Bet On NHL Hockey San Jose Sharks Season Preview
The San Jose Sharks have been one of the best teams in the NHL over the past five seasons but there was some element that prevented the team from having success in the postseason.
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SAN JOSE SHARKS
Odds To Win Pacific Division: +175
Odds to Win Stanley Cup: 11/1
Last season: 48-25-9, 105 points (1st place Pacific, 2nd place Western Conference)
Acquisitions: Martin Havlat, RW; Michal Handzus, C; Andrew Murray, C; Brent Burns, D; Jim Vandermeer, D
Departures: Dany Heatley, RW; Devin Setoguchi, RW; Ben Eager, LW; Jamal Mayers, RW; Kyle Wellwood, C; Kent Huskins, D; Ian White, D; Scott Nichol, C
Youngsters to Keep an Eye on: Justin Braun, D; Nick Petrecki, D; Brandon Mashinter, LW; Fraser McLaren, LW; Cameron MacIntyre, RW; Tommy Wingels, RW
Sharks GM Doug Wilson effectively blew up his offensive corp., acquired some speed up front and some legitimate talent on what was a fairly thin Blue Line last season. The roster changes were somewhat significant. Now there is no excuse for the team not to reverse its playoff misfortune.
50 goal scorer Dany Heatley is gone. So are Devin Setoguchi, Scott Nichol, Ben Eager, Jamal Mayers and Kyle Wellwood from the group of forwards that took the ice for the team last year. In is oft-injured Martin Havlat, Michal Handzus and Andrew Murray – quite a difference from last year’s roster.
As it stands right now, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, Handzus and perhaps Andrew Murray will line up at center for the Sharks. Marin Havlat and Patrick Marleau will complete one of the better first lines in the NHL (along with Thornton), Ryan Clowe and Logan Couture will likely play alongside Joe Pavelski and Michal Handzus will center the third line with wingers that have yet to be determined. Hopes are that some of the young talent steps up and grabs the five roster spots that have not been filled as of yet. The Sharks forwards are as deep a unit as there is in the Pacific Division. It will be interesting to see how they gel in the absence of Heatley and Setoguchi. [ad-4437448]
Defense is where the Sharks had a need and Doug Wilson addressed that in a big way during the offseason. Rising star Brent Burns was acquired from Minnesota and Jim Vandermeer was signed to bring about some much needed depth. The San Jose Blue Line will have Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Douglas Murray, Mac-Edouard Vlasic, Jason Demers and Colin White. With just a couple of acquisitions, the Sharks defense has become one of the deeper and more physical crews in the Western Conference.
Goaltending could be an issue early in the season especially. Both Antero Niittymaki and Antti Niemi went through offseason surgeries and neither is being counted on to start the season in San Jose. But as we all know about the Sharks, the Regular Season won’t mean a thing unless they win it all this year. Hopes are that the focus on defense will make any Sharks goaltender look very good.
Betting Prediction: There are definitely some holes on the Sharks roster (third and fourth lines) but the upgrades that were made during the offseason should allow them to contend once again. With one of the best groups of Top Six forwards in the NHL and with six quality defensemen, San Jose should have no problem winning the Pacific once again. Los Angeles is lurking but is not quite as talented as their Northern neighbor.
Fearless Forecast: San Jose +175 will finish 1st in the Pacific and at 11/1 is perhaps worth a small bet to win the Cup!CappersPicks.com NHL Betting and gambling site provides the BEST Online hockey predictions for you to bet on for the 2011/12 NHL hockey season! Stick with us all season long!
