The Sharks have plenty of questions going into the 2021 NHL season. Right at the top of the list is if San Jose will be able to fix its issue in the net.
Those around the league don't seem to believe in the Sharks' starting goalie Martin Jones. The Athletic's Craig Custance surveyed an anonymous panel of six general managers, four head coaches and five goalie coaches to rank the best starting goalies in the NHL right now. Jones came in second-to-last at No. 30 overall. And it gets worse.
Collin Delia, the only goalie ranked lower than Jones, didn't even play in the NHL last season. He has only played in two games in the NHL, when he logged 106 minutes with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017-18 season.
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“He looks the part. He knows how to play. He just never gets it done," one goalie coach said of Jones.
Jones is entering his sixth season with San Jose. He finished seventh in voting for the Vezina award after the 2015-16 season and then sixth one year later. But he has gone downhill since.
The recently-turned 31-year-old had an 89.6 save percentage last season, which tied his career-low of the season prior. He also had a career-high 3.00 goals against average.
One panelist believes a change of scenery would be best for Jones.
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“He’s been in one spot for too long. A full career in one city is hard. It just grows old,” the panelist said. “Another problem is the game is changing. His ability to adjust to broken plays is not that great. There are times a puck ends up in a spot he doesn’t think and he can barely get there.
"... I understand why people don’t like him, but I just think (a change) is overdue. I don’t think he’s as bad as he is.”
RELATED: Jones in 'real good position' to be Sharks' top goalie
While questions surround Jones, and understandably so, the Sharks are adamant they still believe in him. Jones and fellow goalie Devyn Dubnyk are expected to split playing time throughout the compacted 56-game season. But it sounds like Jones still holds his starting position.
"I could say this -- we challenged Jonesy to come in in top shape and have a good camp and find his game, work on his game this summer and he’s done that," coach Bob Boughner recently said. “For me, I think Jonesy, I’m not going to pick a No. 1 guy, but I think he’s put in himself in a real good position to be the starter.”