The San Jose Sharks start the 2017/18 season at home, as they prepare to face the Philadelphia Flyers on day one of the new season – October 4th.
Getting to the new season thought, meant the Sharks had to get through the summer.
Over the summer, the big news was the formation of the Vegas Golden Knights, and the threat this posed to the established teams from the expansion draft. The San Jose Sharks lost defenseman, David Schlemko who had been mainly on the third line paired with Brenden Dillon. Schlemko picked up two goals and sixteen assists in his sixty two games as a Shark. Schlemko was traded the next day, to the Montreal Canadiens for a 2019 fifth round draft pick.
After nineteen years, Patrick Marleau has taken off the teal, and moved to Toronto Maples Leafs, in an $18.75 million, three year contract. Marleau is the Sharks’ all-time leader in points (1,082), goals (508), game-winning goals (98), power-play goals (160), shorthanded goals (17), and games (1,493). He ranks second in assists (574) behind center Joe Thornton (722).
After becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of last season, Marleau made the decision to move to Toronto, saying “It was the team, the excitement that’s around it, the youth, the coaching staff, the coach, the management, the way they see the game going and the players they have on their roster, it’s extremely exciting to be a part of that.”
While Joe Thornton is still at the Sharks, and being referred to as “a machine” by Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, he isn’t getting any younger and had surgery over the summer on his knee. This is “Jumbo” Joe’s 20th season as a Shark, and is looking to carry on in as fine form as he has over the last few.
It looks like Tim Heed will be having some time in a Sharks jersey this year. Originally picked up by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 draft, he was not retained and the Sharks took him on a two way contract in 2016. Heed had been assigned to the San Jose Barracuda, but is now showing on the roster and starting sheet ahead of Wednesday’s game.
The pre-season games started well, with the Sharks beating the Ducks 5-0, the Golden Knights 5-2 and the Coyotes 5-4. In the return games, the Ducks then beat the Sharks 3-0 and the Coyotes took the game 4-0. The Golden Knights, however, suffered a second defeat, losing 5-3.
Since the pre-season games, the Sharks have reassigned twelve players to their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
Now, we are here, hours from face off at the SAP centre, and the Sharks have the fortune to have their first five games of the season at home. How these games go, could very well set the tone for the rest of the season. Captain Joe Pavelski will be leading the team out, certainly hoping to get the win.
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