The 2017/18 season was somewhat of a turbulent year for San Jose, with them managing 45 wins from their 82 games, ten of those wins coming after regulation time. There were a few “shock” losses in the season, such as a 6-5 O/T loss to the Ottawa Senators and a 2-1 regulation defeat at the hands of the Arizona Coyotes.
The Sharks, however, did pull off an eight game win streak in March, including two huge victories over the Calgary Flames. This effort was enough to see the Sharks come eleventh in the league and clinching third spot in the Pacific Division.
The Stanley Cup quarter finals saw the Sharks take the Anaheim Ducks out in four straight games, Martin Jones between the pipes letting slip just five goals total, game one of the series being a 3-0 shut out by the Sharks.
The Semi Finals saw the Las Vegas Golden Knights finish the Sharks run, as the Knights advanced taking the series 4-2.
Now, the Sharks look to the future as they approach this year’s Draft, however, we must look backwards to try to understand what they Peter DeBoer and his associates will do going forward, particularly with regard to their first-round pick – the 21st pick in this year’s draft.
The last few years have seen the Sharks take heavily from the attacking pool, last year’s first round draft pick was Joshua Norris playing centre for the Michigan Wolverines. The second round pick was a defenceman, Mario Ferraro from the Des Moines Buccaneers. The rest of the 2017 draft was all forwards for the Sharks.
The 2016 draft also saw just once defenceman for the Sharks, their sixth round pick was Mark Shoemaker, although following a disappointing year the Sharks cut Shoemaker loose. The rest of the ’16 draft were forwards.
The last defenceman that the Sharks drafted that has played in the NHL was Mirco Muller, traded to the New Jersey Devils last year.
This is why, the San Jose Sharks will now be looking for an injection of young blood on to the blue line.
With the 21st pick of the 2018 draft, the San Jose Sharks select from Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, defenceman, Rasmus Sandin.
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