Sharks are the first NHL team eliminated from playoffs – but the vibes are still good

Credit: Nov 16, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) reacts before taking a face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The San Jose Sharks became the first team officially eliminated from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night, but things are looking up for the California franchise.

While the team has sat in or near last place for most of the season, the vibes coming out of the Shark Tank have been significantly better than those of the Chicago Blackhawks, sitting in a similar position.

With key veterans like Tyler Toffoli lofting the young staring performances of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Yaroslav Askarov and others, GM Mike Grier got progress out of his team, even if they finish in the NHL’s basement once again.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by former NHL goalie Carter Hutton to discuss the Sharks season and what they could do next.

Tyler Yaremchuk: We’re going to sit down and talk about their season and then look ahead and see what they need to do this summer in San Jose, where they were the first team officially eliminated. What’s interesting about this again is that they are four points back from the Blackhawks for second last in the NHL, but the vibes around the San Jose team are actually pretty good.

Carter Hutton: You look at Chicago, it seems like it’s gone sour. You look at different teams; Buffalo’s struggles have been a year in and year out. When I look at [the Sharks], what I think is very important is that they’ve added a few key veteran guys around these players, right, where you teach guys how to be real pros… The Anaheim Ducks have done a great job of that, as they’re rebuilding, they didn’t just rip it down to the studs, because we’ve seen that go south, right?

They should be active this year in free agency, adding some more pieces….Maybe you get a guy on a two-year deal where you’re not really married to him, but he’s a good player, a veteran guy, and has that rapport in the league to be around these young guys, so then they start to learn how to be a pro every single day.

I don’t think they’re ready to take the step forward yet, like I wouldn’t put them in the playoff picture by any means, but you need that gradual growth, right?

You can catch the full segment and the rest of Tuesday’s episode here.