NHL’s schedule-makers do Sharks no favors to start next season

The San Jose Sharks will open the 2023-24 regular season on Oct. 12 at home against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights — and their early schedule doesn’t much easier from there.

The Sharks will continue a homestand against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 14, the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 17, and the Boston Bruins on Oct. 19. Those three teams, plus the Golden Knights, all won their respective divisions this past year and all finished within the top seven in the league’s overall standings.

The Sharks’ grueling opening month then continues with a five-game, nine-day road trip with stops in Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Washington.

The Sharks got off to a 0-5-0 start this past season and were never able to climb above a .500 points percentage. They’ll likely need to get off to a better start this season if they have any hope of ending a four-year playoff drought.

Notably, the Sharks’ longest road trip of the season is six games, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10, and across three time zones, with games in Boston, New Jersey, New York (Rangers and Islanders), Detroit and Las Vegas.

San Jose’s longest homestand comes in February with games against the Blue Jackets, Golden Knights, Predators, Devils, and Ducks.

The Chicago Blackhawks, who are expected to take superstar-in-waiting Connor Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday’s NHL Draft, visit SAP Center on March 23.

Here is the Sharks’ complete schedule for next season.