San Jose Sharks

Lore & Background

Ice hockey in the San Francisco Bay Area began with the San Francisco Seals of the Western Hockey League in 1961. The California Golden Seals joined the NHL in 1967 but were unsuccessful on ice and at the box office; they moved to Cleveland in 1976 and later merged with the Minnesota North Stars. In 1988, a group led by Howard Baldwin pushed for an NHL team in San Jose. The league struck a compromise: the Gunds sold their share of the North Stars to Baldwin's group and received an expansion team in the Bay Area, allowed to take certain players from the North Stars. The new franchise was approved on May 9, 1990. Over 5,000 potential names were submitted; 'Blades' finished first but was rejected over weapon associations, and 'Sharks' was chosen, inspired by the many sharks in the Pacific Ocean. The team's first marketing head said, 'Sharks are relentless, determined, swift, agile, bright and fearless.' Jack Ferreira was the first general manager.

The Sharks played their first two seasons at the Cow Palace in Daly City. Pat Falloon was their first draft choice and led the team in points in the inaugural season. The team struggled, setting an NHL record with 71 losses in 1992–93 and a 17-game losing streak. Despite this, the Sharks led the NHL in merchandise sales with $150 million, accounting for 27% of the league's total. The mascot 'S. J. Sharkie' debuted on January 28, 1992. In 1993–94, the Sharks moved to the San Jose Arena and, under new head coach Kevin Constantine, made the playoffs for the first time, upsetting the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the first round—the first time an eighth seed defeated a first seed in North American professional sports. They lost in the second round to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sharks reached the second round again in 1994–95 but were swept by Detroit.

After a poor start to 1995–96, Constantine was fired and replaced by Jim Wiley. The team traded defenseman Sandis Ozoliņš for Owen Nolan. Under general manager Dean Lombardi, the Sharks drafted Patrick Marleau second overall in 1997. They returned to the playoffs in 1997–98 with goaltender Mike Vernon and head coach Darryl Sutter. In 1999–2000, they eliminated the Presidents' Trophy-winning St. Louis Blues after trailing 3–1 in the series. Evgeni Nabokov won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2000–01. The Sharks won their first Pacific Division title in 2001–02 but lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. After the 2001–02 season, the Gunds sold the team to local investors led by Greg Jamison. The 2002–03 season began poorly, and Sutter was fired; Ron Wilson was hired as head coach.

Reader's Guide

The San Jose Sharks are notable as the first NHL team based in the San Francisco Bay Area since the California Golden Seals left in 1976. Their founding involved a complex transaction where the Gunds sold the Minnesota North Stars and received an expansion franchise, taking certain players from the North Stars. The team's name, chosen from over 5,000 submissions, reflects the region's shark population and was selected partly to avoid weapon associations. The Sharks' early years were marked by extreme futility—an NHL-record 71 losses in 1992–93—yet they led the league in merchandise sales. Their first playoff appearance in 1993–94 produced one of the biggest upsets in Stanley Cup history when the eighth-seeded Sharks defeated the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in seven games. The team has won six division titles and one Presidents' Trophy (2008–09) and made one Stanley Cup Final appearance, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. The Sharks' home arena, SAP Center, is known as 'the Shark Tank.' Their AHL affiliate is the San Jose Barracuda and their ECHL affiliate is the Wichita Thunder.

Did You Know?

• The Sharks' 71 losses in the 1992–93 season is an NHL record.
• The team's name was inspired by the large number of sharks living in the Pacific Ocean.
• The Sharks led the NHL in merchandise sales in their first season with $150 million, 27% of the league's total.
• In 1994, the Sharks became the first eighth seed in North American professional sports to defeat a first seed in a playoff series.