Brodie’s Breakdown: Ten Things to Watch
This is our series 10 things to watch in the upcoming Shark season. And this time around, we’ll tackle the team perspective on contending. We’ll discuss what exactly the Sharks will contend for in just a second. But first, the process of tearing down to rebuild the right way certainly took a toll on the standings. During the 2000s and 2010s, the Sharks fielded playoff teams 14 times in 15 years up until 2020 and have now been on the outside looking in for the last six seasons in a row. It’s not uncommon in a league like the NHL that great teams do pay the price of winning for so many years. But now there’s great anticipation that the Sharks are headed back into another golden age of success. So what do we even mean by contention? is that playoffs, a winning record, like where do we start? The first glimpse of progress and contention that we even noticed last year was how many Sharks games were close after 40 minutes and just went south in the final 20. That’s probably going to be a key point of transition for this team, learning how to win those close games instead of dropping them. Easier said than done, yes, but it’s all part of the process. Another thing to take note of this season is what the trade deadline will look like. In recent years, it was only the prudent thing to do in sending off valuable assets of the present to be exchanged for draft picks or expected pieces of the future. It’s not to suggest that the Sharks couldn’t or shouldn’t make some moves come deadline 2026, but Mike Greer has already stated his hope that this will not be another sell situation. And as for playoffs or standings or anything else like that, wouldn’t it be nice to be pleasantly surprised to have the Sharks take even two steps forward this year and have everything come together as planned, just a little bit ahead of schedule? That does happen in professional sports. And while there’s no guarantee, it’s also certainly refreshing to know it’s not impossible or far away for team teal.
Brodie Brazil gets you set for the season with 10 Things to Watch for the Sharks. Today’s focus: contention.
5 comments
Playoffs or bust this year. It’s time.
Let's start by giving the "C" to Toffoli
Everyone thinks this team will be the worst in the league… AGAIN!! There's just no way. I have very high hopes and think they will get WC2. So many games were lost in the final minutes it last year it's not even funny. I know this team and the fans don't want to go through that again this year.
Some people even suggest they tank to get the #1 pick next year. That's embarrassing to even suggest. The Sharks don't need another potential superstar. What would be the fun in winning against unequal competition? Look at the Panthers, they beat the "2 best players in the world" two years in a row, so what does that say about their team? It's an even more impressive feat than just winning twice in a row. They won twice, and beat the best 2 players doing it. That's what the Sharks should strive for.
Misa still not signed has me concerned.
3rd year in a row they're going to be 32nd in the league?