POLL: GREATEST MOMENTS IN SAN JOSE SHARKS HISTORY

[yave1964]

This club is reminding me more and more of the Ottawa Senators of a decade ago, a team that every year misses by, as Maxwell Smart used to say, by thaaat much. They have been President Trophy candidates who have suffered thru a series of unfortunate events over the past decade and in the past nine full seasons, the LOWEST point total they have put up is 96 but something always derails them. Anyway, here are, IMHO the greatest moments in Shark history

 

JOE THORNTON COMES OVER FROM BOSTON

 

 Disgruntled in Beantown and the Bruins looking to shake things up, the Sharks made their signature trade in club history on November 30th, 2005 by getting big Joe from the Bruins for Wayne Primeau, Marco Sturm and Brad Stuart, all good capable NHLers but none are ever getting in to the Hall of Fame without a ticket, whereas Thornton has established himself as one of the best centers in the history of the game.

 

JONATHAN CHEECHOO LEADS LEAGUE WITH 56 GOALS!! REALLY.

 

Talk about a one year wonder. Okay, maybe not quite a one year wonder, but not far off. In 2005-06 with Thornton feeding him the puck Cheechoo led all of hockey with 56 goals. He did manage 37 the following year before falling off the face of the Earth, by last season he was unable to land a deal in the AHL and played on one of the worst teams in the KHL. But for one year he was Glen Anderson junior, getting fed by a great center and turning it into a career year for the record books.

 

 ARTURS FREAKING IRBE LEADS THE 1994 SHARKS OVER THE NUMBER ONE SEED WINGS

 

  An expansion team that was pathetic, 11 wins just a few years before for one of the worst records of all time, by 1993-94 the Kevin Constnatine led club of vagabonds and youngsters snuck into the playoffs, damn cheeky for such a new franchise. They were supposed to be fodder and a tuneup for the mighty Scotty Bowman led Wings. Instead, led by young netminder Arturs Irbe who played 74 games between the pipes that year, and Sergei Makarov (30 goals) Igor Larionov (yes THAT Larionov Wings fans) and Ray Whitney, and a mental flub by Chris Osgood that allowed a goal by Jamie Baker with time running out in game 7 as the upstart Sharks won in one of the biggest upsets of all time. They followed it up by pushing the Dougie Gilmour led Leafs to a tough 7 game series before falling.

 

THE SHARKS WIN THE PRESIDENTS TROPHY IN 2008-09

 

  The Sharks were loaded, positively loaded, two lines deep of stars and Blake and Boyle on the blue line with Nabakov winning an incredible 41 games, new coach Todd mcLellan pushed all the right buttons all year as they won their first to date Presidents trophy.

 They then lost in the first round in six games to the Ducks.

THE SHARKS MAKE CONFERENCE FINALS BACK TO BACK 2009-10 and 2010-11

  The Sharks pushed themselves into the conference finals back to back seasons following the disappointing post season of 2009, Danny Heatley (37 goals)  came aboard and Nabokov upped his win total to 44, Joe Pavelski established himself as a two line center, Clowe as a nasty bit of work as a power forward, veterans Marleau and Thornton had a great supporting cast. In 2010 they handled the Avalanche in 6 and the Wings in 5 before falling in the conference finals to the eventual champ Chicago.

 

  The following year they found a gem in Logan Couture, added Antti Niemi to replace Nabokov and again made the conference finals.  Marleau had 37 goals, Niemi went 35-18-6 and the vets continued to shine. They beat the Kings in 6 and held off the Wings in 7 before falling to Luongo and the Canucks in 7.

 

  That is my list. They made the conference finals in 2004 which could have made the list, they have played at an elite level for a decade which also could have, and have had parts of the career of quite a few all time players. This team needs a cup.

 

 

[J0e Th0rnton]

Le sigh......

Probably beating the wings in 7. But for me, Thornton being traded there and setting all sorts of team records and being the only player EVER to win the Hart the year he was traded. The camera panning to Sinden as he was awarded the trophy was hilarious.

 

Cheechoo's 56 goals was largely a product of Thornton(Although Cheech was good at scoring goals. just not that good without Joe). Thornton scoring back to back 90+ assist seasons is still insane. Especially since he had 70 primary assists. The man just makes anyone he plays with better. Unfortunately, they fall into the trap of just getting the puck to Joe, rather than making something happen themselves and it is predictable.

 

P.S The fell to the Canucks in 5, not 7. lol 2 WCF and 1 win

[jammer2]

@J0e Th0rnton  70 primary assists is just crazy. I wonder what the all time record is for that, I'd guess Bobby Orr might have the record, but not at all sure.

[J0e Th0rnton]

@J0e Th0rnton  70 primary assists is just crazy. I wonder what the all time record is for that, I'd guess Bobby Orr might have the record, but not at all sure.

Gretzky MUST have it. He had over 160 assists one season.

[jammer2]

@J0e Th0rnton  Yeah, as soon as I typed Orr (was thinking about his 100+ assist season) I thought of Wayne and his 219 pt fiasco....lol, that is probably the record for primaries.