The San Jose Sharks didn’t open the season the way they wanted last week when they lost two close games at home. But the team at least benefited from renewed fan support, with a sold-out crowd at the SAP Center and another at near capacity.
Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer took notice.
DeBoer, who coached the Sharks for four-plus seasons from 2015 to 2019, when packed houses at the arena were more of the norm, said Tuesday he watched part of the Sharks’ season opener against the St. Louis Blues.
The game featured the NHL debuts of prospects Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, and DeBoer saw what it looked and sounded like in the old days inside the 31-year-old building.
“I got a preview of the home opener and it’s great to see the Shark Tank start to fill up again,” DeBoer said Tuesday morning before the Stars hosted the Sharks at the American Airlines Center. “It’s great that the region is excited about some young guys coming in, obviously Celebrini and Will Smith and a few other young players.”
The Sharks reported a sellout crowd of 17,435 for their Oct. 10 opener, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Blues, and a crowd of 17,016 for their 2-0 loss to the Ducks from Anaheim two days later.
The Sharks’ average reported attendance last season was 13,559, or 77.8% of the arena’s capacity for hockey. This percentage was the lowest in the NHL.
For 13 of the Sharks’ 41 home games, paid attendance ranged between 10,000 and 11,000, although the actual number of spectators in the building for those games appears to be much lower.
It’s hard to blame the fans for not showing up, as the Sharks limped to an NHL-worst record of 19-54-9, which included just 11 home wins.
When DeBoer and former Shark Joe Pavelski came to San Jose for two games last season, crowds were reported to be 10,070 — a season low — and 12,208.
“It’s a really good hockey market,” DeBoer said of San Jose. “I enjoyed him in his prime. I remember speaking with (Pavelski) last year (who) was there during the peak; you don’t like to see him when he’s not at the top because of how beautiful that place is.
“It’s so nice to see him on his way home.”
DEBOER ON DELLANDREA: Sharks forward Ty Dellandrea is trying to reestablish himself as a full-time NHL player. According to DeBoer, Dellandrea is the perfect place to do it and has the perfect person to look up to in San Jose.
DeBoer recalled that during his first season as Sharks coach, the team sent the still-developing Barclay Goodrow back to the AHL after spending most of the previous season in the NHL.
But after Goodrow spent almost all of the next two seasons with the Barracudas, he returned to the Sharks at age 24 as a more complete player.
“It’s full of character. I think he has great leadership potential,” DeBoer said of Dellandrea, who just turned 24 in July. “The key for Ty is that you have to establish yourself as a regular NHL player every night in whatever role you play before you can really get into some leadership activities.
“But he learned from some great leaders here, Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn, and I’m happy he’s getting this opportunity.” There’s no better opportunity for a young player to move into a role than on the (Sharks) roster right now. He has some great complementary traits to his game that could really help this group if he can step into this role.
Goodrow, now 31, is approaching 600 career NHL games with two Stanley Cups under his belt.
“It’s a good plan for Ty Dellandrea,” DeBoer said. “Establish yourself as a player, then let your character and leadership take over.”
