SAN JOSE SHARKS
New Coach and Veterans Join Sharks in Quest for Cup Cup

By Zach Plaza

The defending Pacific Division champion San Jose Sharks enter the 2008-09 NHL season on a mission following their best statistical season in franchise history in 2007-08. The Sharks finished with a franchise-record 108 points and a fourth-consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and are poised to make an even deeper run this year.

The summer of 2008 brought some new pieces to a stacked Sharks franchise. New head coach Todd McLellan is ready to lead an experienced Sharks team to greater heights. The former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach comes to San Jose fresh off winning a Stanley Cup championship this past June.

After a thorough search, Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson is confident McLellan is the proper fit for this team.

"Everywhere I looked for a flaw or for some type of concern, the check mark that came back was good, "Wilson said. "This was a thorough process. We got the right guy. He wanted to be here as much as we wanted him and that's a nice match."

McLellan has experienced success at every level of his coaching career. Before joining the Red Wings in 2005, he spent four seasons as head coach of the Houston Aeros in the American Hockey League, capturing the 2003 AHL Calder Cup championship. He also was selected to coach two AHL All-Star Games while in Houston.

The Sharks' new bench boss brings with him a talented and experienced group of assistants. Former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Trent Yawney will serve as McLellan's No. 2 man. Rounding out the staff are Todd Richards, who served as head coach of the AHL's Wilkes-Barre Penguins for the past two seasons; Jay Woodcroft, who worked with McLellan as video coach for the Red Wings; fan favorite Mike Ricci, who joins McLellan's staff as a development coach; and former NHL goaltender Corey Schwab as goaltending development coach.

"I think Todd has selected several tremendous individuals to help him guide our team and teach our players," Wilson said. "Each of them comes from winning traditions and strong organizations and they all have a solid background. They each will be able to apply their knowledge and experiences to our group of players as we strive toward our goal of winning the Stanley Cup."

Wilson, already highly regarded around the hockey world, had a busy summer as he went out and made some high-caliber additions to improve his club. The Sharks GM identified his team's experience on defense as an area for improvement, so through free agency and trades he was able to add defensive veterans and former Stanley Cup champions Rob Blake, Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich.

Blake is entering his 19th career season. He enters the season tied for fourth among active NHL defensemen (and tied for 22nd all-time) with 702 points and is first among active defensemen in goals in 1,127 NHL regular-season games with Los Angeles and Colorado.

"Rob is a tremendous competitor who has been one of the top defensemen in this league for many years," Wilson said. "While he has enjoyed mentoring the young guys, great players need the ability to win in order to thrive and his sole purpose here is to focus on winning."

Boyle, 32, is regarded around the league as one of the top puck-moving defensemen.

"Dan is one of the elite offensive-minded defensemen in the league today," Wilson said. "Being able to acquire an elite player in his prime who has won a Stanley Cup [2004 in Tampa Bay] will help this organization get to where we want to go."

Lukowich also brings the talent and experience of a former Stanley Cup winner. In fact, Lukowich has won two Stanley Cups in his career: with Dallas in 1999 and Tampa Bay in 2004.

Wilson and the Sharks hope the addition of these three proven veterans will be enough to get them over their playoff woes. The Sharks have been knocked out of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in consecutive seasons by Edmonton, Detroit and Dallas.

This season the bar is once again set at the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup championship, with anything less considered a disappointment. In order to go where no other Sharks team has ever gone before, the Sharks look to their stars — Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo — to lead the way.

The Sharks also look forward to another stellar season from All-Star goaltender and Vezina Trophy (awarded to top goalie in NHL) runner-up Evgeni Nabokov. "Nabby," who led the league in victories (46) and appearances (77), will be counted on once again to backstop the Sharks to another successful season.

Along with the core of the team, the Sharks return emerging stars Milan Michalek, Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe, Christian Ehrhoff and Douglas Murray, along with youngsters Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Torrey Mitchell and Devin Setoguchi. The Sharks continue their strategy of building from within, as all of these players were drafted and developed by San Jose. With all of these players under contract for several years to come, the future of the Sharks remains bright.

Also rejoining the squad from last season is fan favorite and future Hockey Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick. The ageless wonder (38) enters his 20th NHL season and is one of the most vocal leaders in the locker room.

"Jeremy was a tremendous influence for our team on and off the ice this past season," Wilson said.

Roenick hit several milestones last season, including his unforgettable 500th NHL goal on Nov. 10, vs. Phoenix. He also skated in his 1,300th NHL game and posted his 1,200th point.

The Sharks boast one of the most complete teams in the NHL. With its mixture of youth, experience, skill and team chemistry, the Sharks are among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Now that they have added a few missing pieces, San Jose fans can once again dream of a downtown parade at season's end.

Sharks fans can also get excited about new Sharks merchandise after the inception of San Jose's new logo designs and the NHL's new uniform technology from last season. The Sharks are among several NHL teams this season introducing a third jersey. On Nov. 22 at HP Pavilion, the Sharks will reveal their alternate sweater and encourage fans to come out and support their team with "BlackArmor Nights," presented by Seagate, during various home games throughout the season.

The prospect of a fun-filled, exciting and very successful season has everyone in Sharks land buzzing. Come support the boys in Teal this season and cheer them on during their Quest for the Cup.

Ticket Information

Sharks season tickets and 10-game SharkPaks are on sale now by calling 408-999-5757. Individual tickets are available at the HP Pavilion ticket office, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 408-998-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS or 510-625-TIXS.

For everything that is Sharks hockey, crash the net at sjsharks.com.