San Jose Sharks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Jose Sharks |
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| Conference | Western |
| Division | Pacific |
| Founded | 1991 |
| History | San Jose Sharks 1991–present |
| Home arena | SAP Center |
| City | San Jose, California |
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| Colors | Pacific teal, white, black, orange |
| Media | NBC Sports California Sharks Audio Network |
| Owner(s) | San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises (Hasso Plattner, governor) |
| General manager | Mike Grier |
| Head coach | Ryan Warsofsky |
| Captain | Logan Couture |
| Minor league affiliates | San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Wichita Thunder (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 0 |
| Conference championships | 1 (2015–16) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 1 (2008–09) |
| Division championships | 6 (2001–02, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11) |
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in San Jose, California. The Sharks play in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.
The team started playing in the 1991–92 season. Their first home was the Cow Palace. In 1993, they moved to their current home, the SAP Center. Fans often call it "the Shark Tank." The Sharks are connected to two minor league teams. These are the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) and the Wichita Thunder (ECHL).
The Sharks were created on May 9, 1990. They were the first NHL team in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1976. The team has reached the Stanley Cup Finals once. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. They also won the Presidents' Trophy once. This award goes to the team with the best regular season record. They have won six division titles since 1993.
Contents
- Sharks History: How the Team Started
- Team Information
- Team Traditions
- Rivalries
- Season Records
- Players
- NHL Awards and Trophies
Sharks History: How the Team Started
Team Creation: From Seals to Sharks
Hockey has been played in the Bay Area for a long time. The Sharks' story began with the San Francisco Seals. They were a team in the Western Hockey League. In 1966, they became the California Seals. They played at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.
Later, the California Golden Seals joined the NHL in 1967. They were not very successful. In 1974, brothers Gordon and George Gund III became owners. They helped move the team to Cleveland in 1976. Then, in 1978, they bought the Minnesota North Stars.
The Gunds wanted to bring hockey back to the Bay Area. The NHL did not allow them to move the North Stars. But a new arena was being built in San Jose. So, the league made a deal. The Gunds sold their share of the North Stars. In return, they got a new team in the Bay Area. This new team would start playing in the 1991–92 season. They could also pick some players from the North Stars. The new team was approved on May 9, 1990.
Over 5,000 names were suggested for the new team. "Blades" was the most popular. But the owners worried it sounded like weapons. So, they chose "Sharks" instead. This name was inspired by the many sharks in the Pacific Ocean. Seven types of sharks live there. An area near the Bay Area is even called the "red triangle" because of its shark population. This triangle is part of the team's logo.
Matt Levine, the team's first marketing head, said the name "Sharks" fit the team. He said sharks are "relentless, determined, swift, agile, bright and fearless." The team wanted to have all those qualities.
Early Years: The Cow Palace (1991–1993)
For their first two seasons, the Sharks played at the Cow Palace. This arena is in Daly City, near San Francisco. Pat Falloon was their first draft pick. He led the team in points in their first season. George Kingston was their first head coach.
The team struggled a lot in its first two years. This is common for new teams. In the 1992–93 season, they lost 71 games. This is an NHL record. They also had a 17-game losing streak. They won only 11 games that season. Kingston was fired after this tough season.
Even with their struggles, the Sharks were very popular. They led the NHL in merchandise sales. They sold $150 million worth of gear. This was 27% of all NHL sales. Only the National Basketball Association champions, the Chicago Bulls, sold more.
The Sharks had some "firsts" during this time. On November 17, 1992, goalie Arturs Irbe got the team's first shutout. They beat the Los Angeles Kings 6–0. On December 3, Rob Gaudreau scored the team's first hat-trick. He scored three goals in one game.
The team also introduced its mascot, "S. J. Sharkie." He first appeared on January 28, 1992. Fans helped choose his name.
First Success and Rebuilding (1993–1997)
In the 1993–94 season, the Sharks moved to their new home. It was the San Jose Arena. They joined the Pacific Division. Under coach Kevin Constantine, the Sharks made a huge comeback. They improved by 58 points from the year before. This was an NHL record. They made the playoffs for the first time.
In the playoffs, they faced the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings were a top team and expected to win the Stanley Cup. But the Sharks caused a big upset. They beat the Red Wings in seven games! In the final game, Jamie Baker scored the winning goal. The Sharks won 3–2. In the next round, they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 1994–95, the Sharks made the playoffs again. They reached the second round. Ray Whitney scored a double-overtime goal to beat the Calgary Flames. Key players included goalie Arturs Irbe, defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, and forwards Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov. However, they were swept by Detroit in the second round. This means they lost all four games.
The 1995–96 season was tougher. The Sharks finished last and missed the playoffs. They traded some key players like Ozolinsh and Larionov. They also got forward Owen Nolan from the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Constantine was fired. The team started to rebuild.
The Dean Lombardi Years (1996–2003)
In 1996, Dean Lombardi became the general manager. The next season was still tough. But their low finish helped them draft Patrick Marleau in 1997. The Sharks returned to the playoffs in 1997–98. They had new goalie Mike Vernon and coach Darryl Sutter. They made the playoffs for two years but lost in the first round.
In 1999, San Jose got star player Vincent Damphousse. The 1999–2000 season was a turning point. The Sharks had their first winning record. They upset the St. Louis Blues, who were the best team in the league. The Sharks won in seven games. But they lost to the Dallas Stars in the second round.
In 2000–01, goalie Evgeni Nabokov won the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the NHL's best rookie. The team also got star forward Teemu Selanne. In the 2001 playoffs, the Blues beat the Sharks.
The 2001–02 season was a big year. The Sharks won their first Pacific Division title. They beat the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the 2002 playoffs. But they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the second round.
After this season, the Gunds sold the Sharks to new owners. The team had a bad start to the 2002–03 season. Coach Sutter was fired and Ron Wilson took over. Captain Owen Nolan was traded. General manager Dean Lombardi was also fired in March 2003. Doug Wilson was named the new general manager.
The Doug Wilson Era (2003–2022)
Team Gets Stronger
The 2003–04 season was a great turnaround. New general manager Doug Wilson and coach Ron Wilson led the team. Young players like Christian Ehrhoff and Tom Preissing joined. The team got 104 points, their best record yet. They won the Pacific Division title.
In the 2004 playoffs, the Sharks beat the St. Louis Blues. Then they beat the Colorado Avalanche. For the first time, the Sharks reached the Conference Finals. But they lost to the Calgary Flames. During this season, Patrick Marleau became the team captain.
Joe Thornton Arrives
The Sharks started the 2005–06 season slowly. They were in last place in their division. Then, the Sharks made a huge trade. They got star player Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins. This trade gave the team new energy. The Sharks improved and made the playoffs.
In the playoffs, they beat the Nashville Predators. But they lost to the Edmonton Oilers. Joe Thornton won two major awards that season. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. He also won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in points (125). Jonathan Cheechoo won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for scoring the most goals (56).
The Sharks had their best record ever in the 2006–07 season. They won 51 games. They beat the Predators again in the playoffs. But they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
In the 2007–08 season, the Sharks changed their logos and jerseys. They had a great March, not losing any games in regulation. They got Brian Campbell in a trade. The Sharks won their third Pacific Division title. They beat the Calgary Flames in a Game 7. But they lost to the Dallas Stars in the next round. That Game 6 was the longest in team history, with four overtime periods.
Ron Wilson was fired as head coach on May 12. The team wanted to go further in the playoffs.
Playoff Contention, But No Cup
On June 11, 2008, Todd McLellan became the new head coach. The Sharks made some big moves. They signed defenseman Rob Blake. They also got defensemen Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich. They traded Craig Rivet.
The Sharks had an amazing 2008–09 season. They won the Presidents' Trophy with 53 wins and 117 points. Both were team records. But they were upset in the first round of the playoffs. The eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks beat them in six games. Fans and experts criticized the team for failing in the playoffs again. General manager Doug Wilson promised big changes.
In the 2009 off-season, Wilson kept his promise. They traded Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich. Then, they traded Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo for Dany Heatley. Patrick Marleau was no longer captain. Rob Blake became the new captain.
The Sharks finished the 2009–10 season as the top team in the Western Conference. They had 113 points. They beat the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs. Then they defeated the Detroit Red Wings. But they were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Conference Finals.
After the season, longtime goalie Evgeni Nabokov left the team. The Sharks signed Antti Niemi, who had helped the Blackhawks beat them. Niemi signed a long-term contract in 2011.
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On March 31, 2011, the Sharks made the playoffs for the 13th time. They won their sixth Pacific Division championship. In the 2011 playoffs, they faced the Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks won a thrilling Game 3 after being down 4–0. They came back to win 6–5 in overtime. They won the series in six games.
Next, they faced the Detroit Red Wings again. The Sharks won the first three games. But the Red Wings came back to force a Game 7. The Sharks won Game 7, 3–2. This sent them to their third Western Conference Finals. They played the Vancouver Canucks. The Sharks lost the series in five games.
In the 2011 off-season, the Sharks made more big trades. They traded Devin Setoguchi and draft picks for All-Star defenseman Brent Burns. They also traded Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat.
The Sharks finished the 2011–12 season with 96 points. They were the seventh seed in the playoffs. But they lost to the St. Louis Blues in the first round.
Before the shortened 2012–13 season, Larry Robinson joined the coaching staff. Veteran defenseman Brad Stuart returned to the team. In the 2013 playoffs, the Sharks swept the Vancouver Canucks. This was their first series-sweep ever. But they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the second round.
The Sharks got new uniforms for the 2013–14 season. They started the season very strong. They were the last team to be undefeated in regulation. In the 2014 playoffs, they faced the Los Angeles Kings again. The Sharks took a 3–0 series lead. But the Kings made a historic comeback. They won the next four games and the series. This was only the fourth time in NHL history a team lost after being up 3–0.
In the 2014–15 season, the Sharks played without a captain. They missed the playoffs for the first time in ten years. Coach Todd McLellan and his staff left the team.
First Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
On May 28, 2015, Peter DeBoer became the new head coach. The Sharks made some key additions. They got forward Joel Ward, goalie Martin Jones, and defenseman Paul Martin. They also named forward Joe Pavelski the new team captain.
The Sharks had a great second half of the 2015–16 season. They made the playoffs with 98 points. They beat the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues. This meant they won the Western Conference championship! For the first time ever, the Sharks reached the Stanley Cup Finals. They played against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks lost the series in six games.
Still Competing
In the next season, the Sharks made the playoffs again. But they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. After this season, longtime star Patrick Marleau left the team. He held many team records, like goals and games played.
The Sharks made the playoffs in the 2017–18 season. They swept the Anaheim Ducks. But they lost to the new Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.
The 2018–19 season saw another playoff run. They came back from a 3–1 series deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights. They won a dramatic Game 7. The Sharks then beat the Colorado Avalanche. They reached the Western Conference Finals again. But they lost to the St. Louis Blues. In October 2019, Patrick Marleau returned to the Sharks.
Missing the Playoffs
On December 11, 2019, coach Peter DeBoer was fired. The team was struggling. Assistant coach Bob Boughner became the interim head coach. In March 2020, the NHL season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the playoffs started, the Sharks were not included. Boughner became the permanent head coach.
The Sharks missed the playoffs for the second year in a row in 2020–21. General manager Doug Wilson took medical leave in November 2021. He resigned in April 2022. The team missed the playoffs for a third straight season. Coach Bob Boughner was also let go.
The Mike Grier Era (2022–Present)
Rebuilding the Team
On July 5, 2022, the Sharks hired former player Mike Grier as their new general manager. He became the first black general manager in NHL history. Grier immediately started to change the team. On July 13, the Sharks traded longtime defenseman Brent Burns. They signed new players like Oskar Lindblom and Nico Sturm.
On July 26, Grier named David Quinn as the new head coach. The Sharks started the 2022–23 regular season in Europe. On February 25, 2023, the Sharks retired Patrick Marleau's number 12. This was the first number retired in franchise history. Marleau played 1,607 games for the Sharks. He holds almost all team offensive records.
The Sharks made a big trade on February 26. They sent star forward Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils. In return, they got multiple draft picks and players. In their first season under Grier and Quinn, the Sharks missed the playoffs again. This was their fourth straight season.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson had an amazing season. He scored 101 points and 67 assists. Both were records for a Sharks defenseman. He became the sixth defenseman in NHL history to get 100 points. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's best defenseman. This was his third Norris Trophy.
On May 8, 2023, the Sharks got the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft. This was their highest pick since 1998. They drafted center Will Smith. On August 6, the Sharks traded Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They received players and a draft pick.
The Sharks had a tough 2023–24 season. Coach David Quinn was fired. On May 7, 2024, the Sharks won the NHL draft lottery. They got the number 1 pick for the 2024 NHL entry draft. Assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky was named the new head coach on June 13, 2024.
Team Information
Logos and Jerseys
The Sharks' main logo shows a shark biting a hockey stick. It has been used since 1991. The triangle in the logo refers to the "Red Triangle" near the Bay Area. This area is known for its shark population. The team also uses other logos based on the main one.
The Sharks' original jerseys were teal, white, gray, and black. They had block letters. Over the years, their jerseys have changed. They introduced a darker teal jersey in 1997. In 2001, they added a black third jersey.
In 2007, the Sharks updated their jerseys again. They added orange trim and numbers on the right chest. They also had a "jumping shark" logo on the shoulders. In 2013, they simplified their look. They removed some colors and added laces to the collar.
In 2017, the Sharks switched to Adidas jerseys. They kept a similar look. They also introduced a new black "Stealth" jersey in 2018. This jersey had a different shark logo and circuit board patterns.
The Sharks wore special jerseys for the 2015 NHL Stadium Series. They also brought back modified versions of their original teal jerseys for anniversaries. In 2020–21, they wore "Reverse Retro" jerseys. These were gray with black stripes.
In 2022, the Sharks released new uniforms. They were inspired by their original 1991–1998 jerseys. They also wore a second "Reverse Retro" uniform. This one was based on the old California Golden Seals jerseys.
For the 2023–24 season, the Sharks showed off a new black "Cali Fin" alternate uniform. It has an updated fin logo. They also started wearing teal helmets for road games.
Broadcasters
The Sharks have a team of broadcasters who call their games.
- Randy Hahn is the main play-by-play announcer for TV.
- Bret Hedican and Drew Remenda are color commentators for TV.
- Dan Rusanowsky is the main play-by-play announcer for radio.
- Scott Hannan and Drew Remenda are color commentators for radio.
In 2020–21, the Sharks started the Sharks Audio Network. This is a digital platform for all their game broadcasts. It also has other Sharks and San Jose Barracuda shows. You can listen on the Sharks app or their website.
In 2023, Dan Rusanowsky won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. This award honors hockey broadcasters who have made great contributions to the sport.
Team Traditions
The Sharks have a famous pre-game entrance. Before each home game, the lights dim. A 17-foot shark mouth lowers from the ceiling. Its eyes flash red, and fog pours out. Players skate out of the locker room, through the shark mouth, and onto the ice. The team uses "Seek & Destroy" by Metallica as their entrance song.
When the Sharks get a power play, the Jaws theme song plays. Fans do "The Chomp." They extend their arms and move them up and down like a shark's jaw.
Since 2015, the fan group Teal City Crew has supported the team. They organize marches to the arena. They also create large banners called tifo for games.
Rivalries
The Sharks have strong rivalries with the other two NHL teams in California. These are the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings.
Season Records
This table shows the Sharks' records for the last five seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 70 | 29 | 36 | 5 | 63 | 182 | 226 | 8th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 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 |
Players
Current Roster
Updated January 2, 2023
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 |  |
Alexander Barabanov | RW | L | 31 | 2021 | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| 5 |  |
Matt Benning | D | R | 31 | 2022 | St. Albert, Alberta |
| 13 |  |
Nick Bonino (A) | C | L | 37 | 2021 | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 59 | |
Nick Cicek | D | L | 25 | 2022 | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 39 | |
Logan Couture (C) | C | L | 36 | 2007 | Guelph, Ontario |
| 38 | |
Mario Ferraro (A) | D | L | 26 | 2017 | King City, Ontario |
| 42 | |
Jonah Gadjovich | LW | L | 26 | 2021 | Whitby, Ontario |
| 73 | |
Noah Gregor | C | L | 26 | 2016 | Beaumont, Alberta |
| 4 | |
Scott Harrington | D | L | 32 | 2022 | Kingston, Ontario |
| 48 |  |
Tomas Hertl (A) | LW/C | L | 31 | 2012 | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 65 |  |
Erik Karlsson (A) | D | R | 35 | 2018 | Landsbro, Sweden |
| 36 |  |
Kaapo Kahkonen | G | L | 28 | 2022 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 71 | |
Nikolai Knyzhov  |
D | L | 27 | 2019 | Kemerovo, Russia |
| 11 | |
Luke Kunin |
C | R | 27 | 2022 | Chesterfield, Missouri |
| 62 | |
Kevin Labanc | RW | R | 29 | 2014 | Staten Island, New York |
| 23 | |
Oskar Lindblom | LW | L | 28 | 2022 | Gävle, Sweden |
| 16 | |
Steven Lorentz | C | L | 29 | 2022 | Waterloo, Ontario |
| 24 | |
Jaycob Megna | D | L | 32 | 2021 | Plantation, Florida |
| 28 |  |
Timo Meier | LW | L | 28 | 2015 | Herisau, Switzerland |
| 83 | |
Matt Nieto | LW | L | 32 | 2020 | Long Beach, California |
| 77 | |
Markus Nutivaara |
D | L | 31 | 2022 | Oulu, Finland |
| 47 | |
James Reimer | G | L | 37 | 2021 | Morweena, Manitoba |
| 51 | |
Radim Simek | D | L | 32 | 2017 | Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia |
| 7 |  |
Nico Sturm | C | L | 30 | 2022 | Augsburg, Germany |
| 10 | |
Evgeny Svechnikov | RW | L | 28 | 2022 | Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia |
| 44 | |
Marc-Edouard Vlasic | D | L | 38 | 2005 | Montreal, Quebec |
Hall of Fame Players
Several players who played for the San Jose Sharks are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
- Ed Belfour
- Rob Blake
- Igor Larionov
- Sergei Makarov
- Jeremy Roenick
- Teemu Selanne
- Mike Vernon
- Doug Wilson
Retired Numbers
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Date of Honor |
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| 12 | Patrick Marleau | C/LW | 1997–2017 2019–2020 2020–2021 |
February 25, 2023 |
| 19 | Joe Thornton | C | 2005–2020 | November 23, 2024 |
The NHL has retired number 99 across the league for Wayne Gretzky. So, no Sharks player can wear that number.
Team Captains
- Doug Wilson, 1991–1993
- Bob Errey, 1993–1995
- Jeff Odgers, 1995–1996
- Todd Gill, 1996–1998
- Owen Nolan, 1998–2003
- Rotating Captains (first half of 2003–04 season)
- Mike Ricci
- Vincent Damphousse
- Alyn McCauley
- Patrick Marleau, 2004–2009
- Rob Blake, 2009–2010
- Joe Thornton, 2010–2014
- Joe Pavelski, 2015–2019
- Logan Couture, 2019–present
Top Regular Season Scorers
These are the top ten players with the most points in Sharks regular season history.
- * – current Sharks player
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Top Playoff Scorers
These are the top ten players with the most points in Sharks playoff history.
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NHL Awards and Trophies
The San Jose Sharks have won several NHL awards and trophies:
- Art Ross Trophy (Most Points)
- Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance and Sportsmanship)
- Tony Granato: 1996–97
- Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie)
- Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
- James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman)
- Brent Burns: 2016–17
- Erik Karlsson: 2022–23
- Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (Most Goals)
- NHL Foundation Player Award (Community Service)
- All-Star Game Head Coach
- Todd McLellan: 2009, 2012
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