Hasso Plattner sums up what his expectations are for the Sharks this season

"SAN JOSE - Sharks owner Hasso Plattner had a direct answer this week when it came to what he expects from his team this season. "I hope we don't have to go for McKenna," Plattner said Thursday of Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, thought to be the best player available in next year's NHL Draft. "I just talked to (coach Ryan Warsofsky), 'No McKenna here now,' and (general manager) Mike (Grier) said, 'Absolutely not, absolutely not.'""

"After finishing at the bottom of the league standings the last two years and having the best odds to win the NHL Draft Lottery, the Sharks know they need to take a step forward this season in what is Grier's fourth year as the team's head of hockey operations. No one, perhaps even inside the organization, thinks the Sharks have a realistic chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 2019, especially after a 20-50-12 season."

"The Sharks were on their way to a season-opening win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday before a pair of mishaps resulted in a bitter 4-3 overtime loss before a sold-out SAP Center crowd. The Sharks led 3-2 late in the third period and had an empty net in front of them with less than two minutes to go when William Eklund poked one shot attempt just wide and had another on a wraparound blocked by Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore. Just seconds later, a flip shot on net by Golden Knights center Jack Eichel bounced in front of goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and into the net to tie the game with 1:34 left in regulation time."

The Sharks' ownership and management prefer improvement this season to avoid selecting Penn State forward Gavin McKenna in next year's draft. The team finished at the bottom of the standings the last two years and holds top odds in the draft lottery, creating urgency in Mike Grier's fourth year overseeing hockey operations. Playoff qualification appears unlikely after a 20-50-12 season, but development from players age 23-and-younger is prioritized to position the club for a 2026-27 postseason push. Defenseman Mario Ferraro emphasized an obligation to deliver a strong season for loyal fans. The Sharks opened with a 4-3 overtime loss to Vegas after late-game miscues.

Read at The Mercury News