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Season preview: Sharks

Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 43-29-5-5, 96 points (2nd in Pacific, 7th in West)

2011-'12 playoffs: Lost to St. Louis Blues 4-1

Coach: Todd McLellan (195-92-41, 5th NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: C Joe Thornton (18 goals, 59 assists, 77 points)

Top returning goalie: Antti Niemi (34-22-9, 2.42, .915)

Key additions: D Brad Stuart; RW Adam Burish; C Bracken Kearns.

Key subtractions: C Andrew Murray; C Dominic Moore; C Torrey Mitchell; LW Brad Winchester; RW Benn Ferriero; D Jim Vandermeer; D Colin White.

Goaltending: Niemi’s first hockey job was driving a Zamboni back in his native Finland. He returned home during the lockout to play for Pelicans Lahti. Backstopped Chicago to the 2009-10 Stanley Cup title, becoming the first Finnish-born goalie to win the Cup.

Player to watch: D Matt Tennyson. With just eight blue-liners in camp, the free-agent signing from Western Michigan (CCHA) will get a long look. He was a Second Team All-CCHA choice and a finalist for the conference’s top offensive defenseman last season.

Icing: Stuart signed for less money with Sharks ($3.6 million per season) than he was earning with Detroit ($3.75 million) because he wanted to be back home with his family, who remained in California while he played for the Red Wings . . . C Joe Pavelski set a career high with 31 goals in 2011-12 . . . Sharks have regressed in wins in each of McLellan’s four seasons as coach and a slow start could put him on the hot seat.

Bob Duff writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NHL for the Windsor (Ontario) Star; The Associated Press contributed to this story

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