The San Jose Sharks have had many ups and downs so far this season. The best point in the season was a six-game winning streak on the road in November, but that has become a distant memory with the current six-game losing streak. All of the ground that the Sharks gained on their winning streak has been lost, as they find themselves two points out of the last place in the Pacific Division and 11 points behind the division-leading Los Angeles Kings. Here's what the Sharks need to make the playoffs.
San Jose need to get healthy. This is out of their control, but it is the biggest need for the Sharks currently. Logan Couture has been out for most of the season and experienced another injury in the two-game stint back in the lineup this week. Couture is a captain and one of the best players on the team. People can say all they want about depth on an NHL roster, but you cannot replace your best players. They wouldn't be your best players if they were easily replaceable. The timetable on Couture's return is indefinite which should scare all Sharks fans. The defense needs to stay especially healthy because there is absolutely no depth when any of the top four goes down. The top four being: Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Justin Braun, Brent Burns, and Paul Martin. The Sharks are 1-6 when missing one of these players from the lineup. It's no coincidence.
The Sharks need to ice a fourth line that features actual hockey ability and provides a boost to the rest of the lineup. This ties into a healthy Sharks team but all of the winning teams out there have good fourth lines. Any line that Mike Brown is on is automatically at an AHL level, if not worse. He takes bad penalties, he can't handle the puck, and he has no idea where to be on the ice. He is continually on the ice for more shots and scoring chances against than shots and scoring chances for. Not only that, but he brings down whoever his linemates are. It's one thing to be bad at hockey, but it's another thing to make other players bad. As soon as the Sharks can welcome back Ben Smith, Raffi Torres, and Couture there will be no place on the roster for Brown. There are players on the Sharks' AHL affiliate, San Jose Barracuda that would be much better than Brown. Barclay Goodrow played all last season with the Sharks and would be a much better option on the fourth line. Goodrow has 11 points in 14 games for the Barracuda this season.
The Sharks need to keep getting good play from Martin Jones. He's had some rough patches, sure, but overall he's been a bright spot for the team and their future. Even the best goalies in the world have rough patches, especially when the defensive depth in front of them is nonexistent. If Jones can sustain his save percentage of around .920, then the Sharks can make a run in the playoffs, assuming they get there. If Jones' save percentage starts dipping into Antti Niemi territory, .910, then the Sharks have no chance of making the playoffs.
Playoffs are attainable for the Sharks, but most of their playoff hopes banks on being a healthy team. As long as Mike Brown is getting regular action on the ice, this team won't go very far.