San Jose Sharks: Will This Be Their Breakthrough Year?

Through 54 games, the San Jose Sharks have the fifth-most points in the Western Conference. However, because they are the Pacific Division leaders, they are in third place and poised to make a playoff run.

This seems to be the case every year. The Sharks are one of the perennial top teams during the regular season. However, that doesn't continue in the playoffs. San Jose has made it to the playoffs every year since 2003, when current GM Doug Wilson took over from Dean Lombardi.

Last year was no different. After miraculously getting through two tough rounds against the Los Angeles Kings and the Detroit Red Wings, the Sharks fell flat against the Vancouver Canucks in the Conference Finals, losing the series 4-1.

Let me put it this way: The Sharks have been in existence since 1991. That's 21 years.

Here are their regular season accomplishments:

Pacific Division Championships: Six

President Trophies (most points in the league during regular season): One

Now for the playoffs (via sharkspage.com):

Overall Playoff Record: 76-82
Overall Playoff OT Record: 15-17
Overall Playoff Series Record: 13-14
Overall Elimination Game Record: 13-16

Stanley Cup Championships: None
Conference Championships: None

San Jose has been labeled as the "chokers" by opposing fans and players due to their lack of playoff success, and I don't blame them. All of their playoff records are below .500. They have never won a Conference Championship or a Stanley Cup.

Their most disappointing playoff performance has to be in 2008-09 season when they won the Presidents' Trophy. They faced off against the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks and they just blew it. The Sharks lost that series 4-2 in Todd McClellan's first year as head coach (Ironically, McClellan replaced Ron Wilson, who was let go because the team couldn't win playoff games).

It's not like the Sharks have a lack of talent. They are a force to be reckoned with every single game. Their roster is stacked with All-Stars, Olympians and terrific young phenoms.

Every year we hear players, fans and coaches saying something along the lines of, "This is our year" or "There's no reason why we can't win the Stanley Cup." This is true for pretty much every team, but for the Sharks, the hockey gods have not been kind.

I mean, what can GM Doug Wilson do? He has put together a star-studded roster year after year since he has been here. Most teams have a few years of success, then maybe a few years of rebuilding, but Wilson has the Sharks right up there at the top of the standings every year.

This year is no different. The Sharks are playing consistent and outstanding hockey. Their roster, once again, is loaded with terrific players. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are having outstanding seasons. Logan Couture has proven that he will be a force to reckoned with in the NHL for years to come. Joe Pavelski is playing great.

Defenseman Brent Burns has been a great addition to go along with Dan Boyle's production. Marc-Eduouard Vlasic is having a breakout season, and goalies Antti Niemi and Thomas Greiss are doing their part defending the net. We could go on and on for hours about how good the Sharks are.

But until this team can prove that they can put this all together during the playoffs and win a Stanley Cup, they will continue to have the label "chokers" on their back.

So, what do you think? Will this season be their breakthrough year? What do the Sharks need to do in order to remove the hideous "choker" label? Feel free to comment and respond to the poll.