players that would get traded don’t make a significant impact anyway whether it’s being just plain bad (Hannan) or constantly a healthy scratch (Kennedy).
Let the kids drive this team’s fate for the rest of the season and regroup for next year. With a solid game from Goldobin in the top six, a 3C, Top4D and Goalie this team can still try and capitalize on Thornton/Marleau’s final two years in San Jose. There really is no alternative – not being able to trade them means they need to crack open that window again but do it without losing their draft picks.
San Jose hosts the Detroit Red Wings tonight with LA, Minnesota, Winnipeg and Vancouver all in action as well. If things go bad for San Jose, and go well for everyone else, it might make Doug Wilson a little more active with regards to shopping his UFA’s.
The only key to the game tonight is find a way to win.
Thanks for reading.
*I'm running the Ottawa Marathon in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, if you have a spare dollar feel free to donate to my goal here --> http://convio.cancer.ca/goto/timchiasson I've hit 60% of my goal already. To those who have donated, thanks for the support!