Pre-Season Power Rankings: How Much Have Sharks Improved?

The dust from the off-season has almost settled: Where do the San Jose Sharks stand?

This could be the first time since 2019 that the Sharks make the playoffs, but how do they stack up against the rest of the NHL?

Here are my off-season power rankings, as of August 24.

Three NHL scouts also looked over the rankings.

Keep in mind, there are still some stars that could be moved by opening night: Center Dylan Larkin and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck could be traded. Winger Cutter Gauthier is among the top RFA’s still unsigned.

32) Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are where the San Jose Sharks were a few years ago, a franchise that needs to rebuild and is finally admitting it. Their quiet off-season is a reflection of this.

31) Seattle Kraken

The Kraken, as a franchise, are running in place. Frankly, there’s a reason why star sniper Jason Robertson declined a trade to Seattle.

30) Calgary Flames

The NHL’s most anemic offense didn’t add much firepower in the off-season. Goaltender Dustin Wolf is a fine foundation, but as a franchise, they need more gamechangers.

29) Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Kane and Bo Byram will help, but they’ll need to survive the absence of injured Connor Bedard for likely a month or so this season.

28) Detroit Red Wings

Dylan Larkin’s trade request will hang over them: This is going to be a tough year in Motown.

27) Toronto Maple Leafs

Sergei Bobrovsky is a future Hall of Famer, but he’s 37 and coming off possibly the worst season of his career. I think this gamble blows up in Toronto’s face and diminishes an otherwise excellent off-season.