Up next in our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview series is the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are one of the NHL’s worst teams and have extremely low expectations for the new season. However, they still have some decent options to consider for your fantasy hockey team. Let’s discuss a few of them now by position.
San Jose Sharks Fantasy Hockey Preview
Sharks Forwards
Although the Sharks’ forward group is one of the NHL’s worst, they have some notable names worth considering. One of them is Tomas Hertl. The 29-year-old is a solid top-six center and one of the most important players on San Jose’s roster. In 79 games last season, he had 22 goals and 63 points. Overall, he has point-per-game potential and is worth looking at in the middle rounds of your fantasy draft.
Logan Couture is another solid Shark who warrants consideration for your fantasy hockey roster. In 82 games last season for the Sharks, he had 27 goals to go along with 67 points. Like Hertl, he is a huge part of the Sharks’ forward group and is a consistent offensive threat. Due to this, he is worth consideration in the middle to later rounds of your fantasy draft.
After Hertl and Couture, options are rather limited with the Sharks. Yet, Alexander Barabanov and Anthony Duclair are sleepers to consider in the late rounds or on the waiver wire.
Sharks Defensemen
After trading Erik Karlsson, the Sharks do not have any must-have defensemen for your fantasy team. Truthfully, they arguably sport the worst defensive group in the NHL. However, one player to watch in the late rounds of your fantasy hockey draft is Matt Benning.
Benning, 29, quietly had the best season of his career in 2022-23. In 77 games, he set a new career-high in points with 24. Overall, he showed that he can produce a bit from the point and could take another step forward in 2023-24. With Karlsson traded, Benning is expected to be on their top power-play unit and in their top four. Due to this, Benning could be a sleeper worth looking at late in your fantasy draft or on the waiver wire.
From there, the Sharks do not offer much else. Mario Ferraro is worth watching during the season as a possible waiver-wire pickup but only if he gets his offensive game back in 2023-24.
Sharks Goalies
Once upon a time, Mackenzie Blackwood was believed to be the New Jersey Devils’ long-term answer in net. However, after a handful of poor seasons, the Devils shipped him off to the Sharks this summer. In 2022-23, he really struggled, posting a .893 SV% and 3.20 GAA in 22 games. As a result of his poor year, he should be avoided in your fantasy draft. Yet, if he finally turns things back around, he could be worth it on the waiver wire.
Meanwhile, Kaapo Kahkonen also should not be considered in your fantasy hockey draft. In 37 games last season, he had a 9-20-7 record, 3.85 GAA, and .883 SV%. If he turns it around in 2023-24, he could be worth a look as a mid-season pickup for your fantasy team.
Alas, the Sharks do not offer fantasy managers the best options, but some of their players are worth considering in the middle to later rounds. Let’s see if San Jose can shock hockey fans and be competitive in 2023-24 from here.
Make sure to check out all of our Fantasy Hockey Team Previews as they roll out over the coming weeks!
Looking for more great fantasy hockey analysis? Check out our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit for team previews, rankings, and all the sleepers you can shake a stick at.