San Jose Sharks announce Quarter Century Team presented by SAP

The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) along with the National Hockey League announced today the franchise’s First and Second Quarter Century Team presented by SAP as selected by a panel of media, retired players, and executives specific to the Sharks.

Each team consists of three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender. Out of the six forwards named, five were captains in each of their respective tenures in Teal. Of the 12 players named, eight participated in San Jose’s only Stanley Cup appearance in franchise history in the 2015-16 campaign and two of the skaters have had the distinguished honor of having their jersey number retired by the franchise.

First Team Forwards (in alphabetical order)

Patrick Marleau (1997-2017, 2019-2021): Drafted second overall in the 1997 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. Also known by many fans as “Mr. Shark”, he skated in an NHL record 1,779 NHL games with 1,607 games in Teal. He finished his NHL career skating in 23 seasons, splitting his tenure with San Jose (21 seasons), Toronto Maple Leafs (two seasons), and the Pittsburgh Penguins (one season). Marleau is the all-time franchise leader in goals (518), power-play goals (161), shorthanded goals (17), points (1,102), and shots on goal (3,899). The three-time All-Star (2004, 2009, 2010) was the first player to have his number retired by the Sharks, his number 12 enshrined on Feb. 25, 2023.

Joe Pavelski (2006-2019): Drafted in the late seventh round of the 2003 NHL Draft (205^th overall), Joe Pavelski spent 13 seasons (963 GP) with San Jose and captained the team from 2015-19. He helped San Jose earn their first Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after defeating the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 Western Conference Finals at home. Nicknamed “Captain America”, he leads the league for most playoff goals by an American-born skater with 74 markers. Additionally, among American-born skaters in Sharks history, he leads the franchise in games played (963) and across all scoring categories (points, 761; goals, 355; assists, 406). Pavelski was named an All-Star four times (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022).

Joe Thornton (2005-2020): Before Marleau went second overall in the 1997 NHL Draft, the skater that went first overall was no other than St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada native Joe Thornton. After Thornton was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Bruins on Nov. 30, 2005, he won the Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophy, becoming the only skater in league history to win the Hart Trophy while playing for two different teams in the same season. He holds the record for the most assists as a Shark (804) and ranks fifth all-time in the league among forwards with 1,109 helpers, splitting his career with Boston, San Jose, Toronto, and Florida. Thornton ranks second in points (1,055) among Teal skaters, behind only Marleau, and was a four-time NHL season All-Star selection as well as a six-time All-Star Game participant. Thornton and Marleau are the only skaters in franchise history to reach the 1,000-point mark and ‘Jumbo’ became the second player in franchise history to have his number retired on Nov. 23, 2024.

First Team Defensemen (in alphabetical order)

Brent Burns (2011-2022): Barrie, Ontario native Brent Burns was acquired from the Minnesota Wild, along with a second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, in exchange for Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, and San Jose’s first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft on June 24, 2011. The versatile defenseman clicked for 60 or more points in five consecutive seasons from 2014-19. He leads all Sharks blueliners across all scoring categories who have dawned the Teal uniform with 594 points, 172 goals, and 422 assists. Burns won the James Norris Memorial Trophy during his 2016-17 season, becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to do so. During his accolade campaign, he led NHL defensemen, in points (76) and goals (29). He was chosen as a First All-Star Team member in 2017 and 2019 and earned a Second Team nod in 2016.

Marc-Édouard Vlasic (2006-Current): Now in his 19^th season with San Jose, defenseman Marc-Édouard Vlasic has been the reliable blueliner. Vlasic has touched the ice more than any blueliner for the Sharks, recently eclipsing the 1,300 games played mark, and sits behind only Marleau (1,607 GP) for the most games played in a Sharks uniform. He was drafted by San Jose 35^th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft. Vlasic was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after posting three goals and 23 assists in his rookie season (81 GP). Throughout his career with San Jose, Vlasic has logged twenty-plus point seasons nine times, including twenty-plus assist campaigns in four consecutive seasons from 2015-19. He skated in his 1,000^th game on Dec. 14, 2019, becoming the 17^th skater in NHL history to skate in his first 1,000 games with one team. Has reached the playoffs twelve times out of his 19 seasons with San Jose and moved into the top 20 in the NHL’s all-time games played list for defensemen with his 1,302^nd contest, Jan. 25, 2025.

First Team Goaltender

Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2004, 2005-2010): Russian-born goaltender Evgeni Nabokov was a reliable everyday netminder between the pipes for many seasons for the San Jose Sharks. Drafted in the ninth round (219^th overall) in the 1994 Entry Draft, Nabokov broke into the league in 1999 after spending two seasons with the Kentucky Thoroughblades from 1997-99. Nabokov leads San Jose netminders in games played (563), games started (553), wins (293), time on ice (32490:44), and shutouts (50). Nabokov won the Calder Memorial Trophy after appearing in 66 games and logged a record of 32 wins and 21 losses during his rookie campaign (2000-01), the lone Calder Trophy winner thus far in club history. On Mar. 10, 2002, at Vancouver, Nabokov became the first and only netminder in Sharks franchise history to record a goal in a contest, an empty net goal on the power play. To this date, only 16 netminders have logged a goal in the history of the NHL. In his career as a Shark, he posted a .900 save percentage or better in nine of his 10 seasons and in 12 of his 14 seasons in the league (San Jose, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning).

Second Team Forwards (in alphabetical order)

Logan Couture (2009-Current): Logan Couture is the 12^th team captain in franchise history and is currently in his sixth season as captain with the team, being the longest-tenured captain in the history of the Sharks. Couture was drafted by San Jose ninth overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut on Oct. 25, 2009, at Philadelphia Flyers. Throughout his career (16 seasons), he ranks third in goals (323), fourth in points (701), fifth in assists (378) and games played (933) in the franchise record book. During his first full season, he was a Calder Trophy runner-up after logging 32 goals and 56 points, good for second among rookies in both categories. His 32 goals during his rookie season are the most in franchise history by a rookie. He logged a career-best 70-point campaign in 2018-19, including leading the playoffs in goals (14) and ranking third in points (20) that same season. Couture has reached the playoffs with the Sharks in nine of his 16 seasons with the club. Couture ranks second in Sharks postseason history in assists (53), tied for second in goals (48), third in points (101), and fifth in games played (116). Couture was selected for the NHL All-Star Game in 2012 and 2020 (unable to play due to an injury).

Tomáš Hertl (2013-2024): Drafted by the San Jose Sharks 17^th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 11 seasons with San Jose from 2013-24. Hertl made his NHL debut at the age of 19 on Oct. 3, 2013, and never looked back. Hertl became the first teenager for the Sharks to skate in a season opener at the time of his debut since defenseman Marc-Édouard Vlasic in 2006. He ranks fourth on San Jose’s all-time list in even-strength goals (162), overtime goals (7), and fifth in goals (218). He logged six 40-point seasons with San Jose, including skating in all 82 games during his 2021-22 campaign where he hit the 30-goal mark for the second time in his NHL career. Hertl appeared in 62 playoff games for San Jose, ranking fifth all-time with the Sharks in goals (24) and eighth in points (42) in playoff games. He helped force a game seven with a shorthanded goal in double overtime in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Apr. 21, 2019.

Owen Nolan (1995-2003): Forward Owen Nolan skated in 1,200 NHL games, where he played in 568 games in Teal across eight seasons. He was San Jose’s team captain for five seasons from 1998-03 and was team alternate captain from 1996-98. Drafted by the Québec Nordiques first-overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Nolan made his way to San Jose on Oct. 26, 1995, via trade by the Nordiques (Colorado Avalanche) in exchange for defenseman Sandis Ozoliņšh. He logged his best points total of his career as a Shark, tallying 84 points (44 goals, 40 assists) during his 1999-00 campaign and helped San Jose reach the playoffs in five consecutive campaigns from 1997-02.

Second Team Defensemen (in alphabetical order)

Dan Boyle (2008-2014): Canadian native Dan Boyle is one of two players on San Jose’s Quarter Century list to go undrafted. After signing as a free agent by the Florida Panthers (March 30, 1998) and skating in four seasons with the Panthers (1998-01) and six seasons with Tampa Bay (2002-08), Boyle was traded by the Lightning to San Jose prior to his 10^th of 17 NHL seasons. He skated in 431 of 1,093 total games in Teal. He was an alternate captain for his six seasons with the Sharks and helped his club reach the playoffs in each season he played for San Jose. Among undrafted skaters who have worn Teal, Boyle ranks first in goals (68), assists (201), points (269), power-play goals (32), power-play points (136), overtime goals (3), game-winning goals (12), and shots on goals (1,095).

Erik Karlsson (2018-2023): Drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the first round, 15^th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft. Karlsson spent nine seasons (2009-18) before being acquired by San Jose in a blockbuster deal. Karlsson spent five seasons with San Jose (2018-23), highlighted by a historic 101-point effort in his final season in 2022-23 in which he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the third time in his career. He set career highs that season in all scoring categories with 101 points, 25 goals, and 76 assists, setting the franchise record for most points in a season by a defenseman and ranked tied for 13^th by a blueliner in NHL history. He became the sixth NHL defenseman to reach the 100-point mark, joining Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, Al MacInnis and Brian Leetch. Karlsson logged a two-goal game at Winnipeg (Apr. 10) to eclipse the 100-point mark. and logged 40-point seasons in three campaigns. The Swedish blueliner helped San Jose reach the Western Conference finals in 2019, tallying 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists) in 19 postseason games.

Second Team Goaltender

Martin Jones (2015-2021): Netminder Martin Jones is the second undrafted player to make San Jose’s Quarter Century list. Jones initially entered the league as a free agent before joining the Sharks via trade in 2015. He spent the majority of his career wearing Teal for six seasons (2015-21). He logged a minimum .912 save percentage in three consecutive seasons as a Shark from 2015-18. During his first season with San Jose, he appeared in 65 regular season games and logged the second-most shutouts (6) in the league that season. Since making his debut in Teal on Oct. 7, 2015, at Los Angeles Kings, he leads all Sharks netminders in games started (326), wins (170), goals against average (2.66), and shutouts (18) with a minimum 50 appearances. Jones represented San Jose in his first and only appearance at the 2017 All-Star Game, along with teammates Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns, and Head Coach Peter DeBoer.

After the reveal from each respective club, fans will be allowed to cast their vote from Feb. 12-26 to determine the top 25 players over the past 25 years. The reveal date of the top 25 players is still to be determined by the league.