The NHL released its list of Top 100 players of all time and the San Jose Sharks were not well represented. I believe only Teemu Selanne and his two seasons in teal made the cut and that's not exactly encouraging, considering he's known more for ties to Anaheim and Winnipeg.

It's a bit embarrassing that Joe Thornton was not named among the games all-time greats. Thornton is 24th in NHL history and is second among all active players with 1,372 points in 1,417 regular season games over 18-plus years. If those aren't the numbers of one our games greats than I don't what is.

Regardless, I'm not going to let a little league bias ruin my night or yours. Instead, I decided to create my own Top 50 San Jose Sharks. Of course I leaving myself open for some heavy criticism here, but it's a risk I'm wiling to take. The only criteria I was looking for was a minimum 75 games in a teal and black sweater.

BTW, these are in no particular order....

Also, I reserve the right to make changes based on your suggestions. I know I've missed some goodies.

Here goes nothing...

1. Artus Irbe - 1991–1996 - Irbe won 57 games in 183 starts and is a name I always associated with San Jose. Must be that mask.
2. Evgeni Nabokov - 1999-2010 - The franchise leader in wins (293) and shutouts (50). Nuff said.
3. Antti Niemi - 2010-15 - Second in wins with 153 and shutouts (25).
4. Vesa Toskola - 2001-2007 - 65 wins in 115 starts is worthy of a nod considering the pickings were slim past the top three.
5. Mike Vernon - 1997-1999 - Vernon has better days elsewhere but managed to win 46 regular season games as a Shark in 111 starts.
6. Rob Blake - 2008-10 - Former Sharks captain and HHOF had a short stint in NorCal, but no list is complete without Rob Blake.
7. Brent Burns - 2011 - present - What can I say? The man is a BEAST.
8. David Bruce - 1991-1994 - An original Shark, chosen in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 79 games and scored 24 goals. Hey, not everybody is a star.
9. Ryan Clowe - 2009-15 - One of my favorite players. He played with an edge and that cut his career short, but he made a name for himself in San Jose. Still a fan favorite. Finished with 271 points (101g 170a) in 423 games.
10. Ulf Dahlen - 1993-1997 - If a young Alex Ovechkin had an Ulf Dahlen Sharks jersey that has to mean something right?
11. Logan Couture - 2009-present - This guy writes a new chapter to his book every time he touches the ice. 36 points in 56 career playoff games speaks to how clutch this dude is.
12. Vincent Damphousse - 1998 - 2004 - Another former Sharks captain, Damphousse scored more than 20 goals in three of his five seasons in San Jose.
13. Christian Ehrhoff - 2003 - 2009 - Drafted by San Jose, Ehrhoff played 341 games for the Sharks and was a big part of the 2006 team that rallied at the end of the season to make the playoffs, including an overtime winning goal to clinch a playoff spot.
14. Bob Errey - 1993-1995 and 1996-1997 - Replaced Doug Wilson as Sharks captain and was part of the team that slayed the mighty Red Wings in 7 games.
(EDIT:)15. Pat Falloon - 1991-1996- Falloon was an original and a face I put to the Sharks franchise for years. Why I forgot him is beyond me!
16. Nils Ekman - 2003-2006 - He posted 112 points (43g 69a) in 159 games as a Shark. He also scored the first shootout winning goal ever at the Tank.
17. Jeff Friesen - 1994-2001 - One of the fastest skaters of his day, Friesen earned 350 points (149g 201a) in over 500 games in San Jose.
18. Johan Garpenlov - 1991-1995 - He once played on a line with Sergei Markarov and Igor Larionov. That counts for something, right?
19. Tony Granato - 1996-2001 - A sparkplug in his day, Granato played over 275 games with the Sharks winning the Masterson Trophy in 1997.
20. Scott Hannan - 1998-2007 & 2012-2015 - The rugged defenseman played over 1000 NHL over 16 seasons A mainstay for the Sharks for more than 10 seasons and 626 games. This list is not complete without him.
21. Todd Harvey - 1999-2004 - 301 games for an agitator is not half bad.
22. Dany Heatly - 2009-2011 - The controversial forward collected 146 points (65g 81a) in 162 games with the Sharks. Like him or not, the numbers speak for themselves.
23. Craig Janney - 1994-1996 - Janney had an excellent 95-96 season, collecting 62 points (13g 49a) in just 71 games. He averaged nearly a point-per-game during his NHL career.
24. Kelly Kisio - 1991-1993 - Kisio had a career year in 1992–1993. He tied a career high in goals (26) and points (78) and represented the Sharks in the 1993 NHL All-Star Game.
25. Alexander Korolyuk - 1997-2004 - Played 296 games, all with SJ, before fizzling out of the NHL. The 1994 Sharks draft pick had so much promise. Sad.
26. Igor Larionov - 1993-1996 - The HHOF is a legend in both Russia, the NHL and he played nearly 100 games in NorCal.
27. Sergei Makarov - 1993-1995 - See Igor Larionov Above
28. Bryan Marchment - 1997-2003 - Marchment played for nine teams but enjoyed his greatest seasons with the Sharks. Known more for his grit than his scoring, Marchment has a career high 22 points in 2001-2002.
29. Patrick Marleau - 1997-present - One of the franchise real gems is on the verge of his 500th career goal. Let's hope he retires in teal and black.
30. Kyle McLaren - 2002-2008 - Best known for his nasty hip-check, McLaren played more than 300 games with San Jose.
(EDIT:)31. Dan Boyle - 2008-2014 - Despite having his hand forced in a trade, Dan Boyle enjoyed some of his best success as a Shark. He ended his tenure in San Jose with 68 goals and 201 assists in 431 games.
32. Milan Michalek - 2003-2009 - I wonder is anybody else realizes this guy had over 200 points during his tenure in San Jose? He scored more than 23 goals and 55 points three times in his four seasons with the Sharks.
33. Douglas Murray - 2005-2013 - 451 games and never took a night off. He should have finished his playing days as a Shark.
(EDIT:) 34. Jonathan Cheechoo - 2002-2009 - Cheechoo was in my notes but is my haste I left him out. Another name synonymous with the franchise. He had a career year in 05-06 when he scored 56 goals and won the Rockey Richard Trophy. His career fizzled after that, but it was definitely a season to remember.
35. Owen Nolan - 1995-2003 - The captain from 98-03, Nolan had 451 points (206g 245a) in 568 games.
36. Jeff Odgers - 1991-1996 - Another former captain - the dude amassed over 1,000 PIMS in 334 games. Tough as nails.
37. Sandis Ozolinsh - 1992-1995 & 2007-2008 - The offensive defensman scored his fair share of points as a Shark, scoring a career high 26 goals in 1993-1994.
38. Joe Pavelski - 2006 - Present - The current captain is an offensive weapon of the best kind. He can score from anywhere and in anyway. Let's not forget about his postseason success.
39. Mike Rathje - 1993-2004 - 671 games over 11 seasons in San Jose.
40. Marcus Ragnarsson - 1995-2003- Eight seasons in San Jose before being trade for Dan McGillis.
41. Mike Ricci - 1997-2004 - Ricci is an all-time fan-favorite. He enjoyed moderate offensive success in San Jose, but it was his gritty style of play made him both easy to root for and against.
42. Teemu Selanne - 2000-2003 - Selanne will never be remembered for his time in San Jose, but that doesn't mean he didn't has any good seasons there. The Finnish Flash scored 29 & 28 goals in two full seasons as a Shark and he never missed a game. He makes the cut.
43. Devon Setoguchi - 2007-2011 - Setoguchi enjoyed his greatest NHL success as a memeber of the Sharks. Seto had a career high 31 goals and 34 assists in 2008-09. He never came close to that again.
44. Marco Sturm - 1997-2006 - Sturm scored 128 goals in 553 games in San Jose.
45. Brad Stuart - 1999-2006 & 2012-2014 - A mainstay on the Sharks blueline for years, Stuart played 486 regular season and 64 playoff games in teal and black.
46. Marc-Edouard Vlasic - 2006- Present - The Sharks best defenseman and major factor in the teams current success.
47. Joe Thornton - 2005-Present - A sure-fire HOF'er, Thornton has done everything in his career but win the CUP - Is this the year?
48. Scott Thornton - 2000-2006 - Thornton enjoyed his best season as a member of the Sharks in 2001-02. Thornton put up career highs in both goals (26) and points (42).
49. Jeremy Roenick - 2007-2009 - Not his finest moments in the NHL, but his role as a veteran and player coach would prove helpful along the way.
(EDIT:)50. Ray Whitney - 1991-1997 - Whitney played 24 years for numerous franchises, but he was a big part of the Sharks beginning and somebody that I should not have overlooked.

Honorable Mention:
*Jeff Hacket - 1991-1993 - Somebody had to be the whipping boy and Hacket fit the bill. He managed to win 13 games on a very bad team. That's worth a nod.
*Todd Elik - 1993-1995 - The guy had great hair.
*Marty McSorley - 1996-1998 - A character and a goon. I forgot he even played for the Sharks.
*Bernie Nicholls - 1996-1999 - Another ex-LA King on the list. Sorry 'bout that.

Let me know what you think good, bad or indifferent. Who did I snub? Who should not be on this list? Comment below!

Thanks for reading!
Steve

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