Former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund was well-loved in the Bay Area, but the forward isn't thinking about where he might play next season just yet.

The San Jose Sharks have prime opportunities to grow their rookie’s skill and depth as well as better the team in the end. Even though the team will miss out on playoffs for the sixth year in a row, they can use this time to focus more on skill development.

In their last game before the league pauses its schedule to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sharks gave up three goals in a lopsided first period. They never fully recovered in an 8-3 loss to the playoff-bound Dallas Stars on Saturday before an announced sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.

SAN JOSE – One day after seeing Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci traded to the Dallas Stars, the already thinned-out San Jose Sharks were forced to pick up the pieces Sunday and figure out the best way forward without their leading scorer and arguably their best defensive defenseman.