The Best Offseason In Sharks History?
Many Sharks fans claim this to be the best offseason in San Jose Sharks history. Was it truly? A look at some of the cases for the best offseasons in modern San Jose Sharks history and if the 2024 offseason will go down as one of the best.
Honorable Mention:
2011 Offseason
This was the offseason that brought Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks. This trade is one of franchise history's biggest (not Jumbo-sized). The Sharks shipped Charlie Coyle, Devin Setoguchi, and a 2011 1st-round pick (Zack Phillips) to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Brent Burns and a 2012 2nd-round pick (Pontus Aberg). Brent Burns became a Sharks legend, playing almost 800 regular season games and scoring nearly 600 points, topped off with a 2017 James Norris Trophy.
The Sharks also traded Dany Heatley to the Wild after only scoring 9 points in 18 playoff games. Healtey was coming off a 64-point season with the Sharks but could never recapture his former glory with the Wild.
Although the rest of the offseason was quiet (Logan Couture re-signed, and Dylan Demelo signed his ELC), the Brent Burns trade was such a massive move for San Jose that it's among the biggest offseasons in Sharks history.
The Contenders:
2008 Offseason
Key Moves:
Hiring Head Coach Todd McLellan
Trading for D. Dan Boyle
Signing free agent D. Rob Blake
This is one of the most important offseasons for the Sharks organization in terms of changing the franchise over the next half of a decade. The Sharks started the summer by hiring Todd McLellan from the hated Detroit Red Wings to become their head coach. McLellan brought a new offensive style to San Jose that would propel the Sharks to a President's Trophy (we don't talk about the playoffs) and two trips to the Western Conference Finals. While McLellan would eventually get fired after the 2014-15 season, the Sharks were one of the most successful teams of the era, going 311-163-66 with a .637 PTS%.
The Sharks made a massive trade to acquire Dan Boyle from the Tampa Bay Lightning. They sent Matt Carle, prospect Ty Wishart, a 2009 1st-round pick (Kyle Palmieri), and a 2010 4th-round pick (James Mullin) for Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich. Dan Boyle would go on to play the next six seasons for San Jose, where he would put up 269 points in 431 regular season games.
The Sharks also signed Rob Blake from the LA Kings to help stabilize the blue line. Blake wore the C for the Sharks in the 2010-11 season and scored 75 points in 143 regular-season games over his two seasons in teal.
Both of these moves were huge for the Sharks, who entered a new generation of hockey post-lockout that saw the use of a quicker, puck-moving defenseman. This, combined with the hiring of Todd McLellan and his system, allowed the Sharks to become a Stanley Cup contender for the foreseeable future. It is one of the most important offseasons in their history.
2015 Offseason
Key Moves:
Hiring Head Coach Pete DeBoer
Trading for G. Martin Jones
Signing free agents F. Joel Ward, D. Paul Martin
Drafted F. Timo Meier
The 2014-15 season was one long hangover after the reverse sweep. Many fans checked out, and the team seemed checked out and never recovered from the Kings not only coming back from down 3-0 but also winning the Stanley Cup that season. Todd McLellan was let go, and the Sharks needed a quick reboot.
General Manager Doug Wilson hired Pete DeBoer to coach a veteran roster and try to bring a new voice and message. DeBoer had brought the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup in his first season and had shown an ability to connect with veterans.
The Sharks also traded for Martin Jones from the LA Kings (via the Boston Bruins). Jones was stuck behind Jonathan Quick and would never get a chance to become the guy. In his first season as a starter, Martin Jones would post a .918 SV%, 2.27 GAA, and six shutouts in his first season in teal. While Jones would never live up to his six-year, $34.5 million extension he signed in 2017, Jones's run in his first three seasons has become lost because of how his tenure in San Jose ended.
The additions of Joel Ward and Paul Martin were key cogs for the Sharks in their run. Joel Ward provided critical secondary scoring on the Sharks with 21 goals and 22 assists. He helped alleviate some pressure on the top players like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski. Paul Martin was a massive addition as he was the first "Wookie Whisperer" for Brent Burns and truly unlocked what Burns could do for the Sharks. With Martin playing the stay-at-home defenseman, Burns scored 27 goals and hit 75 points to start a four-year run where Burns was one of the best offensive blueliners in the NHL.
While adding Timo Meier into the mix wouldn't help the 2015-16 team, he would be an integral part of the Sharks' success in their 2018-19 playoff run and one of their best players until his trade during the 2022-23 season.
2024 Offseason
Key Moves:
Hiring Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky
Trading for G. Yaroslav Askarov
Signing free agents F. Tyler Toffoli, F. Alex Wennberg
Drafted F. Macklin Celebrini, D. Sam Dickinson
This has a chance to be the most critical offseason in San Jose Sharks history and their most successful one. In one offseason, Mike Grier was able to land Macklin Celebrini (a bona fide first-line center), Sam Dickinson (a top-pairing defenseman), and Yaroslav Askarov (a top-tier goalie).
While these are all just projections for the Sharks, and the development still needs to happen, but to answer three massive questions in one offseason is huge. These pieces help to slot everyone into their proper slots in the pipeline.
If Celebrini turns into what the Sharks expect him to be and Askarov answers his maturity questions, they have two pieces that could be legitimate top-five talents at their positions. While Sam Dickinson may not have the offensive upside of some of the other blueliners in this year's draft, he has all the makings of a top-tier two-way defenseman.
The addition of Tyler Toffoli brings a walking 25-30 goal scorer who should help Celebrini's transition from the NCAA to the NHL. While Toffoli might be slightly overpaid and signed for a year too long, his experience and strengths of scoring off the rush should help Celebrini make the most of his first NHL season.