LCS Hockey - Team Reports - San Jose Sharks

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head coach: Darryl Sutter

roster: C - Bernie Nicholls, Mike Ricci, Patrick Marleau, Ron Sutter, Marco Sturm, Alex Korolyuk. LW - Jeff Friesen, Shawn Burr, Murray Craven, Stephane Matteau, Dave Lowry, Alex Hicks. RW - Tony Granato, Owen Nolan, Joe Murphy, Ronnie Stern. D - Gary Suter, Bob Rouse, Bryan Marchment, Bill Houlder, Marty McSorley, Marcus Ragnarsson, Mike Rathje, Andrei Zyuzin. G - Mike Vernon, Steve Shields.

transactions: Gonesville: John MacLean (NY Rangers), Al Iafrate (retired), Kelly Hrudey (retired). Charlie New Guys: Alex Hicks, Ronnie Stern, Bob Rouse, Gary Suter, Steve Shields.

1997-98 results:

Record...........34-38-10, 78 PTS, 8th Western Conference 
Goals Scored.....210
Goals Against....216
Power Play.......13.5% (16th)
Penalty Killing..85.2% (13th)

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Gary Suter and Bob Rouse will strengthen the blue line.

* Jeff Friesen is a young star on left wing.

* Broadway Bernie Nicholls is an LCS hero.

* Owen Nolan is due for a big year.

* Bryan Marchment keeps the opposition honest.

GRIEF

* Nolan, Friesen, Nicholls, Mike Ricci, and Mike Rathje all need contracts.

* Losing John MacLean could hurt the chemistry that helped the Sharks into the playoffs last year.

* Not much scoring throughout the lineup.

* Mike Vernon is getting pretty old.

* As a whole, the Sharks are rather slow.

1998-99 OUTLOOK: Unless Patrick Marleau becomes a scoring threat at center and Friesen and Nolan have career years, the San Jose offense is going to struggle. The defense is improved and the goaltending is decent, but the Sharks need more scoring for a return ticket to the playoffs.

PREDICTION: Fifth in Pacific Division.