Sharks eliminated, could not overcome slow start, scoring woes

The San Jose Sharks became the first team eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention when they lost 6-5 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

The playoff drought for the Sharks (19-36-13) extended to four seasons after they made it the previous four and 14 of 15 since 2003-04, a run that included five Western Conference Final appearances and a six-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. They are 1-7-2 in their past 10 games.
Here is a look at what happened in the 2022-23 season for the Sharks and why things could be better next season.

The skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Andreas Johnsson, F; Derrick Pouliot, D; Markus Nutivaara, D; James Reimer, G
Potential restricted free agents: Jonah Gadjovich, F; Noah Gregor, F; Nikolai Knyzhov, D; Evgeny Svechnikov, F; Fabian Zetterlund, F
Potential 2023 Draft picks: 12

What went wrong

Not a good start: The Sharks started 0-5-0 and did not get their first regulation victory until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 on Oct. 23. They were 3-9-3 on Nov. 10 and never recovered, falling to 7-12-3 by Thanksgiving and 15-25-11 at the NHL All-Star break. The free fall continued with a 2-10-2 stretch since Feb. 14 that has them last in the Pacific Division and 31st in the NHL. The Sharks are also 6-19-9 at SAP Center and could finish with their worst home record since they were 8-33-1 at Cow Palace in 1992-93.
Scoring: Timo Meier led the Sharks with 31 goals before he was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26, when one other skater (Logan Couture) had at least 20. San Jose was 23rd in the NHL with 2.97 goals per game before the trade, and without Meier the average has dwindled to 2.38 (29th since). The power play (18.4 percent, 26th) has been powerless all season, notably going 4-for-36 (11.1 percent) dating to Feb. 14, better than only the Flyers (8.0 percent).
Goal prevention: Goaltending has been a problem since the run to the 2019 conference final, a six-game loss to the St. Louis Blues. James Reimer is 10-17-6 with a 3.30 goals-against average, .894 save percentage and two shutouts. Kaapo Kahkonen was 2-4-1 with a 2.41 GAA and .929 save percentage in seven February games but has allowed 23 goals on 132 shots (.826 save percentage) in three March starts and is 8-16-6 with a 3.88 GAA and .879 save percentage in 31 games this season. The Sharks could see what they have in 23-year-old goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi, acquired in the trade that sent defenseman Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 13, and/or explore the free agent market in the offseason. Veterans Jonathan Quick, 37, Semyon Varlamov, 34, and Frederik Andersen, 33, are potential UFAs. So is Tristan Jarry, who turns 28 on April 29 and is someone the Sharks could try to lure closer to his native Surrey, British Columbia.

Reasons for optimism

William Eklund: The 20-year-old forward scored his first NHL goal Tuesday and has two points in six games this season while averaging 20:07 of ice time on the top line with Tomas Hertl and Fabian Zetterlund and 3:55 on the power play. The development of the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft would spark the offense and allow Hertl to further emerge as a leader. Eklund had 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 52 games for San Jose of the American Hockey League before the Sharks recalled him shortly after the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3.

Draft capital: Trades before the deadline left the Sharks with 12 picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, including two in the first round, one in the second and one in the third. They will also have a chance at winning the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery on May 8 and the right to select projected No. 1 pick Connor Bedard. If not, San Jose could still end up with its first top-three pick since 1998 (Brad Stuart, No. 3) and general manager Mike Grier will have more room to work. The first Black GM in NHL history was hired two days before the 2022 NHL Draft and eight days from the start of free agency.
Building options: Upgrades are needed everywhere, and a potential trade for defenseman Erik Karlsson (20 goals, 65 assists and 85 points, each best in the NHL at his position) could bring back a nice haul. There are also building blocks with Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau, a 21-year-old forward whose 20 goals are tied for fourth among AHL rookies. The rebuild will be long, but there's nowhere to go but up.