When the Sharks entered the 2017-18 season carrying more questions than assurances.
Would the Sharks be able to replace the scoring of the departed Patrick Marleau?
Did they have the depth and savvy in the defensive zone to play coach Pete DeBoer’s preferred style of hockey?
And if they had both of those things, would they also have the reliable goaltending required to make that system work?
Going into the final week of play before this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game, those big questions seemed answered — the Sharks were playing sound, productive hockey and were establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.