San Jose Sharks Odds - It’s now or never
What do we do with San Jose Sharks odds this season? For years, NHL betting sharps have decided “this is the year” for San Jose only to see them flop. Now, with the core of their roster aging, the Sharks are running out of chances. Can they finally conquer their playoff choking syndrome? Will Dany Heatley help or hurt them?
San Jose Sharks Odds: Pieces in place to contend again, but Sharks are running out of time
- Heatley, Thornton could be Western Conference’s answer to Crosby, Malkin
- Boyle and Blake lead an aging defense; Vlasic’s role will grow
- Sharks are special-teams dynamos; power play is especially terrifying
San Jose Sharks odds maker breakdown: OFFENSE
By acquiring Heatley, the Sharks abandoned a Philadelphia Flyers-like approach – filling several lines with great but unspectacular forwards – and shifted to a Pittsburgh Penguins approach, depending on two or three superstars to carry the offense. Dany Heatley has shown chemistry with Joe Thornton in international play and should click with him again this year; 50 goals are entirely possible. They’ll join Devin Setoguchi to form a dynamic top line. Patrick Marleau, Ryan Clowe and Joe Pavelski provide secondary scoring. With Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek gone, however, San Jose isn’t as deep up front.
San Jose Sharks odds maker breakdown: DEFENSE
The Sharks are strong in the back end...for now. Rob Blake and Dan Boyle are a rock-solid top two but Blake is 39 years old and Boyle is nearing the end of his prime. Marc-Edouard Vlasic should see his responsibility increase and he’ll flourish. Losing Christian Ehrhoff, however, will sting.
San Jose Sharks odds maker breakdown: GOALTENDING
Is Evgeni Nabokov wearing down after years of overuse? He’s still a top-tier goalie and a perennial candidate to lead the league in wins, but he’s prone to cold spells and they often come at the worst times – i.e. in the playoffs against Anaheim last season, when his save percentage plummeted from .910 to .890. Brian Boucher did a good job spelling him last year. Can Thomas Greiss do it this year? Nabokov has to hope so.
San Jose Sharks odds maker breakdown: SPECIAL TEAMS
Truly elite teams in online sports betting pay proper attention to special teams, and the Sharks are no exception, having cracked the top four in power play and penalty killing last year. Adding Heatley to Thornton, Marleau, Boyle and Blake could give the Sharks the best power play in the league. The penalty kill should remain strong but it could slip slightly with Michalek, Mike Grier and Ehrhoff leaving town.
San Jose Sharks odds maker breakdown: SEASON OUTLOOK
In theory, the Sharks are once again a solid Stanley Cup pick at the sportsbook. They have talent at every position, they’re solid at both ends of the rink and they’re well-coached. However, they don’t get my vote as top contender to win it all. Like the Ottawa Senators of the early to mid-2000s, they have a mental block keeping them from winning the big game. Why would it magically lift this season? With some key players aging and Marleau primed to leave for unrestricted free agency, bettors can’t help but wonder if 2009-10 is San Jose’s last good chance to win the Cup for a long time.
Interested in San Jose Sharks odds to win the Stanley Cup? Visit the BetOnline.com sportsbook. For more sports betting help, keep reading the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com. Don Melrose is BetOnline.com's hockey expert.
