The San Jose Sharks are a difficult team to figure out: they have all the talent, but never seem to put it all together in the playoffs. General Manager Doug Wilson shook the team p after it agin fell short of the Stanley Cup finals, and many believe this is the year the Sharks finally take the next step. Blads of Teal writer Alex Schirru has this to say about the Sharks:
"General Manager Doug Wilson (D.W.) is a smart hockey man. Being a smart hockey man means sometimes you have to make tough hockey decisions. This offseason D.W. shook up the Sharks lineup in a big way. He sent snipers Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for sniper Martin Havlat and big-time defenseman Brent Burns. Some were shocked at these changes. I mean, the team has won 4 straight Pacific Division titles and been to 2 straight Western Conference Finals. What is missing is the all important Stanley Cup Finals berth. D.W. is hoping that this shakeup will put this team over the hump."
Read the rest of Schirru’s preview at Blades of Teal.