San Jose Sharks bold predictions for 2024-25 NHL season (2024)

The San Jose Sharks muddled through one of the worst seasons in franchise history in 2023-24, failing to reach 20 wins for the first time since 1995. It was a miserable campaign all around, with the squad looking to be completely out of playoff contention before the calendar even flipped to 2024. It was the fifth consecutive year that the Sharks had failed to qualify for the postseason after reaching the 2019 Western Conference Final, and without a doubt the worst season in any of the previous five.

But things seem to be looking way up for the California franchise. They were blessed with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, selecting phenom Macklin Celebrini, who should be the 1C of the future in San Jose. General manager Mike Grier also added proven goal scorer Tyler Toffoli in free agency, snagged established defenseman Cody Ceci from the Edmonton Oilers, and made a huge mid-offseason trade for top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov. And we can't forget 2023 No. 4 overall pick Will Smith, who will also be making his Sharks debut in 2024-25.

Will it be enough to take this club from pretender to playoff contender in one summer? Almost certainly not. There are still some glaring holes on this roster — specifically on the blue line — and it's probably going to take a couple more years for this roster to make waves in the Western Conference.

But in a weak Pacific Division, there's a great chance that the Sharks at least don't suffer through back-to-back last place finishes. Here are a couple of bold predictions for an exciting San Jose roster ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Will Smith has as good or better rookie season than Macklin Celebrini

Both Smith and Celebrini absolutely ripped up NCAA hockey last season. Although Celebrini is the marquee name — and the No. 1 overall pick — Smith was actually just as effective in 2023-24. Celebrini finished with 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games as a member of the Boston University Terriers, while Smith amassed 71 points in just three more contests with the Boston College Eagles.

Both Boston players were spectacular for their respective teams, although it was Celebrini who ended up winning the Hobey Baker in his freshman season, being the youngest player in history to win the award.

While the NHL and NCAA are obviously very different leagues, there's a great chance that Smith goes toe-to-toe with Celebrini in terms of total points in 2024-25. The American (Smith) and Canadian (Celebrini) project to play on different lines, but both should suit up on the top powerplay unit — even if the season doesn't start that way.

If Smith stays at center, the Sharks can surround both players with solid wingers, including Toffoli, William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund and Mikael Granlund (who can play any forward position). There's no guarantee that Smith will stay at center, but if he does — and remains on PP1 — there's a chance he will surprise and be as good as Celebrini in Year 1 of their respective careers. That's especially true as he's a year older than his new teammate.

Both Sharks players will be finalists for the Calder Trophy

Regardless of how Celebrini and Smith perform in regards to one another, expect that both players will challenge for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. While the former is the odds-on favorite, the latter is certainly a dark horse.

Matvei Michkov will have something to say about that after the Russian phenom joined the Philadelphia Flyers this summer. As will Logan Stankoven in Dallas, Cutter Gauthier in Anaheim and Lane Hutson in Montreal, among others.

But, if we're being bold, let's say that one of Celebrini or Smith brings home the hardware, with the other finishing as a finalist come next summer. And, speaking of Calder Trophy finalists, how about a goaltender?

Yaroslav Askarov takes over starting job and posts over .900 save percentage

San Jose Sharks bold predictions for 2024-25 NHL season (1)

It's no secret that the Sharks did not have good goaltending in 2023-24, with Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek starting most of the season. Neither netminder finished with an above .900 save percentage, which isn't surprising considering the futility of the defensive unit.

But with Ceci now inserted onto the defense, along with former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman, it should be a much-improved blue line in 2024-25. It's not necessary good, but it looks more like an NHL D-core than an American Hockey League one, which wasn't really the case last year.

Either way, Askarov is ready to prove himself as an NHL regular after requesting a trade away from the team that drafted him. The Russian was never going to carve out a starting role with the Nashville Predators after star Juuse Saros earned a long-term contract, and it made sense that the 22-year-old got a fresh start elsewhere.

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Grier did a great job bringing this player to California, and he should immediately be the starting goalie out of the gates, with Blackwood a more-than-capable backup. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler and Harman Dayal ranked him No. 8 in their early Calder Trophy predictions (with Celebrini at No. 2 and Smith at No. 7).

“Askarov is one of the top three goaltending prospects in the world because of his power and explosiveness and he’s coming off an AHL All-Star appearance. Playing in San Jose will give him more opportunity than he’d have elsewhere,” the two wrote earlier this week.

If Celebrini, Smith and Askarov all put together solid rookie seasons, there's a great chance the Sharks don't finish in any basement in 2024-25.

Sharks will not finish last in the Pacific Division or Western Conference

Let's assume that that last sentence comes true, and all of Celebrini, Smith and Askarov make legitimate Calder Trophy cases in 2024-25. Along with a couple nice veteran additions in Ceci and Toffoli, another year of development from Eklund and Zetterlund and a new coach in Ryan Warsofsky, the Sharks will not be finishing dead last in the Western Conference.

While this still projects as a bottom-10 team in the league, there is an incredibly bright future in San Jose. This is probably the best franchise to never win a Stanley Cup, but if everything goes right, they should be back to competing for championships in no time.

San Jose Sharks bold predictions for 2024-25 NHL season (2024)

FAQs

San Jose Sharks bold predictions for 2024-25 NHL season? ›

Former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau noted on NHL Network that the Sharks could be a surprise success story in 2024-25. “If Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini

Macklin Celebrini
Macklin Celebrini (born June 13, 2006) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college hockey for the Boston University Terriers. During his freshman season he won the Hobey Baker Award, becoming the youngest player to win the award.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Macklin_Celebrini
area any kind of the players, we think they are,” Boudreau said. “I think it's going to be a lot different to what it was last year or the year before.”

What year did the San Jose Sharks go to the Stanley Cup? ›

The Sharks have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals once, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016.

Is there an NHL team called the Sharks? ›

San Jose Sharks, American professional ice hockey team that plays in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sharks are based in San Jose, California, and have won one Western Conference title (2016).

When were the Sharks added to the NHL? ›

The San Jose Sharks became the NHL's 22nd team in 1991-92 and the decade ended with a four-team expansion over three seasons that increased League membership to 30 teams in 2000-01.

Where do NHL Sharks play? ›

The SAP Center at San Jose (originally known as San Jose Arena and the HP Pavilion at San Jose) is an indoor arena located in San Jose, California. Its primary tenant is the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, for which the arena has earned the nickname "The Shark Tank". San Jose, California, U.S.

What NHL team has never won the Stanley Cup? ›

The Vancouver Canucks have been around for over 50 years, but a Stanley Cup continues to elude them. The Canucks and Sabres' Cup drought is officially at 52 seasons, which only trails the Toronto Maple Leafs' 55-year drought.

What is the least successful NHL team? ›

Being the most recently established team in the NHL, the Seattle Kraken have the fewest games played among active NHL franchises (246), as well as the fewest wins (107), losses (112), overtime losses (27), and points (241).

Who are the Sharks rivals in hockey? ›

It's no secret that the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks hate each other. There are numerous moments within the rivalry, including a cross-checking minor that was a major in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs first-round matchup. It's culminated in both fanbases trading jabs at one another.

Who owns the San Jose Sharks? ›

Hasso Plattner serves as the sole owner of Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE). A charter member of the local ownership group that purchased the San Jose Sharks from original owner George Gund III in 2002, Plattner became the organization's majority owner in 2010.

When was the best season of the San Jose Sharks? ›

The San Jose Sharks had their best record in a season in 2008-09, with a record of 53-18-11.
TEAMPP%
1Sharks24.2
2Sharks21.0
3Sharks17.2
4Sharks18.7
20 more rows

What is the oldest NHL team in the US? ›

The Boston Bruins were formed and joined the NHL in 1924. Boston has six Stanley Cup victories, 25 division championships and 51 players in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Who is the San Jose Sharks mascot? ›

About S.J. Sharkie

This loveable mascot makes a splash at more than 450 public appearances each year. Throughout his career, Sharkie's attended birthday parties to flower deliveries, bar mitzvahs to weddings, corporate events and charity fundraisers.

Who has won the most Stanley Cups? ›

The Montreal Canadiens have had the most Stanley Cup success, notching 24 titles throughout franchise history. We recently covered which NHL teams have never won the Stanley Cup. Check out the other NHL teams with the most championships below.

Is San Jose Sharks moving? ›

While the possibility remains that the Sharks “could leave San Jose” in four years, Sharks Sports and Entertainment President Jonathan Becher is “very optimistic about the team's future in San Jose and at SAP Center,” according to Sheng Peng of NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com.

How many Stanley Cups have the San Jose Sharks won? ›

The Sharks have never won the Stanley Cup in their 31 seasons as an NHL franchise.

How big is SAP Center San Jose? ›

With its distinctive glass pyramid entrances and stainless steel facade, SAP Center at San Jose is 425 feet by 425 feet in length and stands 117 feet high. For events, the Center can seat 17,500 for hockey and 18,500 for basketball, concerts, and other events.

What happened to the 2005 Stanley Cup? ›

The NHL lockout 2004/NHL lockout 2005 was the big one, the Krakatoa of NHL labor disputes. This lockout caused the cancellation of the entire 2004-2005 season, and for the first time since 1919, there was no Stanley Cup champion.

What is the oldest NHL team without a Stanley Cup? ›

Among the current 32 NHL teams, ten have never won the Stanley Cup, with the oldest of them being the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres (53 seasons). The longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs (56 seasons).

Who won the Stanley Cup in 2004 05? ›

The Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Western Conference champion Calgary Flames in seven games for their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, becoming the southernmost team to win the Stanley Cup until their in-state rival Florida Panthers won the Cup in 2024.

Have the San Jose Sharks ever win the Lords Stanley Cup? ›

In total, there are 11 clubs in the NHL that have never won a Stanley Cup. The clubs that never earned a championship in the NHL are the Panthers, Sabres, Blue Jackets, Wild, Predators, Sharks, Jets, Senators, Canucks, Kraken and Utah (formerly the Coyotes).

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