It is little reluctant to believe that the San Jose Sharks will arrive at the playoffs next season. Moving from the last place in general this year to a postseason position in 2026 would require something around an improvement of 40 points.
But getting a lot to the playoff cut line in 2025-26 is not only within the kingdom of the possibility for sharks, internally, it is probably expected. And begins with converting some of the numerous nearby losses that have endured this season in victories.
The sharks enter Sunday’s elevators against the desperate calls of Calgary with a 12-15-11 record in games of a goal, and with a less optimal brand of 18-16-6 in the games that
On Friday, the sharks made another solid effort against a more talented and experienced opponent, and were tied with Edmonton’s oilers to the playoffs entering, yes, the third period.
But a questionable trigger for Alexander Wennberg led to a power set of Corey Perry’s power game with 12:28 remaining in regulation time.
The sharks made a boost to try to tie it, with William Eklund arriving so close to score his 18 season at the end of the third period. But the Oilers striker, Connor Brown, froze the game with an empty net goal with remaining 26 seconds, giving sharks a loss of 4-2, marking the eighth consecutive defeat of San José.
“At this time, it is just a play here and play there what is costing us a game,” said Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky.
Brown’s goal was the 16th empty netter that sharks have allowed this season, since his record in the two-goal games fell to 4-14.
“When we are losing games, it tends to be, or we do not play for a section of 10 to 15 minutes and could score one or two,” said the defense of the Sharks, Henry Thrun, “who saw (saw) tonight.”
Here are three ways in which sharks can improve in closed games.
Continuous to Maduro: Sharks have had one of the youngest teams in the NHL throughout the season and became even younger after the commercial deadline last month. Althegh Nobody in Teal is having fun at this time, since the sharks will take a skate of eight games at the Saddledome on Sunday, the experience that young players obtain could be valuable in the future.
Sharks have some holes on the list to fill this low season, but do not have that General Manager Mike Grier is a massive speaker in free agency. As much as good to see progress, he does not want to hurry his process. Part of that is to make their younger players learn to assume more load.
“We have some types in positions, some young players, especially, who are only growing and learning,” said Warsofsky. “To play in this league, you must be consistent. When you have a young player who is only sets, or only is 18, 19, 20 years old, it is a lot in his plate, and it is not his fault.
“But the more experience you get and be in these positions, the more comfortable it feels, and this is how you grow. This is how we will grow as a team.”
Special equipment/winning respect: The shark power game remains inconsistent. The unit enters Saturday in the 23rd in the NHL to 18.7%. But the biggest problem this season has the amount of penalties that sharks have tasks and how bad the leg in the murder has throughout the year.
Sharks have been short 247 times this season, the second more in the NHL, just ahead of Montreal (249). They have allowed 66 goals of power of the league this year, and its penalty is position 29.
Sharks have 6-32-5 this season when they allow a power set goal.
Warsofsky did not like the soft call in Wennberg with the game tied in the 5:54 brand of the third period, saying: “I have seen it several times.” But he also added: “I think we have respect for our opponent. I still don’t know if we have it from the rest of the League,” perhaps refer to NHL officers.
Add the right pieces: While sharks may not go hunting great games in free agency, they have holes to fill, and will depend on Grier and their staff to identify which players make sense to add right now, if they can.
Sharks did well by signing Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli the first day of free agency last summer, and then added to the defenders Cecy Ceci and Jake Walman through commerce. Those players were overturned to the contestants on the deadline.
Sharks have to address their leaking defense, and could be on the market for more two -way strikers and perhaps a defender who can be a bit unpleasant when necessary. A solid veteran goalkeeper to match the 23 -year -old son Yaroslav Askarov also makes sense.
But shark players and trainers are not thinking about that at this time. They want to finish the year as strong as possible, starting with Sunday’s game.
“The most important thing at this time is that we still have three games, three games to go well,”
“But in terms of seeing next year, these questions will be addressed this summer, both from a player’s perspective and from a coach’s perspective, and something I am sure there will be many conversations.”
