Sharks’ Stanley Cup Odds Unchanged After Losing Pavelski in Free Agency

• Joe Pavelski is moving on after 13 seasons with the Sharks
• San Jose remains at +1600 to win Cup in 2019-20
• Timo Meier inked new deal following 66-point season

The San Jose Sharks were one of a handful of NHL teams on July 1 that learned the hard realities of doing business in a salary cap league.

After 13 seasons in a Sharks uniform — serving as the team’s captain for the last four years — Joe Pavelski inked a three-year deal with the Dallas Stars worth $21 million.

Despite losing the 34-year-old Pavelski to free agency, sportsbooks haven’t moved the odds much on San Jose’s odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2020. In fact, sportsbooks’ odds went unchanged after Pavelski’s departure as the Sharks remain at +1600 underdogs to win it all next season.

2020 Stanley Cup Odds

*Odds taken 01/01/2019

Pavelski proved he’s still a capable 30-goal scorer, potting 38 this past season. However, the captain’s overall production slipped as he finished sixth in team scoring, and he had an unsustainable 20% shooting percentage.

Meier Higher Priority

The Sharks believed the higher priority was re-signing star forward Timo Meier, who put up similar numbers and is much younger at 23 years old. Meier inked a new four-year deal worth $24 million.

That move by Wilson essentially made Pavelski expendable, but it will not hurt San Jose’s chances to compete for a Stanley Cup.

Meier — coming off a 30-goal, 66-point sophomore season — is the future of the Sharks franchise and will continue to be one of the club’s top forwards.

Tomas Hertl is also coming off a career year in which he netted 35 goals and 74 points. Evander Kane rounded out the 30-goal scorers for the Sharks last season. While it hurts to lose Pavelski short-term, the Sharks have more than enough talent up front to make up for his goal production heading to Big D.

"I'm really excited to stay in San Jose." – @MeierTimo pic.twitter.com/UMJZkG9rCN

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 1, 2019

With Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson anchoring the Sharks blue-line, there’s no question San Jose should be one of the best in the Western Conference in terms of driving play and generating chances. However, inconsistent goaltending from Martin Jones last year saw the Sharks average 3.15 goals against, which was third-most in the entire NHL.

On too many nights the Sharks would score their way to victories as the club posted a second-best 3.52 goals for average, second only to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Thanks for the 13 incredible seasons in Teal, @jpav8. Good luck to you, Sarah and Nate on your new journey.#ThankYouPavs pic.twitter.com/GnyPKCBMXo

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 1, 2019

Wide Open Pacific Division

The Sharks finished second in the Pacific and could very well contest for first place in what is expected to be a wide-open division in 2019-20. The Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights will be San Jose’s greatest challengers, but if all the chips fall into place, the Sharks could find themselves in first with home-ice advantage.

Just getting league-average goaltending will likely put this team in the driver’s seat

Looking at the entire Western Conference, San Jose will ice much of the same lineup that earned them 101 points a year ago. At +1600, it’s a value pick to put your money on the Sharks to win the Cup at this point.