The San Jose Sharks have long tantalized as the NHL’s next great team, constantly on the cusp of contention but never able to break through. For years, they were sensational in the regular season, raising expectations that next year would finally be their year to win the Stanley Cup. But the postseason inevitably led to playoff heartbreak.
Despite positive press and no shortage of talent, the Sharks have yet to win their first ever Cup title, falling just short in their lone Finals appearance in 2015-2016. They’ve tried changing coaches and shuffling their roster in hopes of gaining extra bite for the playoffs. Stars like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns have brought them to the precipice but never the promised land.
Now, with an aging core and a retooling roster, time may be running out for San Jose’s current generation to get over the hump. Their championship window, so long tantalizingly ajar, seems to be sliding shut. After so many “next year is our year” proclamations, the Sharks remain stuck with the unwanted burden of being the best NHL team to have never hoisted the Stanley Cup. Their fans still await and wonder if that breakthrough moment will ever come.
Who Do The San Jose Sharks Play Next
The Sharks remained a playoff contender but struggled to return to the Stanley Cup Finals after their surprising run in 2015-2016. They made the conference finals again in 2018-2019 but lost to the eventual champion Blues. Since then, the team has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons from 2019-2023, undergoing a rebuild and changes in management and coaching.
Once featuring stars like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns, the roster has turned over significantly. Logan Couture remains the team captain, while Erik Karlsson emerged as a Norris Trophy-winning bright spot on defense. But scoring depth and goaltending have been issues.
While no longer the consistent Cup contender from the 2010s, the Sharks are trying to retool back into a playoff team. Their passionate fanbase longs to see San Jose translate regular season success into an elusive first Stanley Cup. However, after trading away Timo Meier in 2023, that quest looks to still be a work in progress.
SPlayoff fortunes have waned after 2016 Finals run, four straight missed postseasons, roster overhaul underway. Hungry fans still await a title but a return to contention may take more rebuilding. The team’s iconic look remains beloved even when on-ice product has faltered.
San Jose Sharks Game Schedule
Below you will find the San Jose Sharks game schedule. Playing in California’s Bay Area, the Sharks are natural rivals with the NHL’s two other California-based franchises.
The rivalry with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks is fueled by the fact that both the Kings and Ducks have both won the Stanley Cup, a bauble that continues to elude the Sharks.
Regardless, the Sharks are generally a tough team to beat in their home rink, affectionately known as the Shark Tank by the club’s fans. When the Sharks go to the power play and the theme from Jaws plays over the arena sound system, the daunting sensation that creates is palpable.
San Jose Sharks Standings Today
These are the current standings for the San Jose Sharks. A consistent playoff participant, more seasons than not you will find the Sharks comfortably above the danger zone.
While studying where the Sharks are situated in the overall picture, it’s always a wise move by the prospective San Jose Sharks bettor to educate themselves on the location of San Jose’s upcoming opponent in the standings. Is that next team on the way to San Jose a traditional rival, or a team nearby and needing points for its own playoff push? Are they an Eastern team working their way through a West Coast road trip? All of this data should be taken into account, because it will impact your wagering strategy.
How To Make Money Betting On San Jose Sharks
The California Seals were the NHL's first foray into California's Bay Area when they joined the league as a 1967 expansion franchise. The San Francisco Seals were a longtime success story as a minor pro team in the Western League and there were high hopes for them in the big time, but a combination of shady ownership and poor personnel decisions doomed them to failure and the Seals left for Cleveland in 1976.
The Sharks gave the Bay Area a second chance in 1991, and this time around, they got it right. You can argue all you want about the Sharks' playoff struggles over their history, the fact of the matter is they've been one of the NHL's most successful franchises from the moment they first hit the ice, at least in terms of marketing strategies.
If betting on the Sharks is your gameplan, a piece of advice - the smart money is on them during the regular season, but it's a wary bettor who backs the Sharks come playoff time.