THE SHARKS HAVE made nine picks in each of the past four drafts and are on the docket for another nine selections this year. That’s 10 additional prospects coming through the system in five years. With quantity eventually comes quality. Make no mistake, though, this rebuild will be long and slow.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS: It’s not enough for the Sharks to tell their fans to be patient and that brighter days are ahead. They need solid, reliable veterans at every position to shelter the younger players and help make San Jose more difficult to play against. Proven pros such as Mikael Granlund, Anthony Duclair (before he was traded) and Jan Rutta did that this season. More poise and character are needed this summer.
LONG-TERM NEEDS: The departures of Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson…
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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Draft Preview 2024