The Sharks will miss the NHL playoffs for the first time in five seasons, just the second time since the 2002-03 campaign. They struggled so much and things got so bad they didn’t even qualify for a 24-team modified playoff format designed to wrap the season after the coronavirus pandemic forced the NHL to hit pause.
Disqualification is an odd feeling for most veteran Sharks, especially when a season that started with promise ended in disaster.
Their path to redemption won’t start for months. It may be well into the winter before next season ramps up, meaning the Sharks have plenty of time on their hands to ponder what went wrong and how to make it right.