HOCKEY'S HERE: SAN JOSE SHARKS

The first hint of fall is in the air. It's getting dark earlier, and soon it will be too cold to spend Saturday nights sharing a 2-4 of Blue and listening to Guns N' Roses at the gravel pit. It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it’s hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field is here with looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The San Jose Sharks.

Last season: 99 points, 2nd in Pacific Division; lost to Edmonton in second round of playoffs
Coach: (1st season with team)
Young gun: Offensive defenceman Matt Carle
Store this name away: Devon Segotuchi (19-year-old currently playing in the Western league)
Hey, get a load of the new guys: Mark Bell, Mike Grier, Ville Nieminen
Blogs (including but not limited to): The Battle of California, Don't Feed The Sharks
Pop culture moment: Who didn't have a San Jose sweater back in 1992?

Joe Thornton's recent spring vacations -- with San Jose last season, with Boston in '04 -- is fasting earning him a rep as hockey's answer to Peyton Manning. It can't last forever. He's too big, too talented not to lead a team to the promised land eventually. (Then again, so was Eric Lindros.)

Actually, what really sunk the Sharks (sorry) last season wasn't Thornton going AWOL in the second round against Edmonton, when San Jose blew a 2-0 lead, was running into a hot goalie (Edmonton's Dwayne Roloson) and their defence getting worn down from too many prolonged stays behind its own blueline.

It's a given San Jose's going to have two lines (Thornton's and captain Patrick Marleau's) that teams will have to account for, and that adding Bell and getting more production from Milan Michalek -- who had a strong pre-season -- will only make them more powerful.

San Jose could end up being a top see in the West come playoffs, but their back end and goaltending don't look all that improved over last season. Between Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala, they have to pick a No. 1 netminder sooner or later.

Also in Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, L.A. Kings, Phoenix Coyotes

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.