Sharks’ season ends with a whimper, and with glaring areas of need

SAN JOSE Another season in which the San Jose Sharks have finished at the bottom of the NHL standings has perhaps mercifully come to a conclusion The Sharks hoped to finish the year on a positive note But with their - loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night at SAP Center they ended with just wins and points only marginally better than their totals from a season ago Ty Emberson and Max Jones scored for the Oilers who handed the Sharks their th straight loss - - to end the season The Sharks finished with a record of - - Also only marginally better for the Sharks The goals against total as San Jose allowed a league-worst goals over games a slightly smaller figure than the they allowed last season during - - campaign If the Sharks hope to make strides next year and have this be the last season they have the best chance to win the NHL Draft Lottery it ll start with how they defend A portion of that will come from internal development from their large cadre of younger players But help from the Sharks front office in that respect would not hurt as part of the company s ample salary cap space requirements to be used on players forwards defensemen and goalies who can help San Jose cut down on the number of goals it allows No association in the top in the NHL s overall standings has allowed more than goals this season Naturally changes are coming with a handful of players in the Sharks lineup Wednesday likely playing their last meeting for the unit That group could include goalie Alexandar Georgiev defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Noah Gregor although those three should only bear so much responsibility This was a association effort through and through But the hope amongst the Sharks is that the worst is behind them and that the organization can start to build back up We re definitely on the right path We are Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky noted Wednesday morning I know our win-loss record doesn t look like that but we re on the right path Sharks captain Logan Couture who officially stated on Tuesday that his playing days are over was in attendance Wednesday The Sharks presented a video tribute for Couture and the sold-out crowd at SAP Center gave him a deserved standing ovation after a -year playing career in the NHL Couture arguably the preponderance clutch playoff performer in Sharks history led San Jose s playoff organization in with points in games Couture declared his two favorite memories as a participant were in when he scored an empty-net goal in Encounter of the Western Conference Final against the St Louis Blues sealing the Sharks first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final In Event of the Sharks first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Couture scored twice in the third period to lead an epic comeback after San Jose fell behind by three goals The Sharks won the encounter - in overtime on a goal by Barclay Goodrow Related Articles Sharks AHL affiliate could be without key players for start of playoffs San Jose Sharks Logan Couture officially ends NHL playing career Should Macklin Celebrini be the San Jose Sharks next captain Celebrini scores Georgiev shines but Sharks lose in OT to extend skid Sharks Logan Couture set to announce end of his playing career I went back and watched those games and you get goosebumps watching the building the atmosphere what those teams were all about the competitiveness Warsofsky commented Obviously Couture scores that goal he jumps into the bench in the biggest match So I want to experience that I want our players to experience that I want our players to go through a playoff run It s the funnest time in your career and those are the best moments I hope we can get to there very very soon But I do think we re on the right path