Predicting Which 5 San Jose Sharks Will Have the Best Plus/Minus in 2014-15

The San Jose Sharks have completed the first quarter of their 2014-15 NHL season. Already, we have an idea of which players will be the team's leaders in plus/minus.

Here is a look at the players who are projected to finish in the top five among Sharks players in plus/minus by the end of the season.

The rankings were determined by a combination of the each player's role on the team, their early-season performance and their past career plus/minus ratings.

Just missing our top five were Tyler Kennedy and Matt Nieto, forwards who need to pick up their overall game to make the actual list.

Feel free to comment on any of the players listed here or a player you feel belongs but was omitted. As always, indicate why you feel the way you do.

5. Joe Thornton

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Joe Thorton remains one of the NHL's premier passers.

Joe Thornton continues to be one of the better passers in the NHL. Thus far, he has seven goals and 20 points in 24 games and a plus-one rating, which ranks him fifth on the Sharks.

Last season, "Jumbo Joe" finished with a plus-20 ranking in 82 games. He saw significant power-play time, which has no positive effect on a player's plus/minus since no "plus" is awarded for goals scored while your team has the extra attacker.

This year, Thornton is playing nearly 19 minutes per game and is still considered one of the club's top offensive players. He should get plenty of chances to maintain strong numbers.

Expect Thornton to have another productive season, although his plus/minus numbers may fall off a bit if the team's overall struggles continue.

4. Logan Couture

Associated Press

Logan Couture is one of the Sharks' most consistent players.

Logan Couture got off to a surprisingly slow start this season with regard to his plus/minus rating, but has improved to a minus-one through 24 games. He also has eight goals and 19 points.

Couture is also seeing a lot of ice time. He is averaging 19 minutes and 18 seconds per game and has four goals on the man advantage.

Last season, Couture's numbers were stronger. He finished with a plus-21 in 65 games. He also scored 23 goals and 54 points.

If he stays healthy, Couture could match or exceed last year's totals, assuming the Sharks can start winning again.

The Guelph, Ontario, native will remain one of San Jose's most productive offensive players.

3. Joe Pavelski

Associated Press

Joe Pavelski led all Sharks forwards in plus/minus last season.

Joe Pavelski is presently tops among San Jose forwards with a plus-three rating through 24 games. He has been productive offensively, scoring nine goals and 19 points thus far for the Sharks—just slightly below last year's pace of 79 points in 82 games.

Pavelski finished last season with a plus-23 rating, which was second among forwards behind Brent Burns. Burns was converted back to defense this past offseason.

Expect Pavelski to pick things up a bit. He leads the team with nine goals, 82 shots on goal and five power-play tallies.

He also leads all Sharks forwards with 19:44 of ice time per game thus far.

Pavelski may not match the 41 goals or plus-23 rating he managed last year, but his numbers will be strong and near the top among the club's forwards.

2. Justin Braun

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Justin Braun has taken his game to a higher level this season.

Justin Braun doesn't put up gaudy offensive numbers like the forwards listed below him on this list, but his consistent play in all three zones of the ice allows him to maintain a very strong plus/minus rating.

Thus far this season, the Minneapolis native has only seven assists in 24 games, but he stands second on the team with a plus-eight rating.

Braun has stepped up his game this year and is third on the team with 21:25 of ice time per game.

The Sharks rewarded Braun by signing him to a five-year, $19 million contract extension earlier this season.

Last season, Braun scored only 17 points in 82 games but had a strong plus-19 rating.

Expect Braun to continue to be one of the Sharks' most reliable defensemen. He won't score a lot of points, but he should continue to be among the team's leaders in plus/minus.

1. Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Associated Press

Marc-Edouard Vlasic is the Sharks' most consistent defenseman.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic is the Sharks' most consistent defenseman and the player likeliest to lead the team in plus/minus this season.

Vlasic was tops on the team last season with a plus-31 rating in 81 games. He scored only five goals and 24 points, but his smart play in his own zone made him the team's most reliable shutdown defenseman.

This year, Vlasic is off to a solid start in the plus/minus department. He leads the team with a plus-10 through 24 games. He has scored two goals and six points so far this season.

Vlasic is second on the team with 22:23 of ice time per game and is always facing the opposing team's top offensive players.

Expect another great season from Vlasic and him to repeat as the club's plus/minus leader.