from Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury Times,

They were thought to be playoff contenders again, like they have been for most of the last 15 years. Maybe not in the NHL’s top tier, but among the teams that have a reasonable shot at a division crown.

All that has changed with the acquisition of Karlsson, who should help a power play that ranked 16th in the 2017-18 regular season and sixth in the playoffs.

The message is simple. It’s time to hang a Cup banner in the rafters of SAP Center.

“Things kind of get shaken up after a big trade,” said Couture, who centered a line with Hertl and Timo Meier on Friday. “It’s a good energy, it’s a nervous energy, it’s every type of energy that there is. … Everyone’s just ready to get going and today was a very good day.”

That’s partly because the Sharks saw Thornton back on the ice, healthy, rested and eager to play.

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