Five Reasons Why Coaching The Sharks Isn't That Bad
It's been nearly seven years since the San Jose Sharks went through the process of finding a new head coach and with top coaches finding jobs elsewhere, it's become apparent the San Jose isn't a highly-desired destination anymore.
With an aging core of veterans, shaky defense and no captain leading the team to a playoff-less season, coaches on the market may be looking away. The Sharks have never won a Stanley Cup, nor have they even reached the finals in their 24-year lifespan. Someone needs to come into this organization and steer the ship in the right direction.
Sounds like a lot of work, but here are five reasons why it won't be so bad:
5. The weather
Look, it may be easy to work for a successful, cup-winning franchise such as Detroit, Pittsburgh or Montreal, but who wants to actually live in those places year-round? I'll tell you: nobody who has ever lived in the Bay Area. Not the foggy, damp parts of the bay like San Francisco, but the beautiful Silicon Valley where the Sharks reside. As a former citizen of San Jose, I can vouch that it's the best you can get.
4. The young talent
Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have been the two leaders of this team for almost a decade, but now we are in a transitional stage where the once-young prospects are taking over the reigns. Joe Pavelski has led the team in goals the last few years and has Olympic and international hockey experience. Marc-Edouard Vlasic has been a starter with the Sharks since he was 19, and now as a top-tier defenseman at the age of 28 - he is a true leader of this team. Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, Matt Nieto, Melker Karlsson, Tommy Wingels and Chris Tierny are also part of the young core the future coach will have. Let's not forget top prospect Nikolay Goldobin who may earn a spot on the roster next season.
3. The fans
Hockey in California used to be an oxymoron, but now that three very good teams reside in the golden state, hockey fans are everywhere. With Los Angeles and Anaheim fighting over one market, hockey fans in Northern California have one team to focus on and it's the Sharks. Last season was a poor example of Sharks fan support, but if the team is ever successful, SAP center is one of the loudest venues in hockey. San Jose can once again become a dominant force in the hockey world.
2. Lowered expectations
Two years ago, Sharks fans expected to go far into the playoffs. Expectations were high as could be and the team was prepared to fulfill them. Then they choked in the playoffs against the Kings in round one, made head-scratching transactions in the offseason, fired TV's color-commentator and fan-favorite Drew Remenda, and missed the playoffs this season. That's a steep decline and I'd imagine sharks fans are expecting another mediocre season. That's where [insert coach's name here] comes in and saves the day with an above-average season. Coach = hero, it's that easy.
1. The team is good
Despite the constant disappointment over the years, let's not forget how great this team can be. At times last year it seemed as though Todd McLellan had thrown in the towel and the leadership had vanquished. Next year they will still have a very talented core who can compete with any team. If coaches can't recognize the potential of this team, they are blind. This team is pissed off and they want to win - if that doesn't motivate you, I don't know what will.
-Russell Preston/KHTK Sacramento