The San Jose Sharks are at a crossroads following a disappointing 2016-17 season. San Jose is coming off a first round playoff exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. After failing to win a Stanley Cup with their current core, the Sharks will have some tough decisions to make this offseason. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this summer. Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture have two more seasons left on their current deal. While some think their window to win a Stanley Cup might have already closed, the Sharks might feel differently about the situation. Here is a look at the offseason plan in San Jose.
3 Things The Sharks Have To Work On
1. Sign Thornton & Marleau
The Sharks haven’t won a Stanley Cup with their current core. They came pretty close as Western Conference champions two years ago. After an early playoff exit this year, they could reset with their eye on making one final run at the cup next season. The first step is to bring back Thornton and Marleau at a reasonable price. San Jose has just over $14 million in projected cap space but they can’t afford to spend it all on those two players. Thornton and Marleau made just under $7 million each last season. If they agree to take a pay cut, then the Sharks could spend the money they save on those deals to add a couple of key free agents that could help them contend for a Cup next season.
2. Be Aggressive In Free Agency
If Thornton and Marleau agree to a pay cut, then San Jose could have up to $8 million to spend on free agents. With Thornton and Marleau only signed short-term, the Sharks could be aggressive with bigger name free agents knowing that Thornton and Marleau are only on the books for one or two more years. T.J. Oshie is one name that could be a perfect fit in San Jose. Justin Williams and Patrick Eaves are two other names that might make a lot of sense. If the Sharks can bring back their key veterans while retaining enough salary cap space, they could afford to be aggressive in free agency in order to significantly upgrade their roster.
3. Maximize All Resources
It makes sense that the Sharks wouldn’t want to trade their top prospects and draft picks. After falling short of winning a Stanley Cup in each of the past few years, there is an immense amount of pressure on the franchise to either deliver a winner or turn the page. However, the smart move would be to get creative in order to maximize all resources. Kevin Labanc is the prime example of a top prospect that many teams would covet. If the Sharks don’t want to trade him then it makes sense to at least give him a chance to make an impact at the NHL level. Timo Meier is another top prospect that appears ready to make the jump but will need a chance to prove what he can do. A first round pick isn’t guaranteed to give San Jose a star player either. If they can turn that resource in to a quality veteran player that can help them win now then it might make a lot of sense. The Sharks are at a crossroads entering this offseason. If Thornton and Marleau agree to return at a discounted price, then it would make a lot sense for San Jose to go all-in one more time for the chance to win now.
Key Free Agents
Thornton and Marleau remain the key pieces that will determine how the Sharks proceed this offseason. If they aren’t able to bring back either at a reasonable price then they could decide to look elsewhere. Michael Haley is the only other UFA on the roster while Chris Tierney is set to become an RFA. San Jose will have just over $14 million to work with before signing Thornton and Marleau. That will mean they have some tough decisions to make. With the franchise at a crossroads, it will be very interesting to see how the Sharks navigate what should be a busy offseason.
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