Hockey, and sports in general, can be broken down into unforgettable moments. Some moments chart the course of a franchise, if not an entire league. These moments can define a team’s destiny for years to come, or be forgotten in the wind. Last Word On Hockey’s Summer Series looks at these defining moments this time around, and looks at those that defy destiny. Today we travel to the Canadian National capital and feature the biggest defining moment of the San Jose Sharks.
The Top San Jose Sharks Defining Moments
Hockey returned to the Bay Area in 1991 after the Oakland/California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland in 1976. The Sharks have yet to hoist the Stanley Cup, but they had a great run in the 2000s and 2010s. San Jose has had its fair share of great players and it looks like another generation of solid stars is developing.
There have been some upsets and some painful times. However, there have been plenty of interesting times that make up the San Jose Sharks defining moments. Let’s take a look at some of the top moments.
Trading For a Sharks Legend
San Jose had just come out of the Dean Lombardi era and hired Doug Wilson in May 2003 to turn around the team’s fortunes. Wilson helped the franchise quickly turn around its fortunes and they were seeded second in the Western Conference 2003-04. The Sharks reached the Western Final, but lost to the Calgary Flames.
The Run-Up
Hockey was put on hold due to the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season. The Sharks had gotten off to a slow start due to injuries. Wilson knew he had to inject some life into the lineup. San Jose packaged Brad Stuart, Wayne Primeau and Marco Sturm to the Boston Bruins for star player Joe Thornton.
This trade was made after the Sharks lost their 10th straight game. Alexander Korolyuk had also gone down to injury and Wilson had to conjure up something to save the season.
The Moment
Thornton came over and the Sharks turned things around and got the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. San Jose defeated the Nashville Predators in the first round. However, they were beaten by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.
Thornton was rewarded with the Hart Memorial Trophy for his efforts. This was not the only major individual award a Sharks player would get. (Jonathan Cheechoo was also named Calder Trophy winner that same season.) San Jose was well on its way to being a contender for a number of seasons. However, they could never seem to break through and reach the Final.
However, Thornton and Patrick Marleau kept the team among the top contenders for a number of seasons. San Jose would finally win the Clarence Campbell Bowl in 2015-16, but were beaten by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Aftermath
Time ran out for Thornton and the Sharks with his final season with the team ending in 2019-20 campaign. San Jose didn’t even make the post-season bubble brought about the COVID-19 pandemic,
Thornton would sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021 and then do another season with the Florida Panthers before retiring in 2022. He would have his number retired on November 23, 2024. Thornton would be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025 on the first ballot.
Other San Jose Sharks Defining Moments
The One That Got Away Against Their Rival
We’ve seen the Sharks have many disappointing post-season exits. However, the 2014 loss to the Los Angeles Kings will be one that sticks with them forever.
San Jose raced out to a 3-0 series lead against Los Angeles and it looked like the series was over when it won a 4-3 overtime game at the then Staples Center. The Sharks had scored 17 goals in the first three games. It looked San Jose was going to finally vanquish one of their old foes.
However, the Kings staved off eliminated three times. Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles defence helped lock down San Jose and force a winner-take-all Game 7 at the SAP Center.
Los Angeles rattled off five consecutive goals and killed off all six San Jose power plays in order to pull off the unthinkable reverse sweep. One thing stings even more is the Kings would beat the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup. Oh what might have been for the Sharks.
The First Big Upset
It wasn’t always doom-and-gloom for San Jose in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sharks had some great post-season success early in their franchise history.
San Jose had reached the playoffs for the first time in its franchise history. However, the Sharks were faced with the tall task of taking down the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings, who boasted a number of Hall of Fame players.
Despite this, San Jose hung in and got the series to a do-or-die Game 7. Ironically, it was Detroit that had to win Game 6 in blowout fashion to send the series back to the Joe Louis Arena.
The game was tied at two in the third period when Jamie Baker took advantage of a bad turnover by Chris Osgood. Baker’s goal would prove to be the game-winner and would mark one of hockey’s biggest upsets.
San Jose would force Toronto to a Game 7 in the second round. However, the Leafs would actually win a Game 7 at home to advance to the Western Final.
Honourable Mention for San Jose Sharks Defining Moments
We close out the list of San Jose Sharks defining moments with the 1995 upset of Calgary, finally winning the West, Marleau’s long run with the club. the 2011 edition of the Miracle on Manchester, that goal by Tomas Hertl, Owen Nolan‘s 90-foot slap shot in 2000 playoffs and the hiring of Mike Grier as GM are other key moments.
Main photo by: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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