San Jose Sharks Season Wrap-Up: The Good, Bad and Ugly of 2011-12

What do you say after a team with that much hype and that much talent fails to make a dent in the NHL playoffs?


Changes are coming in San Jose, and only a couple players are untouchable.


The 2011 offseason gave San Jose reason for hope, in terms of overcoming the hurdle that is the Western Conference Finals.

NHL Playoffs 2012: Changing Up Lines Is Only Answer for San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are just one game behind the St. Louis Blues in the best-of-seven series, but then why does it seem like the Sharks are in desperation mode and struggling to stay in this series?

San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues: What We've Learned in First 3 Games of 2-1 Series

Through the first three games of the San Jose Sharks/St. Louis Blues series, two things are for certain -- the Blues' defense has a strangle-hold on the outcome of this series, and the Sharks will need several things to go their way to overcome that.

The Blues took a seemingly commanding 2-1 lead in the series by beating the Sharks in San Jose on Monday night.

San Jose Sharks: 5 Trade Scenarios Involving Antero Niittymaki

The Antero Niittymaki era in San Jose has come to an end. Er, kind of. I am not even sure there was an era, just a mediocre stint for the Sharks in which he started 22 games over two seasons. Mix that with a slew of injuries and a lost back-up role, and you should have a pretty disgruntled goaltender.

And that is exactly what they have.

San Jose Sharks: 5 Players That Deserve to Play in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, But Will Not

As it stands now, the San Jose Sharks will have a hard time getting one of their players into the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.

Currently, the most likely scenario would be Dan Boyle and Brent Burns earning defenseman spots on the Western Conference

San Jose Sharks: 5 Players Projected For Big Seasons So Far

The San Jose Sharks are not off to the most ideal start at 4-3-0 through the first two weeks of the season. However, we can still get a good look of how this team will fair come mid-season and further.

The roster is stacked head-to-toe with talented players seeking a shot at the Cup and this season is as good as ever for this franchise to win one.

San Jose Sharks: What We Learned in First Game of the Season

I don't mean to play off of the unoriginal use of "What did we learn today," which is so overplayed, but there is something to say about seeing the Sharks for the first time this season on TV, in the starting lines and in front of fired up fans.

NHL Rumors: Should the San Jose Sharks Continue Shopping?

It seems as though someone whispered into San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson's ear after last season and told him that back-to-back Western Conference Final losses are just not enough.

So Wilson re-tooled.

Making the biggest splash of the 2011 free agency period, Wilson and the Sharks sent young scorer Devin Setoguchi and talented sniper Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for All-Star defenceman Brent Burns and All-Star winger Martin Havlat in two separate deals just 10 days apart.

San Jose Sharks Get By L.A. Kings In Game 1 Slugfest

Joe Pavelski's game-winning goal at the 14:44 mark of OT snuck the San Jose Sharks past the Los Angeles Kings last night in front of a rowdy crowd at HP Pavilion.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan had said it all week. The playoffs were going to be a matter of getting to three goals first for the Sharks. And at the end of two periods, McLellan's ideology proved correct, as the game was tied 2-2 heading into the third period and then into overtime, as well.

It was about momentum in Game 1.

2011 NHL Playoffs: San Jose Sharks vs. L.A. Kings Series Preview & Predictions

Imagine you walk into the HP Pavilion on Thursday night. A sea of teal and black cover the arena except for the rectangle of freshly zambonied ice that is the center of attention for the next three hours.

The lights go black and Metallica's Seek and Destroy fills the stadium as Antti Niemi leads the team from out of the shark's mouth just as he has done numerous times this season.

The lights return and the National Anthem begins.

"Oh, say can you see..."

Chants of "Beat LA!" suddenly ring from the upper level of the right side of the arena.

It is playoff time in San Jose.

Beat LA: 4 Reasons the Los Angeles Kings Are the Most Favorable Match-Up For the San Jose Sharks

In a final weekend of the NHL season that can only be described as "nutty," some teams got the match-up they wanted in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and others did not. I will gladly insert the San Jose Sharks into the "match-up they wanted" category for several reasons.

The Sharks will play the Los Angeles Kings in the 1st round of the NHL Playoffs that will start in San Jose at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

From a distance, the Kings may be the most favorable match-up in the entire Western Conference playoff picture for the Sharks.

5 Reasons the San Jose Sharks Can Break the Curse and Reach the Stanley Cup Finals

When you think about curses in sports, what teams do you think about?

The Chicago Cubs? Cleveland sports? The late Red Sox before they won it all? Maybe the Detroit Lions or Toronto Maple Leafs?

How about the San Jose Sharks?

You wouldn't think it because of all the NHL playoff appearances and being legitimate Stanley Cup favorites year in and year out, but the Sharks are cursed.

Cursed by what?

There's a new one every year.

San Jose Sharks: Top 5 Biggest Goals In the 2010-11 NHL Season (With Video)

The San Jose Sharks are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. They currently sit in third place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference and just three points out of the second spot.

But it has taken a lot to get this team going. After a slow start to the season, it has been the big plays and game-winners that has driven this team to the elite of the Western Conference.

It has been the Devin Setoguchi goal February 19th when he split the Avalanche defense, faked the fore-hand and went backhand top-shelf.

It was the Torrey Micthell goal just a few nights ago against Vancouver.

And it was the multiple highlight reel goals by rookie Logan Couture.

But it was the game-winners and game-changers that has this team where they are now.