While the San Jose Sharks' core has been in place for some time, it's the 2016 roster that has finally jumped over the hump and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.

In recent years, general manager Doug Wilson was believed to have been floating the likes of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau - both of whom served as team captain in the past - on the trade market, with a view to building around the likes of Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture.

Wilson wisely stayed the course for at least one more run with this group, deciding instead to part ways with head coach Todd McLellan in favor of new bench boss Pete DeBoer.

He also made three significant additions to the roster, all of which are paying off when it matters most.

Martin Jones

The Los Angeles Kings didn't want Martin Jones suiting up for a division rival, so they sent him straight out of the Western Conference last summer, trading him to the Boston Bruins.

Before he could even contemplate life in black and gold, Jones was dealt to the San Jose Sharks for a first-round pick in 2016 and forward prospect Sean Kuraly.

Eleven months later, Jones will become the first goalie in franchise history to appear in a Stanley Cup Final game.

The 26-year-old has been consistent in net for the Sharks all season long, with a playoff success rate basically on par with his regular-season performance.

Four more wins and that trade will go down as one of the best in team history, joining another "jumbo" deal made with the Bruins over a decade ago.

Joel Ward

The Sharks knew Joel Ward had a knack for coming up big in the postseason, and, true to form, he's continuing that trend in San Jose.

Ward was signed to a three-year, $9.825-million contract and has brought a measure of veteran depth that is key to any championship-caliber team.

Through 18 games, he has recorded six goals and five assists, with four of those 11 points coming in series-clinching games.

Paul Martin

The other big offseason free-agent addition was defenseman Paul Martin, who signed a four-year, $19.4-million deal after five solid seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins but without any playoff success to show for it.

Here's what Wilson had to say at the time of the signing:

Paul is a versatile, puck-moving veteran who enhances our younger group of talented defensemen. He comes from a winning environment, is capable of playing heavy minutes and is accustomed to playing with high-end players. He was a player that we had targeted and this is a place that Paul wanted to come play.

With the Sharks, the 35-year-old has proven capable of locking things down in his own end while chipping in offensively and playing on both the penalty kill and power play.

Most importantly, he has proven to be a perfect defensive partner for Brent Burns, who continues to post elite numbers for his position.

The core was never the problem in San Jose; credit Wilson for finding the right parts to complete the puzzle.

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