Sharks at a glance
	Camp schedule: Sept. 12: Logitech Ice (San Jose, Calif) Sept. 14: Sullivan Arena (Anchorage, Alaska) Sept. 17: Logitech Ice Arena Coach: Darryl Sutter (5th season, 140-135-50-10) General manager: Dean Lombardi (10th season)

The Sharks took a step up during the regular season when they had more wins than losses for the first time in team history. However, they were dispatched too quickly in a first-round loss to the Blues, and that put a lot of what was accomplished into doubt.

With a full season of Teemu Selanne, a healthy Owen Nolan, the acquisition of Adam Graves and a spirited battle in net between Evgeni Nabokov and Miikka Kiprusoff, the Sharks will indeed bear watching as a team that could possibly bust into the Big Four in the West.

Hungry heart: The Sharks were highly disappointed after last season's playoff ouster and likely will come back more invigorated than ever. A training camp trip to Alaska could also help fuel the competitive fire and get the team off to a quick start. Of course, with Kiprusoff, Todd Harvey, Patrick Marleau and Mike Rathje unsigned heading into training camp and Selanne headed toward unrestricted free agency at season's end, there is the chance that contracts could get in the way of the "feel good" attitude of the team.

Details, details, details: San Jose has never been good on faceoffs, it was horrible on the power play (24th at 14.0 percent) and it allowed the opposition 441 power play opportunities (only the Islanders gave up more). This is a team that needs to do a few more of the little things well.

Growing guppies: Rookie Jeff Jillson is hoping to come in and contribute on defense, but the real kid watch is on players who have been around a couple of years. With Gary Suter's health always in question (68 games regular season, 1 in playoffs), Brad Stuart must start taking charge on defense. What's more, it's time for players like Marco Sturm and Alexander Koryluk to take the next step in their development.

Sharks 2001-02 preseason schedule
Date	Opponent	Time
Sat., Sept. 15	vs. St. Louis at Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska	Canceled
Sun., Sept. 16	vs. St. Louis at Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska	Canceled
Mon., Sept. 17	at Vancouver	10 p.m.
Thu., Sept. 20	Los Angeles	10:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 22	vs. Los Angeles at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas	10:30 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 23	at Anaheim	8 p.m.
Tue., Sept. 25	Anaheim	10:30 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 28	at Phoenix	10 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 29	Vancouver	10:30 p.m.