Former Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau has raised expectations for the San Jose Sharks’ upcoming season.
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Boudreau discussed the Sharks’ upcoming season on NHL Tonight and applauded the team for its offseason moves.
“I really believe they have some NHL players now. [Macklin] Celebrini and [Will] Smith is going to take some time,” Boudreau said. “At the same time, they added NHL players. They didn’t have any NHL players last year.”
Boudreau was most recently the Canucks’ bench boss from 2021-2023 and was fired in a strange fashion. He was sidelined as reports suggested the Canucks were hiring 2024 Jack Adams winner coach Rick Tocchet, but kept Boudreau as coach for a short period.
The NHL Network analyst has coached more than 1,000 NHL games and expects players on the Sharks roster to have a chip on their shoulder.
“If I’m a San Jose Shark, I have a chip on my shoulder this year. I’m not going to start from 0 to 12; I’m going to go out there and show them that we’re much better,” Boudreau said. “When you take Tyler Toffoli, Alex Wennberg, Barclay Goodrow and Jake Walman, those guys are NHL players. When you add those with good young players, I think they will be much more difficult in the Pacific Division.”
Related: ‘I Have Some Stuff In Store’: Sharks’ Jake Walman Brings His Happy, Good Vibes to San Jose
The Sharks have emphasized getting stronger and bringing in more quality NHLers. New coach Ryan Warsofsky said he expects improvements and changes from the way things went last season.
Boudreau laid out his August and September schedules from when he was coaching, and they match up exactly with what Warsofsky explained.
“The way we used to do it, as soon as September came, I would get all the coaches together. For three weeks straight, we would be in the office, going over the training camp. we wanted to have. The teams we wanted to put together for training camp,” Boudreau said. “In August, I spent time talking to the players on the phone, making sure they were ready.”
Warsofksy said that during the offseason he wants to get to know his team in person and not discuss hockey too much. He wants to connect with his team before they hit the ice.
Related: Sharks’ new head coach shares how he intends to develop Shakir Mukhamadullin
The Sharks don’t project to reach the postseason at 24-25, but their play is expected to improve.
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