San Jose Sharks
Team Page | Schedule | Roster | 1998-99 Stats
Sports Illustrated Ranking: 8
By Brian Cazeneuve
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| 1998-99 Leaders |
| Stat |
Leader |
No. |
Goals
Assists
Points
+/-
Shots
Ice time (F)
Ice time (D)
Faceoff Pct.
Hits
PP Pts.
SH Pts.
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Joe Murphy
Jeff Friesen
Jeff Friesen
Owen Nolan
Jeff Friesen
Vincent Damphousse
Bill Houlder
Mike Ricci
Owen Nolan
Jeff Friesen
Marco Sturm
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25
35
57
+16
215
20.3
22.1
49.6
174
24
4
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To be optimistic about the Sharks this season, you just have to
look at what's missing from last year. There are no 12-hour
flights to Japan to start the regular season, no holdouts and no
Gary Suter medical bills. "This is the most settled camp I've
been in in a long time," veteran left wing Murray Craven says.
"Who needs those distractions at the beginning of the year?" In
the past the beginning has often spelled the end for the Sharks,
who needed nine tries to win their first game last year and are
16-55-9 in the season's first 10 games since joining the NHL in
1991-92.
Perhaps the franchise's history of slow starts explains why
fewer than 2,500 people showed up for a preseason game against
the division rival Kings at the Oakland Coliseum last month. The
fans who did come watched San Jose extend its exhibition mark to
3-0-3, saw Suter score his first goal since he underwent surgery
on his right triceps in July 1998 and noticed that the trio of
Vincent Damphousse, Jeff Friesen and Owen Nolan is rapidly
developing into the best line in franchise history. Damphousse,
a center, rebounded from a two-year slump after his trade from
Montreal last March, picking up 13 points in his first 12 games
with San Jose and sparking some life in Friesen, who, like
Nolan, got off to a slow start after a preseason holdout.
The Sharks may have more talented young forwards than any other
team in the league. Centers Patrick Marleau and Marco Sturm and
wingers Niklas Sundstrom and Alex Korolyuk are all under 25, and
they are ripe for breakout seasons. A young defense will get
much-needed leadership from the savvy Suter, who will also
quarterback the power play (ranked 23rd last season with a 13.3%
success rate). During training camp the 35-year-old Suter -- who
last year played fewer periods (two) than he had surgeries
(three) -- appeared rejuvenated, scoring higher than any other
player on the team's annual fitness tests. Once again, the solid
duo of Mike Vernon and Steve Shields will split time in goal.
Having already gotten off to a more positive start than last
season, the Sharks hope that it leads to a happier ending.
Issue date: October 4, 1999
ALSO:
SI's Scouting Report Main Page
SI's Pierre McGuire Insider Rankings
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BRIGHT SPOTS
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GRAY AREAS
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A franchise-low power play (13.3%) actually clicked at 22.6 percent in the 12 games with Vincent Damphousse in the lineup. That would have led the league over the full season.
Marco Sturm and Patrick Marleau have two solid years of experience . . . and they can't even legally buy a beer yet.
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D Gary Suter will try to return from a torn triceps tendon that limited him to one game after signing as a free agent.
Damphousse also is coming off injuries.
Is D Brad Stuart (No. 3 overall in 1998) ready to make impact after being named top defenseman in the CHL last year?
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People, Places and Things
GM: Dean Lombardi
Coach: Darryl Sutter; 3rd season (65-71-28); 6th overall (175-151-54)
Assistants: Paul Baxter, Bob Berry
Captain: Owen Nolan
Last year: 31-33-18 (15th overall)
Playoffs: Lost to Colorado 4-2 in first round
PP: 23rd (13.3%)
PK: 13th (85.0%)
Get The Highlighter
Sat., Oct. 2: Home opener vs. Calgary
Tue., Oct. 19: Going to Madison Square Garden is tough for anybody, but the Sharks have never beaten the Rangers -- there or anywhere -- since joining the NHL. They are 0-13-2 against the Rangers
Notable Number
196: The second-lowest goal total for a playoff team since Minnesota scored 191 in 1970-71 (a 78-game season, mind you).
Quoteworthy
"I'm confident I can come back and contribute." -- Gary Suter
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