San Jose Sharks: 4 Reasons Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau Could Win It All

The San Jose Sharks have been a postseason enigma.

They have proven they can put up big points in the regular season only to fall in the early, middle and even late stages of the postseason.

I'm not only talking about the past few seasons, either.

The Sharks have made the playoffs every year since 2003-2004, earning themselves five Pacific division titles and one Presidents' Trophy win in that span, but have never progressed beyond the Western Conference Finals.

The core of San Jose has been together for the better part of six seasons now, seeming to only improve year after year.

The Sharks are about to ice arguably their best roster in franchise history this coming season.

Could this be the year that Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dan Boyle bring the cup to San Jose?

Here are four reasons why it is more than possible. 

One Question Mark: Antti Niemi

See the video here? That's Niemi playing like an elite goaltender in the NHL.

That's Niemi on the top of his game, sweeping his current team while he was with the Chicago Blackhawks.

That particular game he stopped 44 shots in a 2-1 win over the Sharks and didn't stop making big saves until he was a Stanley Cup winner.

I'm not saying that Niemi has lost all of his "mojo" since that epic cup run, I am only saying he didn't prove he still had it during 2010-2011 postseason.

He posted a .896 save percentage and an abysmal 3.22 GAA in the playoffs that saw the Sharks lose to the Vancouver Canucks in five games in the Western Conference Final.

For years, goaltending was almost never a question for the Sharks with their once-superstar goalie Nabokov between the pipes.

Now their biggest question mark and roadblock may be in the paint with Antti Niemi.  

4. Improved Defense in Brent Burns

For all that read my last article about the top 21 draft picks from 2003, I just want to be clear that I have no disrespect for Brent Burns. He was No. 22 on my list.

Brent Burns will make an immediate impact on the San Jose defense, both offensively and defensively.

Burns seems to have all the qualities that make him a wonderful first or second line defender and will most likely play with Marc-Edouard Vlasic this coming season.

Registering 46 points, including 17 goals with his cannon of a shot from the blue line, coupled with his ability to hit and play physical, San Jose's second line defense with Brent Burns looks fierce behind the first line of Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray.

Their third line of Demers, a rising young defensive star, and either White or Vandermeer makes this SJ defense the best that has ever hit the ice.   

3. Improved Speed on Both Ends of the Ice

With the acquisition of Havlat and Burns, San Jose just became a whole lot faster on offense and on defense.

Burns can spring load an offensive breakout like nobody's business and can move at breakneck speed himself, turning San Jose's already mobile defense even more dangerous. Even though Heatley was and is one of the best snipers in the league, he just didn't possess the breakout speed needed to put up big numbers with "Jumbo" Joe Thornton.

This year Havlat will either be playing on a line with Marleau and Thornton—which will be one of the deadliest and fastest in the league—or Havlat will be put on the second line with rookie of the year candidate Logan Couture, spreading out San Jose's speed into three hungry and merciless forward lines. Speaking of those lines...  

2. The Best Top Three Forward Lines in the League

I mean this when I say it: San Jose has the best three forward lines in all the NHL.

With the acquisition of Handzus as a defensive third-line center with some offensive flair, the top three lines could put up these numbers based on last season's results:

Marleau (73 points); Thornton (70 points);  Pavelski (66 points) = 209 points

Clowe (62); Couture (Rookie Campaign of 56 points);  Havlat (62) = 180 points

Mitchell (23); Handzus (30); McGinn (6) = 59 points

The third line specifically would be monstrous defensively and has extreme breakout potential if McGinn can mature and Mitchell can finally find his hands this season.

Not to mention the fact that Couture (seen in the video) would be getting increased minutes on the second line and could use all his talents to improve the numbers of himself and his wingers, Clowe and Havlat.

I would like to see anyone try to find another three lines with this much potential offensively and defensively.  

1. A Screaming Fanbase Chomping at the Bit

Get it? Chomping? Lame joke I know.

Consistently rated one of the loudest and hardest arenas to play in, the Shark Tank has some of the most loyal fans in the NHL.

Cheering through the Cheechoo, Nabokov, Nolan, and soon to be all of the Marleau days, these fans have been waiting for their first taste of the Stanley Cup.

The pressure is so high for this group of players to succeed that GM Doug Wilson fired long-time winning-record holding coach Ron Wilson in 2008 and replaced him with Todd McLellan in order to instill a sense of urgency to his Sharks players.

This team knows that its window is closing. Its players are getting older and while they are still producing, they cannot continue the pace they've set for three, four or five more years.

Captain Jumbo Joe and past captain Patty Marleau want to give this fan base its first ever Stanley Cup and, based on these reasons, they can.

Stay tuned tomorrow when I break down the top four reasons why the Capitals could claim victory next postseason.