SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — After the San Jose Sharks became the only team to make it to the conference finals in each of the past two seasons, general manager Doug Wilson could have been forgiven if he made just a few roster tweaks.
Wilson did more than that, and this year’s version of the Sharks will look much different from the one that got eliminated in five games by Vancouver in the Western Conference final about four months ago.
While the core of captain Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, Dan Boyle and goalie Antti Niemi is back this season, the Sharks jettisoned many key contributors from last season in a clear message from management that the conference final is not satisfactory for one of the league’s most talented teams.
