As I was watching the Buffalo Bills defense struggle with a hapless Miami Dolphins team (thank goodness I didn't start them in fantasy), I had a little revelation. Remember all those years when the Vegas Golden Knights laid regular season molly-woppings on the San Jose Sharks? It got so bad that the Sharks literally celebrated coming back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Golden Knights... in the first round.
I mean, that's what happens when your franchise doesn't have a Stanley Cup in its franchise history. Ironically, the Sharks have been a competitive franchise for years. They've boasted the likes of Joe Thornton (and his marvelous beard), Patrick Marleau, and everyone's favorite "Fun Must Be Always" ambassador, Tomas Hertl.
Recent years have seen the Sharks try and recreate that magic with players like Macklin Celebrini, Yaroslav Askarov, and Will Smith. The goal? Make Sharks hockey unstoppable again and bring a Stanley Cup to the Bay Area.
The Golden Knights will surely have something to say about that this season, especially since they don't want their bitter rivals getting their grubby fins all over Lord Stanley. But does that logic apply to this season? Or will it be the Golden Knights disciplining the "Baby Sharks" (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo) once again?
Time to dive into the deep waters of Northern California and see what's in store for this rivalry.
What's different about these San Jose Sharks that the Golden Knights should know about?
Ever since the Sharks fell short in their Stanley Cup pursuit in 2019, times have changed... drastically. We're talking about selling off pieces and tearing everything down. That included sending off everyone's favorite Czech hockey player, Tomas Hertl, to the Golden Knights.
In the process, they've nabbed Macklin Celebrini, who made the NHL's All-Rookie Team last season. The former first-overall pick scored 25 goals and 38 assists last season, which is quite impressive for a 19-year-old. For all the hype Connor Bedard gets as a player, the Vancouver native deserves as much praise and adulation.
That will make him a tricky matchup for the Golden Knights this season and beyond. How can you contain a prodigy who can do it all (and some) for a young, budding franchise? That's the biggest question facing Vegas in the future.
Luckily, you have a more experienced William Karlsson to take on that task. The Swedish center knows how to tackle the big names, whether that's Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews. That should be no different here with Celebrini.
Will the Sharks be a problem for the Golden Knights this season?
No.
It'll probably be more of the same for the Golden Knights against the Sharks this season. Did you know that Vegas is 27-2-5 all-time against San Jose? That's Seattle Kraken-level of ownage, steeped in traditional butt-kicking.
But unlike Seattle, San Jose has a tight-knit plan. They have a solid farm system, and the younger players are ready to take the next step. Mind you, Celebrini isn't the primary focus. Askarov, Sam Dickinson, and Michael Misa are waiting in the wings. It's no wonder that Daily Faceoff ranked them as the best farm system in the NHL (imagine if they get Gavin McKenna).
Therefore, expect the Sharks, not the Kraken, to be a rising rival in the next few years. They have a concrete plan in place and could give Mitch Marner and company tons of problems. Don't forget where the two teams stand regarding their futures, according to The Athletic.
That's why Sharks fans should always look at the positives. It could always be worse for you guys. You could be living in the Emerald City (especially Niner fans).