The San Jose Sharks noticeably got better over the offseason through trades and signings, but aren’t expected to step into a playoff spot just yet. Regardless of that, the players and coaches are trying to win and there’s no harm to the organization if the team does surprise.
The Sharks want to be better than last season and I think that is a given that they will be. But to what extent? I think a lot of that hinges on goaltending. Mackenzie Blackwood was good for the 32nd place Sharks when healthy, but that became the problem. He missed a chunk of time and couldn’t keep San Jose in games like he had been.
Blackwood is back for the final year of his contract, but the other goalie in the tandem heading into the 2024-25 season is Vitek Vanecek who came over in a trade with the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline in exchange for Kaapo Kahkonen. Vanecek didn’t play a game for the Sharks to finish up the season because he too was out. This is where the potential issue comes in for the team this season.