Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 53-18-11, 117 points (1st in Pacific, 1st in West)

2008-'09 playoffs: Lost to Anaheim Ducks 4-2

General manager: Doug Wilson (240-115-55, 6th NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: Todd McLellan (53-18-11, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Rob Blake

Top returning scorer: C Joe Thornton (25 goals, 61 assists, 86 points)

Top returning goalie: Evgeni Nabokov (41-12-8, 2.44, .910)

Key additions: LW Dany Heatley; C Dwight Helminen; RW Jed Ortmeyer; D Joe Callahan; C Scott Nichol; C Manny Malhotra.

Key subtractions: G Brian Boucher; RW Riley Armstrong; RW Claude Lemieux; LW Travis Moen; D Brad Lukowich; D Christian Ehrhoff; C Jeremy Roenick; LW Lukas Kasper; RW Mike Grier; C Marcel Goc; LW Milan Michalek; D Alexei Semenov; RW Jonathan Cheechoo.

Top line: LW Dany Heatley, C Joe Thornton, RW Ryane Clowe

Top defensive pairing: Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Rob Blake

Goaltending: Nabokov enjoyed another powerfully strong regular season, following by another patented postseason meltdown. Too many weak goals leak through him and he developed a nasty habit of allowing early goals, putting his team in a hole. Plays aggressively, is quick and agile and owns a rapier-like glovehand.

Player to watch: LW Jamie McGinn. Moved quickly up depth chart with departure of Michalek to Ottawa in the Heatley trade. Produced 4-2-6 totals in 35 games with Sharks last season after quick 19-goal outburst with Worcester (AHL) in pro debut. Gets to the scoring spots at the appropriate times and is equipped with the quick release of a sniper.

Icing: Just when it seemed the Sharks might be poised to make their long-expected deep run in the playoffs, they fizzled out again. Not even the club's first Presidents' Trophy mattered. The biggest move in the offseason shakeup came when Cheechoo and Michalek were dealt to Ottawa for Heatley. Thornton played in every game last season and posted a team-high 86 points (25 goals, 61 assists), but he managed only one goal and four assists in the playoff loss to Anaheim. The Sharks are 189-82-33 in the regular season since Thornton was traded to San Jose by Boston on Nov. 30, 2005. He has 92 goals and 292 assists in 304 games, but San Jose hasn't gotten past the second round. With Dan Boyle and Blake joining the team last season, the Sharks had the highest-scoring defense in team history.

Outlook: They stripped the captaincy from the underachieving Marleau, then dealt two-thirds of their No. 1 line to add the underachieving Heatley. Closed 12-10-2 last season, evidence that things were going south long before playoff loss to Ducks.

Prediction: 105 points (1st in Pacific, 1st seed in West)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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