The San Jose Sharks’ season has gone completely off the rails (or according to plan depending on your point of view).
The 0-10-1 Sharks have been outscored by 42 non-shootout goals — the worst goal differential through 11 games in NHL history. That comes after they surrendered 10 goals in consecutive contests, the first time that has happened in nearly 60 years. San Jose is on pace to obliterate the league record for worst single-season goal differential, which is held by the expansion Washington Capitals, who won eight games in 1974-75 (minus-265).
“If you just look at some of the guys we have, we haven’t played a lot of NHL hockey,” Sharks coach David Quinn told reporters after the team’s 10-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. “That’s the situation we’re in — guys trying to prove themselves and establish themselves. We all acknowledged that before the season started.”
It is not hyperbole to say that we may be witnessing the worst team in league history — and certainly of the salary cap era. There have been some real stinkers over the past two decades, including the worst team of the Sportlogiq era — the 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche, who finished with a .293 points percentage.
Led by 21-year-old Nathan MacKinnon, those Avalanche went 22-56-4 under first-year coach Jared Bednar. Despite the Avalanche’s ineptitude that season, the Sharks’ futility blows them away.
Even the 2021-22 Montreal Canadiens, who also won 22 games, compare favorably to the Sharks, having controlled 43.5 per cent of expected goals in all situations. San Jose has a 31.9 XGF% so far this season.
Relative to the rest of the team, Sharks goaltenders have performed respectably. They have surrendered 6.4 extra goals in all situations, which ranks ahead of four teams — Carolina (6.72), Minnesota (7.09), Philadelphia (7.9) and Edmonton (9.87). The offence, meanwhile, has scored one fewer goal than Auston Matthews.
If the Sharks’ intention entering the season was to field the worst roster imaginable, then they have succeeded. Of course, what matters most is draft positioning. The 2016-17 Avalanche lost the lottery and dropped to No. 4 but ended up with Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar. The Canadiens’ reward for finishing in last place in 2022 was first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky.
By the end of the week, the Sharks could tie the 1943-44 New York Rangers (0-14-1) for the longest season-opening winless streak in league history, with Philadelphia, Edmonton, Vegas and Anaheim on the schedule.
Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end.
All stats via Sportlogiq