August 21, 2026 • 12:02 AM EDT
Updated 18 days ago
The San Jose Sharks may be the surprise package of the 2026-27 NHL season if you trust The Hockey News. Their annual Yearbook gave the Sharks a fourth-place projection in the ultra-competitive Pacific Division, something nobody would have called just a year ago. After last season’s finish out of the playoff picture, a leap like that suggests serious progress under the hood.
This isn’t just about wishful thinking or hype. It comes down to real, tangible improvements, especially on the blue line, that should make a difference in how the Sharks stack up in the West. The fourth spot in the Pacific isn’t just a number, either. Last season, that position was barely good enough for the Kings to slide into the playoffs with 90 points. That gives you a sense of the narrow margin and the dogfight we should expect. The Sharks’ upgrade on defense is the main reason experts are sitting up and paying attention now.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Sharks look poised to challenge their Pacific Division rivals far more consistently this time out. The Yearbook pegs only the Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, and Anaheim Ducks ahead of them, which is a testament to how much the perception of this San Jose lineup has changed. With that kind of company, it’s clear nobody’s expecting the Sharks to roll over.
If San Jose does secure that fourth-place finish, their reward isn’t just pride. Instead, they enter a wild scramble for the final playoff spots, facing not just divisional foes but key teams from the Central Division as well. The wild card race always goes down to the wire. Teams like the Utah Mammoth, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets are all potential threats. If the Sharks clinch a spot, it would be their first postseason berth since the 2018-19 season — a drought that’s felt even longer considering the franchise’s previous run of relevance.
The Hockey News didn’t stop at standings. Their Yearbook digs into prospects, depth charts, and plenty of details that matter if you really want to forecast how the Pacific is going to shake out. All this optimism is grounded in the reality of the Sharks’ roster tweaks and the measurable impact those changes could have. Bettors and fans alike should be tracking these projections — the smart money might be on San Jose to surprise some people this winter.
Why the Sharks’ Projection Changes the Betting Landscape
- The Hockey News picks the Sharks to finish fourth in the Pacific Division.
- This is a major jump compared to last season’s finish outside the playoffs.
- San Jose’s offseason improvements, especially to their defense, drive this outlook.
- The Kings only needed 90 points for fourth last year, showing the playoff race is a knife-edge battle.
- Sharks must not only beat division rivals, but also outpace strong Central Division wild card contenders.
- A playoff return would snap a postseason drought that stretches back to 2018-19.
The Big Picture for San Jose Shark Bettors
- This projection signals the Sharks are worth watching for playoff futures bettors.
- If you find San Jose with decent odds for a postseason berth, the books may not have caught up yet.
- The defensive upgrades could tighten their games and boost their win total, so look for value on season points props.
- Keep an eye on early division matchups — a strong start might see their odds plummet as more bettors catch on.
- Don’t neglect the Central Division picture, as wild card berths will come down to the wire with those teams.
- Depth and prospects may play a bigger role, so monitor lineups as the Sharks tweak rotations over the season.
More coverage: latest NHL news, NHL analysis and odds and today’s NHL picks.
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