5 Sharks Who Will Turn It Up a Notch After the New Year

The Sharks are back to their old selves. They've won four games in a row, and have gotten points in six games in a row.

Some of the Sharks players are still capable of turning it up a notch, though, in terms of stats. Not to say these players are doing bad, but are capable of doing much better.

If some of the big guns can get on a hot streak, the Sharks will be able to rack up a ton of points.

1. Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton isn't having a horrible season, but he's capable of being much, much better.

In 32 games, Thornton has six goals and 22 assists. That's not bad, but for a guy who historically scores a point per game, it's sort of alarming.

The reason Thornton is struggling could be because of all the line mix-ups. Once McLellan establishes a working line and they develop a solid chemistry, Thornton will be his old self.

For the best functioning line, I suggest Thornton, Marleau and Pavelski.

2. Patrick Marleau

Once again, Patrick Marleau is having a pretty good year so far. In 32 games, he has 13 goals and assists each.

Most players would like to have those stats, but Marleau can do better also.

Like I suggested for Thornton, once the lines are established, Marleau will get hot and improve.

And everyone knows when Marleau gets hot, there's almost no stopping him. Look for his stats to improve dramatically when he gets on a hot pace.

3. Ryane Clowe

Similar story to the others. Clowe is having a decent year with 32 games played, seven goals and 15 assists.

Last season, he established career highs in goals and points, with 24 and 62 respectively.

So like the others, Clowe is capable of doing better, and he will, for the same reasons as the last two guys.

For another line, since Martin Havlat is injured, I suggest Clowe, Logan Couture and Jamie McGinn.

Clowe has great chemistry with Couture, and the two can also help McGinn's quest in becoming a rising star. Who knows? McGinn's been playing well lately, he can maybe help Clowe out also.

Logan Couture has been playing amazingly, he and Clowe will be a great combo if they're played together.

4. Dan Boyle

This seems to be a pretty appropriate article for Dan Boyle.

It could be his age, but the former 60-point scorer has been held to a mere two goals and 14 assists in 32 games.

It could also be the injury that Boyle was reluctant to reveal that's been hampering his play.

But once the year becomes 2012, I think Dan Boyle will be able to turn his season around. Despite being 35 years old, I'm sure Boyle's still got it, somewhere. Maybe all he needs is some time to heal, and there's a four-day break coming up after two more games.

Or maybe he needs some confidence. If Boyle can score some goals, maybe that will help him get hot and he'll be able to turn it up a notch next year.

5. Brent Burns

Not to say Burns is having a bad season, but he can do better. He has six goals and assists each through 32 games.

Those are fine numbers for a defenseman, but a player of Burns' caliber is capable of stepping up.

He could use a few more goals right now, but the startling thing is that you'd want to see more than just six assists.

Even though we're already 32 games into the season, he could possibly still be trying to transition to the Sharks' style of play.

Burns isn't playing poorly, he has a plus-14 rating. One thing McLellan can experiment with is placing Burns with Boyle for a few games along with the top line.

That would be a real scary scoring threat, and maybe Boyle and Burns can help each other in a mutually beneficial relationship.