No one asked, but I'm going to begin this week's mailbag with my prediction for the Stanley Cup Final – Preds in six. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to a few of your questions…
Most likely to be moved this off-season? (Nik @niknisj25)
If the Sharks do make a move – and I've argued here that I think it may be time for a shakeup – they'll surely be looking for someone up front to boost the offense. In that case, they'd likely have to sacrifice a defenseman or two.
The Sharks defense is the strength of the organization at the moment, as they had one of the best one-through-seven groups in the NHL this season. But it's also an expensive one. The Sharks have nearly $27 million committed to their top seven defensemen next season, while Marc-Edouard Vlasic is due for a hefty raise beginning in 2018-19.
One name that could be intriguing to other teams is Justin Braun. The 30-year-old has been a part of the Sharks' top shut down pair with Vlasic for several seasons now, and is signed for the next three years at a reasonable $3.8 million cap hit. The Sharks could potentially move him for offensive help, and slot in a guy like David Schlemko alongside Vlasic, while finally giving Dylan DeMelo a chance to play on a nightly basis on the third pair. A Vlasic-Schlemko pair could be more offensive than Vlasic-Braun, too, because as adept as they were at keeping the puck out of their own net, the Sharks didn't get many goals from their defenders outside of Burns.
Of course, the upcoming expansion draft all but assures that nothing will happen until Las Vegas selects its team on June 21. If the Sharks lose a defenseman to the Golden Knights, they'll be more reluctant to move another one. Still, with guys like Joakim Ryan, Tim Heed, Julius Bergman, Mirco Mueller and now Radim Simek in the pipeline, the club might be able to handle a couple departures.
How do we fix the power play next season? Bring in a coach that could help us? Change up the lines, or style of play? (adam smith @kickback408)
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One thing that won't be happening is a new coach, as Doug Wilson recently confirmed that Steve Spott would be back alongside Pete DeBoer. Bob Boughner could move on if he gets hired as a head coach elsewhere, but Boughner's focus is the team's defense and penalty kill.
Obviously, the future of the power play depends on who is on the roster, beginning with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Both saw their power play production dip this season.
Thornton went from 29 power play points in 2015-16 to 19 this season (he had eight power play goals in 2015-16, and just one this season). Marleau saw a decline from 25 power play points in 2015-16 to 16 last season. Even if both return, it may be time to try other bodies on the top unit.
Do you see Meier, Labanc and/or Sorensen having a breakout season next year? Or anyone else on the Barracuda? (Colin Dunn @ColinDunnACA)
Someone better had, because this team needs to start getting younger, and soon. One of the bigger disappointments of the 2016-17 season is that none of them apparently showed the coaching staff that they were prepared to play on a nightly basis at the NHL level.
Timo Meier and Marcus Sorensen, I would surmise, are at the top of the depth chart as far as forwards go. Their line in the playoffs with center Chris Tierney was the Sharks' best through the early part of the series with Edmonton. As for Kevin Labanc, I think he's fallen a bit since he had a brief run of success for the Sharks in December.
While the Sharks did a good job stockpiling some young players through the 2013-15 drafts, they've traded away a number of picks in recent years. In last year's draft they didn't have a first or third round pick; this year they don't have any picks in the second, third or fourth rounds; and in 2018 they are already without their second and third round picks.
It's great to accumulate young players, but at some point they have to break through. Now is the time.
