| Nick Obergan. 22nd December, 2011 - 8:29 am
 The twenty-fifth in a series of 30 articles, we will go through the history of every NHL franchise alphabetically and select an All-Time Roster for each. All stats as of November 24, 2011.
San Jose Sharks (1991-Present)
San Jose entered the league as an expansion team twenty years ago, and for the past decade they have been one of the most successful teams in the entire NHL ... in the regular season. They have won six division titles since 2001-02, including the last four in a row. The team has started to expel some playoff demons by making it to the Conference Finals two straight years, but still have yet to make a Stanley Cup appearance.
First Team
C: Joe Thornton (2005-Present): Franchise leader in assists (425), and plus/minus (+118), 2nd in points (567); 64 points, -18 in 74 playoff games; 3-time All-Star; 2006 MVP & Art Ross winner (29-96-125); Team Captain 2010-Present.
W: Patrick Marleau (97-Present): Franchise leader in games (1,054), goals (366), points (785), playoff points (88 in 124 games); 3-time All-Star; five time 30-goal scorer; Team Captain 2004-09.
W: Owen Nolan (95-2003): 2nd in goals (206), 3rd in points (451) in 568 games, tied for first with 14 short handed goals; 4-time All-Star; career-high 44 goals in 99-00; Team Captain 98-2003.
D: Dan Boyle (2008-Present): Most points by a defenseman (175 in 248 games), +16; 34 points in 39 playoff games; 2-time All-Star; three straight 50-point seasons.
D: Mike Rathje (93-2004): Most games by a defenseman (671), 2nd most points (155), +11; 23 points in 71 playoff games.
G: Evgeni Nabokov (99-2010): Far and away most games (563) and wins (293-178-80), 2.39 GAA, 50 shutouts, 9.12 SV%; 40-38 playoff record, 2.29 GAA; 2-time All-Star; 2001 Calder Trophy winner; three 40-win seasons.
Second Team
C: Vincent Damphousse (98-2004): 289 points, +14 in 385 games, 38 points in 53 playoff games; 2002 All-Star; Co-Captain 2003.
W: Jeff Friesen (94-2001): 4th in scoring (350 points in 512 games), 13 short handed goals; four straight 20-goal seasons.
W: Jonathan Cheechoo (2002-09): 3rd in goals (165), 5th in points (291) in 440 games, +42; 2007 All-Star; 2006 Rocket Richard winner (56 goals).
D: Sandis Ozolinsh (92-95, 2007-08): 1st in goals by a defenseman (46), 132 points, -8 in 212 games; 1994 All-Star (26 goals).
D: Brad Stuart (99-2005): Tied for third with 153 points, +27 in 377 games.
G: Vesa Toskala (2001-07): 2nd in wins (65-28-12), 8 shutouts, 1st in GAA (2.35), and SV% (.914).
Third Team
C: Mike Ricci (97-2004): 529 games played, 263 points, +19; 33 points in 59 playoff games; Co-Captain 2003.
W: Joe Pavelski (2006-Present): 263 points, +30 in 368 games, 2nd most playoff goals (20 in 58 games).
W: Marco Sturm (97-2005): 273 points, +42 in 553 games; 1999 All-Star.
D: Scott Hannan (98-2007): 508 games, 127 points, +45; 13 points, +9 in 58 playoff games.
D: Christian Ehrhoff (2003-09): 132 points, +19 in 341 games; 15 points in 38 playoff games.
G: Arturs Irbe (91-96): 2nd most games (183), 57-91-29, 3.47 GAA, 8 shutouts; played on the expansion team; 1994 All-Star.
Coaches
Todd McLellan (2008-Present): 152-63-31, a .681 Win% in the regular season, 19-20 in the playoffs; three straight division titles, two straight Conference Finals appearances.
Ron Wilson (2002-08): Most games (385) and wins (206-122-57), a .609 Win% in the regular season, 28-24 in the playoffs; two division titles, one Conference Finals appearance.
-- Nick is an NHL Feature Writer for RealGM. You can reach him by email nick.obergan@realgm.com or on twitter @NickObergan |
