Ask anyone associated with the San Jose Sharks and they’ll gladly mention how bright the team’s future appears to be.

The Sharks have talented young players, promising prospects, and loads of salary cap space available this offseason for general manager Mike Grier to help try and reverse the team’s fortunes.

What no one can say with any certainty is how soon that sunny future might arrive. And as the Sharks carry the NHL’s worst record and an eight-game losing streak into Monday’s game against the playoff-bound Toronto Maple Leafs, the only sure thing is that, right now, it’s brutal for all involved.

“It’s pretty tough (to stay positive),” said Sharks defenseman Jake Walman of the team’s losing streak, which was extended Saturday night with a 5-3 defeat in Ottawa. “It eats you a little bit from the inside.”Here’s what else we know: Those looking for a quick fix to the Sharks’ woes, with pricey free agent signings this offseason, might be disappointed.

The first part of the Sharks’ rebuild, the teardown, has gone as Grier intended. He’s shipped star players and their contracts out for draft picks, prospects and cap space. He’s then used those picks to fill out the pipeline, and now has the crown jewels of the rebuild, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Yaroslav Askarov, who are off to impressive starts in San Jose.

Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci have already been traded to contending teams. More veterans could exit before Friday’s trade deadline at noon (PST), with others leaving San Jose this summer.

That much is clear. It’s what’s next that is so critical.

But judging by what he said in late January, Grier does not foresee being a massive spender this offseason. At least he’ll avoid the temptation to dole out huge contracts to a handful of players who will be in their mid-to-late 30s by the time those deals end.

As eager as Sharks fans are to have a contending team again, Grier, as he’s said for years, does want to rush the process.

“We’re kind of on track of what we hope to do,” Grier said on Jan. 28. “When I say go too fast, it’s (going out and signing) three guys for $9 million apiece, two of them don’t work out, then you’re on the hook five years from now when we have some young players, we need to pay them and we’re stuck with some contracts that we’re not thrilled about.”