San Jose Sharks
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NHL team The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The franchise is owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises. Beginning play in the 1991–92 season, the team initially played its home games at the Cow Palace, before moving to its present home, now named SAP Center at San Jose, in 1993; the SAP Center is known locally as "the Shark Tank".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Sharks are affiliated with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Sharks were founded on May 9, 1990, after the owners of the Minnesota North Stars sold the stake to award the NHL franchise based in the San Francisco Bay Area. They were the first team to be based in the region since the California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland in 1976. The Sharks have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final once, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. They have won the Presidents' Trophy once, as the team with the league's best regular season record in the 2008–09 season. They have also won six division titles as a member of the Pacific Division since 1993.
History
Formation
The Sharks origins began with the San Francisco Seals of the Western Hockey League (WHL) when they were awarded an expansion franchise for San Francisco on April 23, 1961, to former Vancouver Canucks owner Coleman (Coley) Hall.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Seals won two WHL championships and were renamed to the California Seals in 1966, playing their games at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The following season, the California Golden Seals joined the NHL, played their seasons from 1967 to 1976, who were neither successful on the ice nor at the box office.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gordon and George Gund III became minority owners of the Golden Seals in 1974, and were instrumental in their move to Cleveland in 1976 and a 1978 merger with the Minnesota North Stars, which they purchased that year.<ref name="Gunds">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1988, group led by former Hartford Whalers owner Howard Baldwin was pushing the NHL to bring a team to San Jose, where a new arena was being built. Eventually, the League struck a compromise: the Gunds would sell their share of the North Stars to Baldwin's group, with the Gunds receiving an expansion team in the Bay Area to begin play in the 1991–92 season and being allowed to take a certain number of players from the North Stars to their new club.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In return, the North Stars would be allowed to participate as an equal partner in an expansion draft with the new Bay Area team. On May 5, 1990, the Gunds officially sold their share of the North Stars to Baldwin and were awarded a new team for the Bay Area, based in San Jose.<ref name="Gunds"/> The owners paid to the league an expansion fee of US$45 million and the new franchise was approved on May 9.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Over 5,000 potential names were submitted by mail for the new team. While the first-place finisher was "Blades", the Gunds were concerned about the name's potentially negative association with weapons, and went with the runner-up, "Sharks".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The name was said to have been inspired by the large number of sharks living in the Pacific Ocean. Seven varieties live there, and one area of water near the Bay Area is known as the "red triangle" because of its shark population. Matt Levine—the team's first marketing head—said of the new name, "Sharks are relentless, determined, swift, agile, bright and fearless. We plan to build an organization that has all those qualities."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1990, Jack Ferreira was hired as the team's first general manager.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Cow Palace years (1991–1993)
For their first two seasons, the Sharks played at the Cow Palace in Daly City, just outside San Francisco.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pat Falloon was their first draft choice and led the team in points during their first season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The team was placed in the Campbell Conference's Smythe Division.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> George Kingston was their first head coach during their first two seasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Though the 1991–92 roster consisted primarily of NHL journeymen, minor leaguers and rookies, the Sharks had at least one notable player when they acquired 14-year veteran and former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Doug Wilson from the Chicago Blackhawks on September 6, 1991.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wilson was named the team's first captain and All-Star representative in the inaugural season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the team struggled in its first two seasons. Between their first and second seasons, they fired Ferreira, promoting Kingston, director of player personnel Chuck Grillo, and assistant GM Dean Lombardi as the shared general manager.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Their 71 losses in the 1992–93 season is an NHL record. They also suffered a 17-game losing streak, while winning just 11 games and earning 24 points in the standings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kingston was fired following the end of the 1992–93 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Despite the Sharks' futility in the standings, the team led the NHL's merchandise sales with $150 million, accounting for 27% of the NHL's total and behind only National Basketball Association champions Chicago Bulls among all North American leagues.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The inaugural year also saw the introduction of the San Jose Sharks mascot, "S. J. Sharkie". On January 28, 1992, at a game against the New York Rangers, the then-unnamed mascot emerged from a Zamboni during an intermission. A "Name the Mascot" contest began that night, with the winning name of "S. J. Sharkie" being announced on April 15, 1992.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Early success and rebuilding (1993–1996)
For their third season, 1993–94, the Sharks moved to their new and current home, the San Jose Arena,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and were placed in the Western Conference's Pacific Division.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under new head coach Kevin Constantine,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the Sharks pulled off the biggest turnaround in NHL history, finishing with a 33–35–16 record and making the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in team history with 82 points, an NHL record 58-point jump from the previous season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They were seeded eighth in the Western Conference playoffs and faced the Detroit Red Wings, the top-seeded Western Conference team and a favorite to win the Stanley Cup. In one of the biggest upsets in Stanley Cup playoff history, the underdog Sharks shocked the Red Wings in seven games. In game seven at Joe Louis Arena, Jamie Baker scored the game-winning goal in the third period after goaltender Chris Osgood was out of position and the Sharks won 3–2, becoming the first eighth-seed in the history of North American professional sports to defeat the first seed in a playoff series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the second round, the Sharks had a 3–2 series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but lost the final two games in Toronto.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1994–95, the Sharks earned their second-straight playoff berth and again reached the second round. Ray Whitney scored the double-overtime game-winning goal of game seven of the conference quarterfinals against the Calgary Flames.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite their success against Calgary, they lost in a four-game sweep to Detroit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the 1994–95 season also saw the only rainout in the history of the NHL, when the Guadalupe River flooded its banks in March 1995, making it impossible for anyone to get into the San Jose Arena for a game between the Sharks and the Detroit Red Wings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Constantine was given a three-year deal prior to the 1995–96 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the regular season, Constantine was fired after a 3–18–4 start to the season and replaced by Jim Wiley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Sharks finished last in the Pacific Division and failed to make the playoffs. The team also traded out forward Sandis Ozolinsh to the Colorado Avalanche for Owen Nolan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Grillo was also fired with Lombardi holding the sole responsibility of general manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Dean Lombardi era (1996–2003)
The 1996–97 season was no better under Al Sims,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the Sharks again finishing last and winning only 27 games. Sims was fired after his one season of play.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Their standing would help them draft Patrick Marleau second overall in the 1997 NHL entry draft.<ref name="Marleau_draft">Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks returned to the playoffs in 1997–98 with goaltender Mike Vernon, whom they acquired from the Red Wings,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and new head coach Darryl Sutter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the conference quarterfinals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over the summer, they acquired goaltender Steve Shields,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and during the 1998–99 season, San Jose acquired Montreal Canadiens forward Vincent Damphousse.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the Colorado Avalanche defeated them in the conference quarterfinals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In an upset on par with the one they had pulled on Detroit six years earlier, the Sharks managed to eliminate the Presidents' Trophy-winning St. Louis Blues by coming back from a 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the Sharks were defeated in the second round of the playoffs by the Stars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2000–01, Kazakh goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who was originally drafted in 1994, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The team also acquired Finnish star forward Teemu Selanne from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the 2001 playoffs, the St. Louis Blues eliminated the Sharks in six games in the first round.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2001–02, the Sharks won their first Pacific Division title, but they fell to the Avalanche in the second round in seven games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Following the 2001–02 season, the Gunds sold the Sharks to a group of local investors headed by team president Greg Jamison.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2002–03 season did not start well for the Sharks as they began 8–12–2–2 and fired Sutter as head coach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ron Wilson was hired as head coach a few days later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Near the 2003 NHL trade deadline, captain Owen Nolan was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lombardi's tenure with the team ended with his dismissal on March 18, 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Doug Wilson was named to the role on May 13.<ref name=wilsonresign>Template:Cite web</ref>
Doug Wilson era (2003–2022)
Resurgence and arrival of Joe Thornton (2003–2008)
The 2003–04 season saw the team turn around their record from the previous season, finishing atop the Pacific Division.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2004 playoffs, the Sharks defeated the St. Louis Blues in the conference quarterfinals and the Colorado Avalanche in the conference semifinals,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> advancing to the conference finals. However, they fell to the Calgary Flames in six games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During that season, without a captain following Nolan's trade, San Jose utilized a rotating captaincy. When the job eventually fell to Patrick Marleau, he kept the captaincy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the off-season, forward Vincent Damphousse was left in free agency to the Colorado Avalanche.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During the 2005–06 season the Sharks traded Brad Stuart, Wayne Primeau, and Marco Sturm to the Boston Bruins in exchange for star player Joe Thornton.<ref name="HL">Template:Cite news</ref> In the 2006 playoffs, the Sharks fell to the Edmonton Oilers in the conference semifinals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Thornton was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player, as well as the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in points, with 125.<ref name="HL"/> Jonathan Cheechoo was awarded the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for scoring the most goals during the regular season with 56.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
During the 2006–07 season they traded for defenseman Craig Rivet and winger Bill Guerin at the trade deadline.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks finished the regular season second in the Pacific Division with a 51–26–5 record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the conference quarterfinals, the Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators for the second consecutive year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the conference semifinals, the Sharks were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the 2007–08 season, the Sharks picked up Brian Campbell at the trade deadline, giving up Steve Bernier.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Sharks captured their third Pacific Division title with a franchise-record 108 points.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> San Jose started the 2008 playoffs beating the Calgary Flames four games to three.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> San Jose eventually lost to the Dallas Stars in the conference semifinals. Game six required four overtime periods, and was the longest game in the team's history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the playoff loss, the Sharks fired Ron Wilson as head coach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Todd McLellan as head coach (2008–2015)
On June 11, 2008, the San Jose Sharks named former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Todd McLellan as their new head coach for the 2008–09 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the offseason, the Sharks signed defenseman Rob Blake and acquired defensemen Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Midway through the season, San Jose added Claude Lemieux to their roster. Lemieux was rejoining the NHL after a five-year absence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Sharks finished the regular season as Presidents' Trophy champions with 53 wins and 117 points, both franchise records.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite their successful regular season, the Sharks were eliminated by the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks in six games in the first round of the playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team was heavily criticized for once again failing to succeed in the postseason.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 2009 offseason, Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo were sent to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Dany Heatley and a draft pick.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Claude Lemieux also announced his retirement from the NHL.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Another move by San Jose was stripping Patrick Marleau of the captaincy and assigning it to the newly re-signed Rob Blake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 7, 2010, San Jose acquired Niclas Wallin from the Carolina Hurricanes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Sharks finished the 2009–10 regular season leading the Western Conference with 113 points. In the conference quarterfinals, the Sharks eliminated the Colorado Avalanche. In the conference semifinals, the Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Sharks in the conference finals with a four-game sweep.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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On June 23, 2010, Wilson announced they would not offer an unrestricted free agent contract to long-time goaltender Evgeni Nabokov after playing ten seasons with the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 2, 2010, the Sharks signed former member of the Chicago Blackhawks and Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Antti Niemi to a one-year contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 1, 2011, Niemi signed a four-year contract extension with San Jose worth $15.2 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 31, 2011, the Sharks clinched their seventh consecutive playoff berth with a 6–0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Five days later, they clinched their sixth Pacific Division championship.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Entering the 2011 playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference, the Sharks opened their playoff run with the franchise's first playoff series against intrastate rival, the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings took a 4–0 lead in game three but five-second-period goals by the Sharks capped with a Devin Setoguchi overtime winner gave the Sharks a 6–5 victory and tied them for the second-biggest comeback in Stanley Cup playoff history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They would win the series in six games, with captain Joe Thornton scoring the series-winning overtime goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks advanced to the conference semifinals to face the third-seed Detroit Red Wings. Although went out to a 3–0 series lead like the previous season, the Sharks dropped three more games as the Red Wings became the eighth team in NHL history to force a game seven after being down 3–0 in the series. However, they would not become the fourth team in history to pull off the comeback as the Sharks prevailed, 3–2 in game seven.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks advanced to their third conference finals series against the Vancouver Canucks, but lost in six games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The first major move made by San Jose in the 2011 off-season was to trade winger Devin Setoguchi, the Sharks' 2010 first-round pick Charlie Coyle and a first-round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft to the Minnesota Wild for All-Star defenseman Brent Burns and a 2012 second-round pick.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This came after Setoguchi had signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension with the Sharks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks continued their offseason retool by orchestrating a second transaction with the Wild, shipping Dany Heatley to Minnesota in exchange for Martin Havlat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks finished the 2011–12 season with a 43–29–10 record, good for 96 points and the seventh seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, after winning game one of their first-round series with the St. Louis Blues in overtime, they lost the final four games of the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was later announced that McLellan would remain on the bench for a fifth season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During to the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Raffi Torres was acquired.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the first round of the 2013 playoffs, the Sharks swept the Vancouver Canucks, their first series-sweep in franchise history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Sharks would subsequently fall in seven games to the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Sharks started the 2013–14 season 8–0–1, and were the last team in the NHL to stay undefeated in regulation until October 25, when the Sharks lost to the Boston Bruins.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the first round of the 2014 playoffs, the Sharks were matched with rivals and eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. Although the Sharks took a 3–0 series lead, the Kings came back to tie the series before advancing with a 5–1 win in game seven (only the fourth time in NHL history where a team lost a best-of-seven series after winning their first three games).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On August 20, 2014, head coach Todd McLellan announced the team would go into training camp for the 2014–15 season without a captain, and that all players would have the opportunity to compete for the captaincy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks hosted the 2015 Stadium Series against the Kings at Levi's Stadium in February 2015, losing 2–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite posting a record of 40–33–9, the Sharks finished fifth in the Pacific Division and missed the playoffs for the first time in ten years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On April 20, 2015, the team announced that they had agreed to part ways with McLellan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
First Stanley Cup Final and continued contention (2015–2019)
On May 28, 2015, the team named Peter DeBoer as their head coach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the offseason, they traded goalie Antti Niemi to the Dallas Stars for a seventh-round draft pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They also acquired forward Joel Ward and goaltender Martin Jones, the latter of which was flipped from the Boston Bruins via the Los Angeles Kings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also named forward Joe Pavelski the team's captain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks finished third in the Pacific Division with 98 points. They defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Nashville Predators in seven games,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the St. Louis Blues in six games to win the Western Conference championship. This marked the first time in franchise history that the Sharks advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.<ref name="SharksWinGame6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks ultimately lost the Stanley Cup Final in the best-of-seven series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the following season, the Sharks finished in third place in the Pacific Division, but were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the first round of the 2017 playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the season, Patrick Marleau left the team to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2017–18 season, the Sharks acquired Evander Kane in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks once again finished in third place in the Pacific Division.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They swept the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2018 playoffs,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but lost to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the second round.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Prior to the 2018–19 season, the Sharks traded Mikkel Boedker, Julius Bergman, and a draft pick for Mike Hoffman, a prospect, and a draft pick, but immediately flipped Hoffman to the Florida Panthers for three draft picks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that summer, the Sharks acquired Erik Karlsson and Francis Perron from the Senators for Rudolf Balcers, Dylan DeMelo, Josh Norris, Chris Tierney, and two draft picks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Sharks saw another playoff berth and overcame a 3–1 series deficit over the Vegas Golden Knights. Game seven of the series featured a dramatic comeback over the Golden Knights; the Sharks scored four goals on a controversial five-minute power play with eight minutes remaining in the game, then Barclay Goodrow scored the overtime goal.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Sharks would go on to defeat the Colorado Avalanche in the second round before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Captain Joe Pavelski left the team in free agency following the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Missing the playoffs (2019–2022)
On October 8, 2019, after two seasons in Toronto, Patrick Marleau was re-acquired by the Sharks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the 2019–20 season, with the Sharks at 15–16–2 and failing to win a game during their five-game road stretch, DeBoer and his staff were fired.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After DeBoer's firing, assistant coach Bob Boughner was named interim head coach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2020, four months after Boughner became interim coach, the league was forced to suspend operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When the 2019–20 season resumed in August with the playoffs, the Sharks were not included, finishing in last place in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Boughner's interim label was removed on September 22, 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the divisions for the 2019–20 season were realigned. The Sharks played in the West Division.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. In the 2021 NHL entry draft, the Sharks selected top-ranked European skater William Eklund seventh overall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the 2021–22 season, general manager Doug Wilson took medical leave on November 26, 2021, and resigned while away from the team on April 7, 2022.<ref name=wilsonresign/> Assistant general manager Joe Will was elevated to interim general manager while the team sought a full-time candidate for the role.<ref name=wilsonresign/> Evander Kane, who had violated the AHL COVID-19 protocol, was placed on unconditional waivers for purposes of terminating his contract. After clearing waivers, he was signed by the Edmonton Oilers, but still had a grievance filed against the Sharks which was settled later that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team missed the playoffs for the third straight season, and head coach Bob Boughner and other members of the coaching staff were relieved of duties in the summer in advance of the Sharks naming a new general manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Mike Grier era (2022–present)
Rebuilding (2022–present)
On July 5, 2022, the Sharks hired former player Mike Grier to serve as their new general manager, becoming the first black general manager in NHL history and fifth general manager in franchise history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On July 13, the Sharks traded defenseman Brent Burns along with a prosepect to the Carolina Hurricanes for Steven Lorentz and a draft pick.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On July 26, Grier named former Rangers head coach David Quinn as the team's new head coach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> San Jose opened its season in Europe as part of the 2022 NHL Global Series, with an exhibition match against Eisbaren Berlin and a two-game series against Nashville in Prague, Czech Republic to kick off the 2022–23 regular season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 25, 2023, the Sharks retired Patrick Marleau's number 12 in a pre-game ceremony. Marleau's number was the first to be retired in franchise history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Prior to the trade deadline, the Sharks and New Jersey Devils executed an 11-piece trade on February 26, in which the Sharks sent forward Timo Meier to New Jersey in exchange for multiple future assets, including two conditional first-round draft selections, 2020 first-round pick Shakir Mukhamadullin and winger Fabian Zetterlund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks finished in seventh place in the Pacific Division, 14th place in the Western Conference, and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks were led in scoring by defenseman Erik Karlsson, who finished with 101 points and 67 assists, both of which are records by a Sharks defenseman. He scored a pair of goals on April 10, in Winnipeg to become the sixth defenseman in NHL history to record 100 points and first since Brian Leetch in 1991–92.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His goal, assist and point totals at the end of the season led all NHL defensemen, and he was named to his seventh NHL All-Star game. He was awarded the Norris Trophy on June 26, the third of his career and second won by a Sharks defenseman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On August 6, San Jose traded Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a three-team trade also featuring the Montreal Canadiens. San Jose received a conditional first-round selection from Pittsburgh in the 2024 NHL entry draft, along with forwards Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman and defenseman Jan Rutta.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the 2023–24 season, the Sharks became the first team since the 1965–66 Boston Bruins to allow 10 goals in consecutive games. Their 0–10–1 record tied the record for longest losing streak to start the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They traded Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline, receiving David Edstrom and a 2025 first round pick in return.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the 2023–24 season, head coach David Quinn was fired.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On May 7, 2024, the Sharks won the NHL draft lottery for the first time in franchise history,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> securing the number one pick for the 2024 NHL entry draft, picking Macklin Celebrini from Boston University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky was announced as Quinn's replacement as head coach on June 13, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sharks finished the 2024–25 season last but fell to picking second overall in the 2025 NHL entry draft,<ref name="2025Draft">Template:Cite web</ref> with which they selected Michael Misa.<ref name="2025edsel">Template:Cite web</ref> Following the season, captain Logan Couture retired, spending his entire NHL career with the Sharks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the start of the 2025–26 season, amidst the team losing their first five games of the season, Warsofsky said "I'd give up one of my children for a f-----g win." He later apologized for the comments.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Team information
Logo and jerseys
The Sharks' iconic logo of a shark chomping on a hockey stick has been in use since their inaugural 1991–92 season, with slight modifications prior to the 2007–08 season. The triangle on the logo references the Bay Area's Red Triangle near the Pacific Ocean. The Sharks also use various partial and alternate logos based on the primary logo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The original Sharks' road jerseys were teal with white, gray and black striping and featured white block lettering with black trim. Home uniforms were white with teal, gray and black striping and featured teal block lettering with black trim. Both jerseys included the team's "fin" logo on either shoulder and were used until the 1997–98 season.<ref name=SharksUniforms>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Sharks introduced their future road (later home) jersey as an alternate during the 1997–98 season, featuring a darker teal base, wide gray sleeve and shoulder striping and modernized lettering. A white home (later road) counterpart was introduced the following season and featured teal and gray shoulder and sleeve stripes. In the 2001–02 season, the Sharks began wearing a black third jersey, featuring the return of the fin logo on the shoulders and minimalist teal and white sleeve stripes.<ref name=SharksUniforms/>
Upon switching to the Reebok Edge template in 2007, the Sharks introduced new home and away jerseys. The teal home jersey featured a black shoulder yoke while the white road jersey used a teal shoulder yoke. Both jerseys replaced gray with orange trim on the stripes and lettering, added numbers on the right chest, and featured the full-body (or "jumping") shark logo on the shoulders.<ref name=SharksUniforms/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Before the 2008–09 season, the Sharks introduced a new black alternate jersey, without the contrasting shoulder yoke, tail stripes or orange trim. It also featured the jumping shark logo in front and the "SJ" alternate logo on the shoulders. Prior to the 2013–14 season, the Sharks unveiled new uniforms, which included less orange, along with adding a lace-up collar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The front numbers were replaced with the Sharks' 25th-anniversary logo prior to the 2015–16 season.<ref name=SharksUniforms/>
Following the switch to Adidas' AdiZero template in 2017, the Sharks kept much of their basic look save for the replacement of the "jumping shark" logo in favor of the "screaming shark" logo (home jersey) and "SJ" logo (road jersey) on the shoulder. The slogan "This Is Sharks Territory" was added inside the neckline.<ref name=SharksUniforms/> The black alternates were retired prior to the season, but in 2018, a new black jersey was introduced. Known as the "Stealth" jersey, it featured a slightly different rendition of the primary Sharks logo, an updated version of the original "fin" logo on the shoulders and stylized circuit board sleeve striping.<ref name=SharksStealth>Template:Cite web</ref> The Stealth uniforms were not used in the 2020–21 season as the Sharks opted to wear their "Reverse Retro" and "Heritage" alternate uniforms in the shortened season (see descriptions below).
The Sharks participated in the 2015 Stadium Series by wearing a tricolor jersey of teal, white and black accented by the primary Sharks logo in front and a new "Northern California" alternate logo on the shoulders. The back of the jersey remained teal and featured larger lettering.<ref name=SharksUniforms/>
During the 2015–16 season, as part of their 25th anniversary, the Sharks wore a slightly modified version of their original teal jerseys for a few home games. These uniforms were brought back in 2021 for the Sharks' 30th anniversary, albeit modified to the AdiZero cut.<ref name=SharksUniforms/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Sharks wore Reverse Retro alternate uniforms for the 2020–21 season. The design used was similar to the teal uniforms they wore from 1997 to 2007, but with a gray base and black stripes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Sharks released new uniforms in 2022, featuring elements inspired from the team's original 1991–1998 uniform set. In addition, the Sharks changed their pants, gloves and home helmet to teal.<ref name="SJSharksEvolve" /> The Sharks also unveiled a second "Reverse Retro" uniform based on the last uniforms worn by their Bay Area predecessors, the California Golden Seals. The design replaced the "Seals" wordmark with "Sharks" in teal and gold trim.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 2023–24 season, the Sharks unveiled a new "Cali Fin" black alternate uniform, featuring the updated fin logo as the main crest, along with a modified version of the "Northern California" shoulder patch adopted from the 2015 Stadium Series uniform. In addition to teal and white stripes, a teal yarn-dye-esque striping pattern adorned the sleeves, tail and socks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
For four games in the 2025–26 season, the Sharks will wear 35th anniversary "Heritage" uniforms based on the teal uniforms they wore from 1997 to 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Broadcasters
Template:See also Television:
- Randy Hahn: play-by-play
- Drew Remenda: primary color commentator
- Scott Hannan: alternate color commentator
- Jason Demers: alternate color commentator
- Jamal Mayers: alternate color commentator
- Alex Stalock: alternate color commentator
- Alan Hoshida: studio host
- Mark Smith: studio analyst
- Ted Ramey: studio analyst
- Nick Nollenberger: studio analyst
Radio:
- Dan Rusanowsky: play-by-play
- Scott Hannan: color commentator for select games
- Drew Remenda: color commentator for select games
- Jason Demers: color commentator for select games
- Jamal Mayers: color commentator for select games
- Alex Stalock: color commentator for select games
- Ted Ramey: Sharks Audio Network host and color commentator for select games
- Tara Slone: Sharks Audio Network host
One of the first group of broadcasters for the Sharks was Joe Starkey, who did play-by-play alongside Dennis Hull in 1991–92 and Pete Stemkowski for both 1991–92 and 1992–93 and Brian Hayward (1991–92 when sidelined with injuries) on color commentary. CSN Bay Area (now NBC Sports Bay Area) was the television home of San Jose Sharks until the end of the 2008–09 NHL season when their games moved to Comcast SportsNet California (now NBC Sports California). Over-the-air telecasts aired on KGO 7 from 1991–1994 and on KICU 36 from 1995–1999. Other television color commentators include Chris Collins (1996–97), Steve Konroyd (1997–2000), Drew Remenda (2000–06; 2007–14), Marty McSorley (2006–07), Jamie Baker (2014–20), and Kendall Coyne Schofield (2019–20).
On June 1, 2023, Dan Rusanowsky was announced as the recipient of the 2023 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, voted on by the NHL Broadcaster's Association and presented "in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their career in hockey broadcasting".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Traditions
The Sharks' best-known tradition is their pre-game entrance scene. At the beginning of each Sharks home game, the lights go down and a 17-foot open shark mouth is lowered from the rafters. As the mouth is lowered the eyes flash red and fog pours out. Then, a live view of the locker room tunnel with Sharks players is shown on the scoreboard and the goalie leads the team out of the locker room, through the mouth, and onto the ice.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Season-by-season record
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Sharks. For the full season-by-season history, see List of San Jose Sharks seasons
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 21 | 28 | 7 | 49 | 151 | 199 | 7th, West | Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 | 214 | 264 | 6th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 22 | 44 | 16 | 60 | 234 | 321 | 7th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 19 | 54 | 9 | 47 | 181 | 331 | 8th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 20 | 50 | 12 | 52 | 210 | 315 | 8th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
Players and personnel
Current roster
Template:San Jose Sharks roster
Hall of Fame
The San Jose Sharks hold an affiliation with a number of inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame, including nine inductees from the players category of the Hall of Fame.<ref name="sharkhalloffame">Template:Cite web</ref>
Players Template:Div col
- Ed Belfour<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Rob Blake<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Igor Larionov<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Sergei Makarov<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jeremy Roenick<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Teemu Selanne<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Joe Thornton<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mike Vernon<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- Doug Wilson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Retired numbers
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Date of honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Patrick Marleau | C/LW | 1997–2017 2019–2020 2020–2021 |
February 25, 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 19 | Joe Thornton | C | 2005–2020 | November 23, 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
The team is unable to issue No. 99 to its players due to NHL retiring the number league-wide in honor of Wayne Gretzky at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Team captains
Reference: <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col
- Doug Wilson, 1991–1993
- Bob Errey, 1993–1995
- Jeff Odgers, 1995–1996
- Todd Gill, 1996–1998
- Owen Nolan, 1998–2003
- Rotating for first half of 2003–04 season
- Mike Ricci (first 10 games)
- Vincent Damphousse (next 20 games)
- Alyn McCauley (next 10 games)
- Patrick Marleau, 2004–2009
- Rob Blake, 2009–2010
- Joe Thornton, 2010–2014
- Joe Pavelski, 2015–2019
- Logan Couture, 2019–2025
NHL awards and trophies
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy
All-Star Game head coach
Scoring leaders
Regular season scoring leaders
These are the top-ten-point-scorers in franchise regular season history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
- Template:Color box – current Sharks player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Marleau | C | 1,607 | 522 | 589 | 1,111 | .69 |
| Joe Thornton | C | 1,104 | 251 | 804 | 1,055 | .96 |
| Joe Pavelski | C | 963 | 355 | 406 | 761 | .79 |
| Logan Couture | C | 933 | 323 | 378 | 701 | .75 |
| Brent Burns | D | 798 | 172 | 422 | 594 | .74 |
| Tomas Hertl | C | 712 | 218 | 266 | 484 | .68 |
| Owen Nolan | RW | 568 | 206 | 245 | 451 | .79 |
| Marc-Edouard Vlasic | D | 1,323 | 84 | 295 | 379 | .29 |
| Jeff Friesen | LW | 516 | 149 | 201 | 350 | .68 |
| Timo Meier | RW | 451 | 154 | 162 | 316 | .70 |
| Player | Pos | G |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Marleau | C | 522 |
| Joe Pavelski | C | 355 |
| Logan Couture | C | 323 |
| Joe Thornton | C | 251 |
| Tomas Hertl | C | 218 |
| Owen Nolan | RW | 206 |
| Brent Burns | D | 172 |
| Jonathan Cheechoo | RW | 165 |
| Timo Meier | RW | 154 |
| Jeff Friesen | LW | 149 |
| Player | Pos | A |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Thornton | C | 804 |
| Patrick Marleau | C | 589 |
| Brent Burns | D | 422 |
| Joe Pavelski | C | 406 |
| Logan Couture | C | 378 |
| Marc-Edouard Vlasic | D | 295 |
| Tomas Hertl | C | 266 |
| Owen Nolan | RW | 245 |
| Jeff Friesen | LW | 201 |
| Dan Boyle | D | 201 |
Playoff scoring leaders
These are the top-ten playoff point-scorers in franchise playoff history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Figures are updated after each completed NHL season. Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Marleau | C | 177 | 68 | 52 | 120 | .68 |
| Joe Thornton | C | 144 | 25 | 90 | 115 | .80 |
| Logan Couture | C | 116 | 48 | 53 | 101 | .87 |
| Joe Pavelski | C | 134 | 48 | 52 | 100 | .75 |
| Brent Burns | D | 83 | 20 | 39 | 59 | .71 |
| Dan Boyle | D | 62 | 11 | 37 | 48 | .77 |
| Ryane Clowe | LW | 68 | 18 | 27 | 45 | .66 |
| Tomas Hertl | C | 62 | 24 | 18 | 42 | .68 |
| Marc-Edouard Vlasic | D | 142 | 6 | 33 | 39 | .28 |
| Vincent Damphousse | C | 53 | 15 | 23 | 38 | .72 |
| Player | Pos | G |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Marleau | C | 68 |
| Logan Couture | C | 48 |
| Joe Pavelski | C | 48 |
| Joe Thornton | C | 25 |
| Tomas Hertl | C | 24 |
| Brent Burns | D | 20 |
| Ryane Clowe | LW | 18 |
| Jonathan Cheechoo | RW | 16 |
| Owen Nolan | RW | 15 |
| Vincent Damphousse | C | 15 |
| Player | Pos | A |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Thornton | C | 90 |
| Logan Couture | C | 53 |
| Joe Pavelski | C | 52 |
| Patrick Marleau | C | 52 |
| Brent Burns | D | 39 |
| Dan Boyle | D | 37 |
| Marc-Edouard Vlasic | D | 33 |
| Ryane Clowe | LW | 27 |
| Vincent Damphousse | C | 23 |
| Igor Larionov | C | 21 |
See also
Notes
References
External links
Template:San Jose Sharks Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- San Jose Sharks
- National Hockey League teams
- 1991 establishments in California
- Ice hockey clubs established in 1991
- Professional ice hockey teams in California
- Pacific Division (NHL)
- Sports clubs and teams in San Jose, California
- National Hockey League in the San Francisco Bay Area