30 in 30 with the San Jose Sharks

DP · Aug 25, 2011

NHL.com

Back-to-back trips to the conference finals would likely convince most general managers they only need a tweak or two to win the Stanley Cup. For San Jose's Doug Wilson, it was a sign that a major shakeup was necessary if the Sharks were to win the title that has eluded them in the franchise's first 20 years in the NHL.

Wilson shook up his team with a pair of significant deals, both with the Minnesota Wild. On draft night, he dealt young forward Devin Setoguchi -- a player he had signed to a three-year contract one day earlier -- along with 2010 first-round pick Charlie Coyle and his 2011 first-round choice for defenseman Brent Burns. Less than two weeks later, he sent two-time 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley to the Wild for forward Martin Havlat.

That’s a pretty major makeover for a team that has owned the Pacific Division for the past four seasons and hasn't finished with less than 99 points since 2002-03, the last time San Jose missed the playoffs.

Wilson feels the deals should help provide better balance up front, where the big line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Heatley was often counted on to carry too much of the offensive load. Havlat also provides speed for a club that needed some. Burns, who signed a five-year contract, should join Dan Boyle to give the Sharks more offense from the blue line, where San Jose felt the effects of Rob Blake's retirement in the summer of 2010.

Despite making the NHL's final four in each of the past two seasons, the Sharks are regarded by many as underachievers at playoff time. Wilson hopes this summer's moves will help his team get over the hump and win the Cup that fans in Northern California have been yearning for.
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The Sharks have won the Pacific Division in each of the past four seasons, though their road to the title was a lot bumpier in 2010-11 -- they struggled through the first half of the season before catching fire after the All-Star break. But the fans who pack the Shark Tank every night are no longer satisfied with division titles and winning a couple of rounds in the playoffs.

Making the playoffs shouldn't be a concern. Antti Niemi gave the Sharks solid work in goal down the stretch, and Antero Niittymaki is a more-than-capable backup. Burns fills a major need on defense and lets stay-at-home defensemen like Douglas Murray and Marc-Edouard Vlasic fill the roles they are more comfortable with.

Up front, Thornton is among the NHL's best playmakers, Marleau has 119 goals in the past three seasons, Clowe is coming off career-highs of 24 goals and 62 points, Couture had 32 goals in his first full NHL season and Pavelski can be counted on for at least 20 goals and 50-60 points. Add in Havlat, and that's a lot of offensive talent.

McLellan's biggest task during camp will be to figure out who plays with whom on his top two lines and which young players will slot in where on the third and fourth lines.

Wilson rolled the dice this summer, making major alterations to the only team in the NHL to make the conference finals in each of the past two seasons. Anything less than the franchise's first trip to the Stanley Cup Final may well be regarded as a failure in Northern California.
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30 in 30 with the San Jose Sharks

DP He shoots, he scores!

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30 in 30 with the San Jose Sharks

DP He shoots, he scores!

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