MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Evgeni Nabokov was a workhorse in goal for San Jose, basically taking the regular season to rewrite the franchise record book. It was both quality and quantity for the 32-year-old, who won 46 games, posted a 2.14 goals-against average and .910 save percentage during 77 appearances including a selection to the NHL All-Star Game. Nabokov, who was sparkling throughout, had to be especially good early while the Sharks struggled to score goals. He started all 13 of San Jose's postseason games as well, going 6-7 with a 2.18 GAA and .907 save percentage.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
There were a number of candidates for at least three-quarters of the season here, but captain Patrick Marleau really seemed to struggle the most for a player that wasn't injured and is really just hitting the prime years of his career. The 28-year-old center moved to left wing once paired with second-year pivot Joe Pavelski. The move, in part, was to simplify Marleau's responsibilities defensively and allow him to better utilize his speed. It still left Marleau with just 19 goals, the fewest of his career since 2000. Marleau was better in the postseason, the time of year he really needed to show his stuff.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
First and foremost, the team is trying to secure potential unrestricted free-agent defenseman Brian Campbell, who was dealt at the trade deadline in exchange for Steve Bernier and a first-round pick. It's assumed the Sharks are still interested despite Campbell's offensive drop-off from three goals and 19 points in 20 games after joining San Jose during the regular season to just one goals and seven points during 13 playoff games. Beyond that, veteran forwards Jeremy Roenick and Curtis Brown are due to be unrestricted. The Sharks may have interest in Roenick again, but defensemen Sandis Ozolinsh, Alexei Semenov and Brown are probably all done in San Jose. Younger forwards Patrick Rissmiller and Tomas Plihal are also set to be unrestricted free agents. And it's assumed the Sharks will strike new deals for the following restricted free agents: defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, center Joe Pavelski and left wing Ryane Clowe.

PLAYER NOTES

--LW Milan Michalek was not seriously hurt after getting hammered on a clean hit by Dallas' Brenden Morrow during the closing seconds of regulation in Game 6. Michalek needed assistance from the ice and did not return for any of the 69:03 of overtime that followed. A team spokesman said he had the wind knocked out of him, and was walking on his own after the game.

--G Evgeni Nabokov quickly shuffled off to join Team Russia for the World Championships after San Jose's second-round exit.

--D Kyle McLaren never returned in the postseason after re-injuring his right knee during Game 5 of the first-round series against Calgary.

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