Greatest San Jose Sharks of All Time

Link Gaetz was one of the 24 players inherited in the Minnesota North Star / San Jose Shark transition. A first round draft pick, Gaetz was Mike Modano's very first bodyguard and helped bring a rugged style of play to San Jose.

Chuck Grillo, then a scout for the Sharks, described Gaetz as "one of the meanest kids living." and that aspect of his pugilistic ability brought him an almost cult-like following from Sharks fans.

Link played in 65 career NHL games, and racked up 412 penalty minutes while playing for both the North Stars and Sharks.

Inside the Numbers : 48 GP, 6 goals, 6 assists, 326 PIM

Why Gaetz is placed here : Gaetz personified the scrappy mentality of the expansion Sharks, and was among the very first fan favorites.

Memorable Shark Moment : His fight against the late Bob Probert was one of the classic hockey fights of all time.

Drafted 10th overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Andrei Nazarov failed to evolve into the power forward that Chuck Grillo initially envisioned.

But make no mistake, Andrei was nasty in the corners, in the crease, and seemed to get nastier the more you provoked him. This tendency and complete inability to determine what was a bad penalty vs a good one limited his overall ice time and impact.

His ice time went up as Kevin Constantine saw the big man's potential and nastiness, but sadly Nazarov never developed his offensive game.

Instead Andrei became one of the nastier players to ever don the Teal, and actually spent time alongside Joe Thornton as a Bruin later in his career.

He was traded to Tampa Bay with a 1st round pick in 1998 Entry Draft for Bryan Marchment, David Shaw and Tampa Bay's 1st round choice.

Inside the Numbers : 169 GP, 23 goals, 28 assists, .302 PPG

Why Nazarov is placed here : Although Nazarov's points totals are mediocre to say the least, he provided the perfect rock to Kozlov's roll. He was a terror in the 1994-1995 season, racking up 94 PIM in just 26 games.

Memorable Shark Moment : His role in the 1997 brawlfest against the Los Angeles Kings.

Viktor Kozlov was sixth overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks but didn't join San Jose until early in the 1994-95 season.

After 16 games with the big club, Kozlov was sent to the now defunct IHL Kansas City Blades for further development to the North American game. During a time in which many European players were struggling to adapt to the rough and tumble style of the NHL, Kozlov was vilified by the media and his coach Darryl Sutter.

Darryl Sutter did not appreciate Kozlov's disdain for physical play or lack of effort on the backcheck and regularly criticized the big man. Despite Kozlov's two goals and franchise record setting 10 shots on goal in his first game in 1997-98, Sutter promptly demoted him to the checking line.

By the end of November in the first round of the next year's draft, he was traded to the Florida Panthers.

Inside the Numbers : 174 GP, 29 goals, 40 assists, .396 PPG

Why Kozlov is placed here : On a team lacking depth and offensive firepower, Kozlov was regularly the best offensive option for the San Jose Sharks. Enduring intense criticism and under fire for most of his San Jose career, Kozlov still put up numbers for a bad team.

Memorable Shark Moment : Kozlov led the Sharks in 1996-1997 in shorthanded goals with 3, all while logging limited penalty kill ice time.

The second overall pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Andrei Zyuzin is the biggest tease to ever play for the San Jose Sharks. Fresh off his back-to-back performances in the World Junior Championships for Team Russia, he made an immediate impact as a rookie.

Great vision, awesome skating ability and one of the hardest shots in franchise history, Zyuzin could have been the franchise defenseman for San Jose.

Instead, his sophomore season became an off-ice soap opera, leading to his suspension for the remainder of the 1998-1999 season for leaving the team without permission.

After suddenly firing his agent, Andrei went AWOL on March 19 and went missing for 12 games.

During his absence, he was represented by Vitaly Shevchenko a man not recognized by the players agent union or the NHLPA. Zyuzin eventually rehired his previous agent and returned to the Sharks without explanation.

Amidst rumors of Russian mafia connections and association with individuals with checkered pasts, Zyuzin was dealt to Tampa Bay for Niklas Sundstrom.

Inside the Numbers : 81 GP, 9 goals, 8 assists, .209 PPG

Why Zyuzin is placed here : Zyuzin never became the Shark he could have been, but flashed some tremendous potential in his short time in San Jose. He also exacted a measure of revenge against Ed Belfour in the playoffs the year after Belfour left the Sharks as a UFA.

Memorable Shark Moment : Zyuzin scored one of the biggest goals in San Jose Shark history, when his OT slapshot from the point beat the hated Ed Belfour in Game 4 of the 1997-1998 Western Conference quarterfinals. Scoring the goal 6:31 into the extra session gave the Sharks the 1-0 victory, before bowing out in six games to the Stars

After peaking in Edmonton in the 1992-93 season, Joe Murphy settled into his role of being a very solid contributor, capable of playing the pivot and on the power play.

He was traded to San Jose from the Blues in exchange for Todd Gill on March 24th, 1998 and promptly chipped in 9 points in 10 games and 2 points in the playoffs. After logging 48 points and a solid +10 rating the following year he was not retained and signed with the Boston Bruins.

Inside the Numbers : 86 GP, 30 goals, 27 assists, .662 PPG

Why Murphy is placed here : In a short amount of time, Murphy made an immediate contribution on offense and, unlike Craig Janney or Ray Sheppard, could actually play some defense.

Memorable Shark Moment : Murphy's "fight" against Petr Svboda was an awesome fight showing a side of Murphy's game that was never seen from before or since. Comments from then TV color commentator Steven Konroyd went a bit far however, "jackhammer rights" and Joe Murphy just don't go together.

Taking over for the immortal Bob Errey, Jeff Odgers was the perfect choice as the Sharks captain from 1995-96. Perhaps one of the most hard-nosed and intense players in team history, Odgers logged 3 seasons of 200+ PIM and tough play

Never afraid to drop the gloves in defense of his teammates, Odgers was loved in the locker room even if he wasn't loved by the fanbase.

*Inside the Numbers : *334 GP, 48 goals, 34 assists, .245 PPG

Why Odgers is placed here : Jeff Odgers was a perfect mouthpiece for Kevin Constantine and matched the head coach's intensity. His leadership and willingness to stick up for his teammates made his time with the Sharks invaluable.

Memorable Shark Moment : Any one of the Jeff Odgers vs. Bob Probert fights.

For many fans, Brad Stuart may be the one that got away as he's become the dominant force that Dean Lombardi initially envisioned when he was drafted third overall.

Stuart was a anchor on the blueline for the San Jose Sharks during his five seasons there, and missed just five games in his first three seasons. After an injury marred campaign in 2002-03, Stuart set career highs in points with 39 and was key in the Sharks run to the Western Conference Finals against Calgary.

Stuart returned to San Jose ready to take the next steps following the lockout year, only to be traded to Boston in the Joe Thornton blockbuster trade.

Inside the Numbers : 355 GP, 34 goals, 107 assists, .397 PPG

Why Stuart is placed here : Brad Stuart was supposed to be everything that Mike Rathje wasn't, and while he did not stay in town long enough to develop, he left a sizable void on the blueline. Stuart finished runner-up in Calder Trophy voting behind Scott Gomez, all while playing on the West Coast.

Memorable Shark Moment : In a game on April 4, 2004 against the Kings, Brad Stuart scored back to back goals just 17 seconds apart, setting a then franchise record.

Winner of the Hobey Baker award as the NCAA's top player in 2006, Carle burst onto the NHL scene leading all rookie defenseman in points. After being extended to a four-year deal the Sharks dealt Carle, a regular on San Jose's blue line and part of their young developing core.

Carle scored 42 points in 77 games that season, making the NHL's all-rookie team along with fellow defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic. He struggled his third calender year, despite the big contract and head coach Ron Wilson rode him mercilessly while cutting his ice time.

Traded to Tampa Bay by San Jose with Ty Wishart, San Jose's 1st round choice in 2009 Entry Draft and San Jose's 4th round choice in 2010 Entry Draft for Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich, July 4, 2008.

Inside the Numbers : 151 GP, 16 goals, 47 assists, .418 PPG

Why Carle is placed here : Matt led all rookie defensemen and finished sixth among all NHL rookies in points (42) and set several franchise rookie highs—including goals and points by a defenseman and power play goals

Memorable Shark Moment : Scoring the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the 2006-2007 Western Conference semifinals against the hated Red Wings for the 2-0 victory.

Teemu Selanne cracks our list of franchise Sharks at number 44 even through just two years of his service at right wing. Having been a long time Shark hunter, his tenure as a Shark met with mixed results and inconsistent reviews.

He did lead the team in goals and posted decent numbers (54 and 64 points) in his first two full seasons, he was more remembered for the near trade he vetoed.

The trade that would have brought Scott Gomez to San Jose in a multi-player deal was axed by Selanne at the last minute.

*Inside the Numbers: *176 GP, 64 goals, 67 assists, .744 PPG

Why Selanne is placed here: Teemu is a class act and a tremendous player who even at the ripe age of 40 continues to defy Father Time. Sadly his time with the Ducks, and in a lesser degree the Avalanche exclude him from being higher on our list.

He is one hell of a individual, as classy a hockey player as you will ever find and has one of the best rookie campaigns of all time.

*Memorable Shark Moment: *Stringing along the Ducks as a free agent just long enough for him and Kariya to bolt to Colorado.

I really could point to Selanne's post season numbers as a Shark or any of his big goals, posting 10 points in 18 playoff games but chose this moment instead.

Part of the expansion dispersal draft, Rob Gaudreau was an offensively gifted winger who played well on a team lacking in NHL talent. He scored 23 goals as a rookie with the Sharks, and recorded 43 points in 59 games and also played for Team USA in the World Championships.

His hat trick against the Whalers is the first in team history and truly showed what kind of offensive skills the young Gaudreau had.

His defensive game was lacking to say the least, and by the time the Sharks made the playoffs in 1994, Rob's role was diminished although he did contribute with two playoff goals.

*Inside the Numbers: *143 GP, 38 goals, 40 assists, .545 PPG

*Why Gaudreau is placed here: *He recorded the team's first ever hat trick and gave the Sharks fans some excitement in an otherwise horrid opening campaign.

Memorable Shark Moment: The rookie right winger recorded three goals in just his second NHL game on Dec 3rd, 1992 against the Hartford Whalers. Even with his efforts however, the Sharks still fell 7-5.

A deadline acquisition in 1994, Dahlen was the veteran scoring punch and provided a perfect balance to Craig Janney's open-ended style. Never confused for a speedy skater, Dahlen got the job done with his superior will, strong balance and terrific hands.

Although his four seasons spent in San Jose saw significant drops in his scoring numbers from his Minnesota and Dallas days, he was always at his best when stakes were highest.

Putting up goals and placing in the Sharks top six in scoring for both of those playoff years, Dahlen also tied for the scoring lead in 1995 with Igor Larionov.

After failing to make the playoffs in 1996, the Sharks shipped Dahlen out in a package deal to bring Ed Belfour to San Jose.

Inside the Numbers : 161 GP, 41 goals, 52 assists, .577 PPG

Why Dahlen is placed here : Dahlen was a consummate pro, who gave it his all and stepped up during the playoffs. The trade that brought Crazy Eddie to the Sharks, and gave Chicago a performer like Dahlen marks a sad day in franchise history.

Memorable Shark Moment : Dahlen scored the game winner in OT via the power play against the Calgary Flames in Game 2 of the 1994-95 playoffs.

It doesn't get much nastier or dirtier than the game that Bryan Marchment brought to the Sharks, patrolling the blueline for 6 years. Known for his razor sharp intensity and willingness to toe the line and occasionally cross it marked his tenure in Teal.

Marchment and penalties went hand in hand, as he topped the 200 minute mark in 2000-01 and always had the opposition looking around for him before handling the puck.

While he definitely deserves mention on this list, it will be without fanfare from many fans including myself. His play in his zone, nastiness in the crease and hard hitting ability will always be overshadowed by his many questionable knee-on-knee hits.

Some fans may want to hide behind the cliche that Marchment's play might make him repugnant as an opponent but makes him valued as a teammate, but I just don't agree.

Inside the Numbers : 334 GP, 13 goals, 53 assists, .197 PPG

*Why Marchment is placed here : *He was nasty, dirty and along with blueline partner Gary Suter, struck fear into the opposition with his intensity and knees.

Memorable Shark Moment : Bryan Marchment has been known for his many dirty hits that have put several players' careers in jeopardy, but this hit against Doug Weight sticks out in my mind.

In two years with the San Jose Sharks, Rob Blake provided leadership, valuable experience and a steadying hand for the Sharks franchise. While he was clearly on the downside of his Hall of Fame career, Blake again cracked the 40 point plateau in his first year with 10 goals and 35 assists.

After signing another one year deal to stay in Northern California, Blake wore the C and helped the Sharks to the Western Conference Finals.

Along with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Blake made up a terrific second pairing and collected seven goals and 23 assists in 70 games and added a goal and a helper in the playoffs.

Inside the Numbers : 143 GP, 17 goals, 58 assists, .524 PPG

*Why Blake is placed here : *Zyuzin never became the Shark he could have been, but flashed some tremendous potential in his short time in San Jose. He also exacted a measure of revenge against Ed Belfour the year after leaving the Sharks as a UFA.

*Memorable Shark Moment : *Rob Blake's spear against Sharks fan "favorite" Corey Perry against the Ducks.

Dreams do come true for some people, and Nisse Ekman's story is one of the classic tales for the Sharks. While spending most of his early NHL career playing in the AHL, Ekman put up 30 goals and 66 points for the Hartford Wolf Pack.

But he never once dressed for the Blueshirts and took a short stint overseas when he failed to make the roster in New York. Traded to San Jose in 2003 for Chad Wiseman, Ekman dressed in every game, and set a franchise record with a plus-30 rating.

"Nisse" Ekman burst into the 2003-04 NHL Season cashing in with 22 goals, 33 assists in 82 games. Playing alongside Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo, the speedy Swede produced a pair of 20 goal, 50 point seasons.

Going overseas in the work stoppage of 2004-05 to play for the Swedish Djurgårdens IF hockey team, Ekman started slow but still posted another 20 goal season.

Inside the Numbers : 264 GP, 60 goals, 91 assists, .571 PPG

*Why Ekman is placed here : * Nils "Nisse" Ekman was a common European NHL story with some uncommon and controversial incidents. His numbers speak for themselves and without a ugly elbow injury and a stroke that he is thankfully recovering from, he could still be playing in the league

Kyle Mclaren was a bruising hitter and rugged defenseman during his 5 seasons with the San Jose Sharks. Known for his big open ice hits and uncanny knack of timing the hip check, McLaren struck fear into opposing forwards nightly. Despite his intensity and aggressiveness, he rarely crossed the line and played within the rules during his stay in San Jose.

His style of checking and play didn't do any favors for his durability, as he missed time in each of his 4 full seasons as a Shark.

His effectiveness as a defender and checker began to diminish with the weight of injuries beginning to take their toll. Never known for his blazing foot speed, his style of plodding defensive play became less and less effective post-lockout.

Inside the Numbers : 302 GP, 12 goals, 83 assists, .315 PPG

*Why Mclaren is placed here : *He was the anchor to the Sharks defense and had an outstanding campaign in 2005, where he was among the team's best players and leaders. His 300 games are an outstanding hallmark to his career and time with San Jose.

Memorable Shark Moment : Kyle McLaren's signature moment as a Shark to me would be his hit against Trevor Letowski

I thought the guy was dead to be honest.

A key part of the Sharks' success in the new millennium, Ehrhoff added yet another page to the chapter of successful German born players for the Sharks.

The mobile defenseman tallied 4 straight 20 point seasons including a 42 point campaign in his final year as a Shark.

Christian was always the quiet player who just simply got the job done, when the game is over you hardly remember him playing and that's exactly what he does best. Ehrhoff may draw mixed reactions when asking the average Sharks fan, but his mark on the franchise cannot be disputed.

A positionally sound defenseman who has made a living from playing against the best opposition, Ehrhoff enjoyed some quality years in teal.

Inside the Numbers : 341 GP, 25 goals, 107 assists, .387 PPG

Why Ehrhoff is placed here : Though some detractors may point to his small frame, his turnovers, or lack of physicality, Ehrhoff still enjoyed a great run as a Sharks defenseman.

Memorable Shark Moment : Christian sent the Sharks to the playoffs following a clutch overtime goal against the Vancouver Canucks on April 13, 2006.

At the time of this writing, Dany's only in his second year as a San Jose Shark. Needing more scoring punch up front, Doug Wilson took a gamble trading for the controversial Heatley who has had his fair share of locker room and off-ice incidents.

Heatley is a pure goal scorer who also has the vision to set up his linemates, he has the size to play in the greasy areas of the ice and is deadly in the slot.

While he's endured a poor season thus far, he was one of the most talented players on the Sharks roster and thus cannot be counted out of any game.

Now long gone, I'm sure the Sharks regret bringing Heatley in, he wasn't a complete waste and was a fine one way offensive player that couldn't score.

*Inside the Numbers : *159 GP, 64 goals, 80 assists, .905 PPG

*Why Heatley is placed here : *Some may argue and dispute his placement on this list and while they may have merit, Heatley's numbers cannot be denied.

Memorable Shark Moment : Heatley exploded against his old team when the Sharks took on the Senators earlier this year and he was simply dominant.

Chosen 8th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Devin Setoguchi is taking steps in establishing himself as one of the youngest up-and-comers in the NHL.

With speed to spare, Setoguchi has excellent touch in close around the net as well as terrific one-on-one ability. He's starting to put up the consistency that has eluded him much of his young career, and is one of the best Sharks in the second half of 2010-11.

He's a sniper with moves that is also starting to develop an edge, bringing a slightly more rugged style to an already very competitive player. Delivering the hit, on the forecheck, or on special teams, Setoguchi has taken huge steps in becoming the true three-zone player the Sharks envisioned when selecting him in the first round in 2005.

*Inside the Numbers: *265 GP, 84 goals, 75 assists, .599 PPG

*Why Setoguchi is placed here: *Alongside Logan Couture, Devin Setoguchi at one point made up the Sharks future at wing and very well could have been if he wasn't traded.

Memorable Shark Moment: While Setoguchi has his fair share of clutch moments, I like his game against the Colorado Avalanche earlier this year where he set a franchise first, collecting the hat trick with a Sharks shutout.

Tony Granato played a gritty undersized game that made him a fan favorite very quickly after the mass influx of Los Angeles Kings players in the mid 90s.

Agitator, pest and leader, Granato led by example and was the model of professionalism during a Sharks era not known for taking care of business. While his numbers weren't great by any stretch, Granato was a player you could count on to play hard every single night.

His best season with the Sharks was his first, where he occassionally shared a line with another ex-King Bernie Nicholls. Posting 25 goals and 15 assists in 76 games, Granato also logged 159 PIM while irritating his opponents to no end.

Inside the Numbers: 278 GP, 57 goals, 42 assists, .356 PPG

*Why Granato is placed here: * Tony Granato helped bridge the gap from the disastrous Al Sims regime to the new era Sharks and consistently provided veteran leadership every season.

Memorable Shark Moment: Winning the Masterton Trophy in 1996-97 having undergone major brain surgery during the offseason.

Among the very first Sharks heroes, Kelly Kisio was a clutch player for the young expansion San Jose Sharks. Kelly played in the team's first two seasons in the NHL, and recorded the team's first game winning goal. He also represented San Jose as an All-Star in 1993.

He put up a career-best point-per-game average in 78 games, including 26 goals tying a career best.

*Inside the Numbers: *126 GP, 37 goals, 78 assists, .912 PPG

Why Kisio is placed here: With 115 points in 126 games through 1991-1993, Kelly Kisio was a huge part of the San Jose Sharks' early success.

*Memorable Shark Moment: *In just their third game, the Sharks recorded their first victory ever, downing the Calgary Flames 4-3. Kisio netted the power play game-winner with just 3:15 left in regulation, forever etching his name in Sharks history.

Doug Wilson was the San Jose Sharks very first team captain, and was an All-Star in the team's inaugural season. Selected sixth overall in 1977 after an awesome junior career with the Ottawa 67's, Wilson played a total of 14 NHL seasons and is still one of the best Blackhawk defenseman of all time.

Recepient of the Norris Trophy in 1982 where he rang up 39 goals and 85 total points, Wilson instantly brought a level of respect and credibility to the Sharks.

He played two seasons for the Sharks, scoring a total of 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 86 games.

Inside the Numbers: 86 GP, 12 goals, 36 assists, .558 PPG

Why Wilson is placed here: The only thing better than Wilson's captaincy and leadership in the first two seasons of Sharks hockey, is his vision as a GM. Considered one of the best GM's in the business, Wilson has enjoyed a great deal of success at the helm of the Sharks.

Unfortunately, he couldn't bite the bullet and rebuild before the wheels fell off in 2015. The San Jose Sharks missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and Wilson's future is in doubt.

Still when he's let go, San Jose Sharks fans should be happy that we were lucky enough to have him as a GM.

Plus, he played without a helmet. How cool is that?

"Korky" quickly gained a fan following with his energetic style of play and small stature in the late 90s. With a quick release and the desire and hustle to play along the boards despite his frame, fans got behind Korolyuk and loved him right away.

After suffering a slow start in the 99 season, the Sharks called up Korolyuk from the Kentucky Thoroughblades on Dec. 11 and promptly netted 12 goals and 18 assists. He was named the team's rookie of the year.

Even with those fans, Korolyuk still bounced back and forth overseas, splitting time over the span of 6 years with the Sharks. He recorded 19 goals and 37 points just before the lockout and has split time in the RSL and KHL ever since.

Inside the Numbers: 296 GP, 62 goals, 80 assists, .479 PPG

*Why Korolyuk is placed here: *You would be hard pressed to find a Sharks fan that doesn't love Korky, who epitomized the underdog with his scrappy style of play. Close to 300 games logged in teal, and a decent PPG average despite his limited ice time puts him on our list.

Memorable Shark Moment: Korky put up three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in the 2003-04 playoffs against the Calgary Flames in Game 3.

Milan was selected 6th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and made the team out of camp the next year. An unfortunate knee injury suffered in an October 11, 2003 game vs. Calgary derailed his promising year, and the lockout wiped out the following season.

Michalek made an immediate impact in 2005-06 notching 17 goals and collecting 35 points, and over the next 3 years posted 3 consecutive 50 point seasons for San Jose.

Alongside Patrick Marleau and Steve Bernier, Michalek had an excellent year and improved by posting 66 points in 78 games the following season. Moved up to the top line alongside Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo, they played extremely well in the playoffs before bowing out to Detroit.

The next year, with teams paying him more attention, Milan struggled to regain his 2006-07 form and posted 55 points. Michalek was traded to the Senators in the Dany Heatley deal, and fans will always remember his speed and kamikaze skating style.

*Inside the Numbers: *317 GP, 91 goals, 123 assists, .679 PPG

Memorable Shark Moment: Michalek scored from his knees against the Dallas Stars in 2008, on a nifty feed from Joe Pavelski. Great goal.

Currently part of the Comcast Sportsnet broadcast team, Jamie Baker is an instantly recognizable icon in Sharks lore.

A strong two-way player, Jamie Baker will always be remembered for his postseason exploits in a San Jose Shark uniform. His goal is undoubtedly the biggest goal in San Jose Shark history, giving the young franchise it's first ever playoff series win against the powerhouse Red Wings.

As the 8th seed in the Western Conference the Sharks defeated Detroit 3-2 in the seventh and deciding game of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Jamie Baker scored the game winning goal at the 13:25 mark of the third period.

Chris Osgood's errant clearing pass was corralled by Baker who promptly deposited it into the net for the series clincher in the first round.

*Inside the Numbers: *185 GP, 35 goals, 26 assists, .329 PPG

Why Baker is placed here: Baker was huge in 1994, providing the game-winning and playoff-seed clinching goal in the victory against the LA Kings on April 5th, as well as his huge Game 7 stunner over the Red Wings.

Memorable Shark Moment: Never say never.. need we say more?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmRm04zUXAY

Scott Hannan slowly developed into one of the team's best shutdown defenders and is ranked second in games played by a defenseman for San Jose.

Strong on the puck, good along the boards and strong enough to knock his man down, Hannan was, and still is, an excellent defensive player. An overachiever from an offensive skillpoint, Hannan may not light up the scoreboard but can eat up quality minutes with the best of them.

After logging 500 games in teal, he signed with the Colorado Avalanche in 1997 as a free agent marking the end of a blueline era in San Jose.

Inside the Numbers : 508 GP, 25 goals, 102 assists, .255 PPG

Why Hannan is placed here : Scott Hannan is one of the best top 4 defenders in San Jose Shark history and the man was quite simply a workhorse during his tenure.

Memorable Shark Moment : During the 2005-06 playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, Scott Hannan, Mark Smith and Kyle Mclaren killed off a 5-3 Oiler powerplay with just one stick. Who can ever forget the indelible memory of both Smith and Hannah diving to block shots, all while desperately keeping the Oilers at bay?