Sharks acknowledge 'small dip' in season-ticket sales after playoff collapse

Blowing a 3-0 series lead to the rival Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs appears to have hurt the San Jose Sharks' bottom line.

Sharks COO John Tortora told reporters Friday the team's season-ticket sales are down slightly from last year. San Jose retained 89 percent of its season ticket base, which is still above league average and within the range the team expects following a first-round postseason exit.

"What we've seen generally is if we go past the first round, we're renewing at about 92 percent," Tortora said, stating the numbers are comparable to 2012, "when we lost to St. Louis in the first round."

The Sharks' underwhelming offseason -  the biggest personnel addition was an enforcer with six points in 236 career games - didn't inspire potential season-ticket buyers, but Tortora remains confident in the team's ability to maintain near-sellout attendance at SAP Center.

"We expect, as we have been every year, to be at or near capacity during this upcoming regular season," he said.

The team recorded a net loss of $10 million in 2013-14, according to Tortora. A new television deal with the local Comcast broadcast affiliate remains under negotiation and could be the key to get San Jose into the black.