Mr. Shark: Patrick Marleau

I'm not sure there is a more important figure in San Jose Sharks' history than Patrick Marleau. He was the Shark's first true "star" player. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Marleau still stands as the highest Sharks draft pick, at 2nd overall back in 1997. He played 19 straight seasons for the Sharks, in which he served as the Team Captain for 5 of them. He would eventually suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs for just a few years, and even briefly, the Pittsburgh Penguins just for a cup of coffee. Even still, Marleau returned home to San Jose not once, but twice, in order to finish his career as a San Jose Shark.

A natural goal scorer may be an understatement when it comes to Patty. He has scored 20 or more goals 15 times, 30+ goals 7 times, and even his career-high 44 goals once in 2010.

Marleau was rewarded with an NHL golden stick following his 566 career goals. Along with that, he finished just 3 points shy of the 1,200th-point mark.

Games? he holds the record. No, not just as a Shark.

Patrick Marleau became the NHL's games played leader, appearing in an enormous 1,779 regular season NHL games. Most in the history of the league...

Patrick Marleau is no stranger to international play either, winning gold with Canada in the 2003 World Championships, and even a World Cup in 2004. To go along with that, Patrick Marleau has won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014.

Marleau, along with Jumbo Joe, has unfortunately never lifted the Stanley Cup. But when you remain loyal to one team for as long as Mr. Shark, it's no easy task to accomplish.

Marleau's #12 was the first San Jose Sharks number to be retired and raised to the top of the Shark Tank. he remains with the organization as a player development coach and is seen working with players on a regular basis. It's pretty much safe to say there is no getting rid of Patrick Marleau. 

Marleau is the epitome of a San Jose Sharks hockey player.

Make sure to visit again soon, for a deep dive into the Shark Tank.

Career Review: "Jumbo" Joe Thornton

Is Joe Thornton the greatest Shark of all time?

Perhaps. I would say so, but there are some people out there who can put together a solid case for Parick Marleau.

Joe Thornton hasn't played hockey in over a year now. He wasn't signed to an NHL team last season after spending the 2021-2022 season with the Florida Panthers. He is yet to announce his retirement from the game of hockey which leads us to the question, "When can we look back on the great career of Jumbo Joe?"

How about, now?

Joe Thornton was drafted by the Boston Bruins as the 1st overall selection in the 1997 NHL entry draft. In his rookie season, he posted seven whole points. Not bad for a rookie. 

Just kidding. Really bad.

Luckily, Thornton's following seasons would continuously get better and better. He would eventually rock the captain's 'C' for the iconic Original Six franchise. It wasn't until the 2005-2006 season that things would rapidly change for Joe. He was traded to the San Jose Sharks and finished the season winning league MVP and the Ted Lindsay award for leading the NHL in points. 

How often does the league MVP get traded mid-season? Yep, That's what I thought.

Jumbo Joe followed that season up with an enormous 92 assist and 114 point season in his first full season with San Jose where his game rounded perfectly alongside Patrick Marleau's. The two would mold a perfect dynamic duo over the next decade, including leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.

Joe Thornton would eventually captain his second NHL team where he wore the C for the Sharks for several seasons before eventually downgrading to an assistant captain once Joe Pavelski arrived.

Thornton posted 1,714 games (2nd most in history), 430 goals, 1109 assists, and an enormous 1,539 NHL points. 

He sits 12th all-time in points and is considered the greatest playmaker of his generation. He is part of the triple-gold club, winning gold at the World Junior Championships (1997), World Cup of Hockey (2004, 2016), and even Olympic gold (2010). 

The only trophy the great Jumbo Joe lacks? The biggest of them all. Lord Stanley's Cup. 

Even still, There's no denying Joe Thornton is one of the all-time greats. However, the lack of a Stanley Cup ring is the one piece he's missing from having the absolute perfect hockey career. 

4.75/5 stars

Sharks Won't Grow, Unless David Quinn Does First

During his time with the New York Rangers, David Quinn was highly criticized for his lack of utilizing young talent. Talent such as former 2nd overall pick, Kappo Kakko. Talent that no longer plays in the NHL anymore, like former 9th overall pick, Vitali Kravstov. 

David Quinn has a history of benching young players after mistakes that NHL vets seem to get away with under his coaching style. Quinn definitely appreciates the more old-school vibe. He prefers a more pucks-on-net play style rather than pretty puck possession. That played into a role of never giving young players on the Rangers an opportunity. Kappo Kakko rarely saw Power Play time under Quinn's tenure. And Kravstov barely even sniffed the NHL while Quinn was the head of the table. Which is why Kravstov called it quits and headed for the KHL.

Sharks fans were skeptical once Quinn was hired for the Sharks head coaching position. I was included in that mix. We still don't really know what that means for top prospects entering this season like William Eklund, Thomas Bordeleau, and Henry Thrun. Or even top prospects down the line like Quentin Musty and Will Smith.... How ya doin'? 

To be fair, however, when many of these players were drafted, the AHL, or even other leagues, were still best for their development. 

Anyway, David Quinn needs to prove he has changed his old ways if the Sharks want to wrap up this rebuild. 

Moves in acquiring players like Mike Hoffmann and Mikael Granlund, to me, were pretty pointless. All that did was eat up roster spots for guys whom Sharks fans want to see grow into what the Sharks front office is expecting them to grow into.

How are they supposed to grow into specific roles if we never really give them a chance?

We don't want to see our high-end prospects waiting until they are 24 years old to start getting opportunities. They deserve them now, and it's up to David Quinn to realize that.

I think David Quinn and Mike Grier have a lot of questions to answer regarding decisions that impact their next batch of star players.

Start playing the young guns. Because after all, they are the future of the organization.

Sharks Contributor Offers Insight on Team's Future

I had the pleasure of speaking online with a Sharks content contributor at San Jose Hockey Now and the host of the Locked on Sharks podcast network, J.D. Young. 

I have been a follower of J.D. for quite some time now, following him on both Twitter and YouTube for several years. I was fortunate enough to ask him a few questions because, well, I need answers. And someone who has contributed to this passion for as long as J.D. has, there was no better person to go to.

J.D.'s responses may, or may not have, contributed to a hole in my wall.

1. Could you share the story of how your Sharks fandom came to be? 

I actually grew up a Flyers fan because of my mom. Eric Lindros was my favorite player growing up. We moved to the Bay Area when I was in high school and finally got to attend a hockey game. I was hooked. This was right around the lockout, and when I saw Marleau and Thornton play together, I became a fan.

2. Looking ahead, when do you foresee the Sharks not only making the playoffs but also being strong contenders for the Stanley Cup? Additionally, which current players do you believe will still be with the team during that period? 

The timeline to become a fun, frisky team that just misses the playoffs is probably three seasons, the 2025-26 season. Will Smith, William Eklund, plus the 2020 draft class will all be established by then. To be legitimate contenders, the 2027-28 season is realistically when they should be completely out of their rebuild and contending again. As for players who are on the roster (established NHLers), Ferraro and Hertl are the ones to go with. While Hertl could be a trade candidate at some point, he would be an awesome third-line center and be well-rewarded for having to help bring the team back from the basement. 

3. There’s been speculation about Logan Couture’s future. In your opinion, do you see him potentially being traded, or finishing his career with the Sharks? 

While I don't think Couture will be traded anytime soon, he does go before his contract finishes. With four years left on his deal, the Sharks could be exiting the rebuild by then, but won't be ready to compete for a championship. This feels like a Brent Burns situation where Couture is sent to a contender to try and win a Cup before he retires as a Shark. But it's closer to the end of his contract than now. With the salary cap finally going up, it should be easier to move him in a few seasons if he can maintain his level of play.

4. William Eklund has generated a lot of excitement for Sharks fans. Do you believe he has the potential to be a great player for the Sharks in the long term, or have you grown skeptical?

I think Eklund will be a special player for the Sharks for a long time. Grier purposely kept him in the AHL last year, and Eklund will be better for it in the long run as he continues to round out his game. We've seen flashes of Eklund doing special things, and he is just scratching the surface of what type of player he can be. 

I think we'll all be looking forward to seeing how these questions continue to play out.

Logan Couture Should Have Won 2016 Conn Smythe Trophy

People are going to think I'm crazy for saying this, but I don't care. At all.

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the best player of his team during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The description doesn't include anything about the trophy being awarded to a player on the winning team. Not only that, but in the NBA, that similar award goes to the best player strictly in the finals. Unlike the Conn Smythe that takes into account all of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Players on losing teams who still won the Conn Smythe trophy: Glen Hall (1968), Reggie Leach (1976), Ron Hextal (1987), Roger Crozier, (1996), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003)

See, players have indeed won the Conn Smythe trophy even if their teams weren't victorious in the end. And Logan Couture should have been on this list for his 2016 performance. 

I'm a Sidney Crosby fan, 100%. But here's my issue with Sid the Kid winning the trophy over Logan Couture. For starters, he only won because he's "Sidney Crosby" and Evgeni Malkin won the award in 2009. The NHL needed Crosby to win it. He didn't even lead his own team in points. Phil Kessel, who played 24 games during the 2016 playoffs registered 10 goals and 22 points. kessel was also a plus-five. As for Sid? Well, he played the same amount of games and scored only 6 goals and 19 points. On top of that Crosby was a minus-two.

Nobody else sees a problem here?

Let's get to Logan.

Logan Couture was the star of the show. Couture also played 24 games, but he was able to hit the double-digit goal mark with 10, unlike somebody, while also leading the playoffs in assists with 20. 

Couture put up 30 points, in 24 games, and was a plus-five. 

He had more assists in the playoffs than Crosby had points for crying out loud. 

My thing is this, rewrite the description of what the Conn Smythe Trophy is about. Rewrite it to state that it must be awarded to a player on the winning team or to a player based on their Stanley Cup Finals performance.

There is absolutely no logical explanation for Logan Couture not being named the best player in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He deserved that trophy, and it isn't even close. Shame on the NHL. 

In my eyes, Logan Couture is a Conn Smythe Winner.

Pick One: Start Your "New Era" Sharks Jersey Collection

An important question for a jersey collector like myself is, "Where do I start?"

Usually, you would want to start with one of your favorite players. Someone you can represent proudly when attending, in this case, Sharks games with. My first Sharks jersey was none other than #39, Logan Couture.

But it's 2023. There's a new core of players on the rise for the San Jose Sharks. For younger fans wondering which players should kickstart their new era of Sharks jersey collections, don't worry, I am here to help. Here are six options you can start your jersey collection with to represent the next core of Sharks players.

6. Quentin Musty - Musty was the Sharks' second, first-round pick in 2023. He was drafted 26 overall and could probably make an attempt to join the Sharks now. However, Musty is returning to his Junior hockey team for the upcoming season where he plays forward for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Last season with Sudbury, he recorded 78 points in just 53 games. He is going to be looking to make the San Jose Sharks main roster out of camp around this time, next year.  You can't go wrong with a Quentin Musty jersey to start of your collection with. 

5. Henry Thrun - Thrun has been an absolute monster during his first NHL training camp experience. An older prospect as a result of coming from the NCAA. Thrun captained Harvard University last season where he totaled 31 points in 33 games as a defenseman. Thrun is an exciting prospect looking to help rebuild not only the Sharks roster but more specifically the Sharks blue line as well. Any young defenseman out there are going to love modeling their games after Henry Thrun.

4. Shakir Mukhamadullin - Shakir joined the Sharks pipeline through the trade that sent Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils. A 6'4 defenseman who is able to produce offensively is a dream come true for any team. He last played for Salavat Yulaev of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The KHL is the second-best professional ice hockey league behind the NHL. He posted 25 points in 67 games as a 20-year-old. Once he came to North America he played 12 games in the AHL for the Barracuda and notched 10 points. He is going to be a special defenseman for a long time in teal.

3. Thomas Bordeleau - Bords is no stranger to Sharks fans. He has only played a handful of games across two seasons. He spent last season in the AHL where he represented the Barracuda at the AHL all-star game. He was dominant on the Cuda's power play and is looking to earn a full-time NHL roster spot. He is a former second-round pick who was part of a spectacular Michigan Wolverines team. He is active on the Sharks' social media where fans see almost too much of him. I fully expect Thomas Bordeleau to become the next Logan Couture and develop into a really good, reliable centerman. A Bordeleau jersey to get your collection started is a highly popular route.

2. William Eklund - Eklund is considered a top 3 talent from his 2021 draft class where he unexpectedly fell to the Sharks at 7th. He last played for the Barracuda along with Bordeleau where he nearly posted 50 points, even after a slow start to the season. Eklund has been Sharks fans' pride and joy for the past few years now. We are aware of the potential and are hoping he turns into the next big superstar that the NHL expects him to be. He is hopefully going to be a Shark for the next 15 years and be an integral part of this team in bringing the Sharks their first Stanley Cup Championship. Eklund is a perfect option to start almost any jersey collection with.

1. Will Smith - The second Will Smith to enter the state of California! Will Smith is the highest Sharks draft pick since Patrick Marleau. And look how that turned out... Smith was drafted to the Sharks 4th overall in 2023. He scored an unimaginable 127 points in only 60 games with the U.S. National Team. One more time, 127 points, in 60 games. Will Smith decided that wasn't good enough, so he followed that up with 20 points in 7 games during the World Championships. He is going to be the face of the San Jose Sharks for the entirety of his career. Unfortunately, he is committed to Boston College for the 2023-2024 season, but hopefully, we will see him at the end of the year. Smith has to be the best choice for a young Sharks fan to start their jersey collection of the new era of Sharks hockey.

I got a William Eklund jersey when he was drafted. But if I had to choose from scratch right now, 

Will Smith 100%.

Thrun Thrives in Sharks Training Camp

Henry Thrun wasted no time getting involved in the famous "beef" that has been built up between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights.

I used the word "beef" because I didn't want to use "rivalry." We just hate them because they're better than us. 

This article (https://thehockeywriters.com/3-takeaways-san-jose-sharks-preseason-opener/) from The Hockey Writers touches on Henry Thrun's performance (and other notes) during the Shark's first preseason game and how he is ready for the big leagues. I highly suggest taking a read because this touches base with something I have already stated before and I feel as if this is not going to be talked about nearly enough as we head into October.

Anyways, the Sharks began their preseason this past Sunday where they were victorious over the Knights, winning the game 5-2.  The Sharks' front office should be ecstatic with the performance of the former Harvard University Captain. He scored a pair of goals and added a nice tasty apple to the score sheet, too. 

Why should the front office be ecstatic? 

Because this is (hopefully) Erik Karlsson's replacement...

I said in a previous blog (https://mytealtakeaways.blogspot.com/2023/09/bright-spots-of-2023-2024-san-jose.html) that Henry Thrun looked like an NHL veteran when he made his NHL debut at the end of last season, once he turned pro and concluded his NCAA career. His poise was excellent and he carried himself tremendously in his first handful of NHL action. Thankfully I am not the only one who thinks Thrun in the AHL would be a complete waste of time. He has been NHL-ready. Not even that, Henry Thrun is ready to take over Erik Karlsson's spot on the Shark's top power-play unit. 

According to the Sharks' coaching staff, Thrun has had an unbelievable first NHL training camp and has really made an enormous impression on the front office, that I genuinely don't think they were expecting. I really hope Thrun makes this team out of camp because he absolutely deserves to be on this roster heading into opening night. He is going to be a special player for this organization for years to come.