After reviewing the best Sharks to wear jersey numbers 11-20, it’s time to take a look at the Sharks jersey number from 21-30. Just to remind you, these players are only evaluated on their time in San Jose, so the rest of their career is not considered. Now, it’s time to find out the best Sharks to wear numbers 21-30.
Greatest San Jose Sharks by Jersey Number: 21-30
#21 – Tony Granato
After suffering a serious head injury in 1996 as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, Granato heroically returned to action for the 1996-97 season at age 32. He netted 25 goals and showed flashes of the goal scorer that he was in his prime. Granato played four more seasons in San Jose and struggled to play in a majority of games due to his injury history. He retired following the 2000-01 season and began his coaching career. Granato finished with 99 points in 278 games for the Sharks and played a role in four playoff teams.
#22 – Dan Boyle
Sharks jersey number 22 is a legend. Boyle was one of the best offensive defenceman in the league when he played. The Sharks acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lightning in July 2008. Boyle had the strongest, most consistent years of his career in San Jose. He was a key factor in the back-to-back Western Conference Final teams of 2010 and 2011. He had 50 or more points in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, including over 40 assists in each. Boyle also averaged over 24 minutes per game across his career and finished top six in Norris trophy voting in his first two years in San Jose. Boyle’s singing rights were traded to the New York Islanders in June 2014 before he signed with the New York Rangers in July.
#23 – Barclay Goodrow
Goodrow’s tenure in San Jose is remembered by his overtime winner that capped off the miraculous game-seven comeback against Vegas. He was a good, depth forward who became a great bottom-six two-way forward. He threw the body, blocked shots and took the puck away. In February 2020, he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a first-round pick and won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Goodrow is set to rejoin the Sharks for the 2024-25 season after being claimed off waivers. He will provide a much-needed veteran presence for the young players.
#24 – Sergei Makarov
Makarov was a key member of the gold medal-winning Soviet Union team that dominated international hockey in the 1970s and 80s. In 1989, at age 31, he was allowed to play in the NHL and won the Calder trophy with the Calgary Flames. The Sharks made a draft night trade in 1993 with the Hartford Whalers. The deal saw San Jose acquire Makarov, a first, second and third-round pick in exchange for its first-rounder. In his first year with the Sharks, Makarov was the leading goal (30) and point scorer (68) and led them to the second round. He played one more year in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. He collected 10 goals and 24 points in 43 games.
#25 – Vincent Damphousse
This Sharks jersey number is one of the originals. Damphousse went to San Jose in a 1998-99 mid-season trade with the Montreal Canadiens. He spent the final five years of his career in Teal and finished with 289 points. He collected over 40 points in each season and scored 20 or more goals in three. Even this late in his career, Damphousse averaged over 19 minutes per game as a Shark. He played over 17 minutes a night in 2003-04, playing a key role in the Sharks’ first appearance in the Western Conference Final.
#26 – Steve Bernier
Bernier began his career with the Sharks in 2005-06. After impressing in the AHL, he played in 39 games and had 14 goals and 27 points. He only spent one more full year in San Jose, 2006-07, and had similar production. He ended with 31 points in 62 games, further establishing himself as a full-time NHLer. That opportunity would not come with the Sharks, as he was went off to Buffalo at the 2008 trade deadline.
#27 – Alexander Korolyuk
Korolyuk only spent six seasons in the NHL, each with the Sharks. He was a consistent producer, averaging just over 13 minutes per game and collecting 25 or more points in four of his six seasons. In his first full season, 1998-99, Korolyuk played in 55 games and had 30 points. He finished top ten in Calder trophy voting. After the 2003-04 season, Korolyuk went back to Russia, where he played out the rest of his career.
#28 – Timo Meier
Meier was drafted ninth overall in the 2015 NHL draft. He joined the Sharks for 31 games in 2016-17 and had just six points. After this, however, Meier would establish himself as a core piece of the Sharks and one of the NHL’s best power forwards. Also, he had two 30-goal seasons, including a 35-goal, 76-point campaign in 2021-22, which are both career-highs. Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils at the 2022-23 trade deadline. He was in the midst of a 40-goal year and was one of the league’s biggest trade targets.
#29 – Ryane Clowe
Clowe played 491 games in the NHL, with 423 coming as a member of the Sharks. His first full year, 2006-07, saw him have 34 points in 58 games on San Jose’s top line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. However, his 2007-08 campaign was cut short due to a knee injury, before returning in 2008-09. The most productive years of his career came between 2008-09 and 2011-12. Clowe scored 20 or more goals in two years, while having 45 or more points in each of these four years. His physical game and willingness to fight made him beloved by teammates and fans. Also, Clowe is back with the Sharks now, hired as an assistant general manager on July 3.
#30 – Aaron Dell
Dell was a solid backup goaltender from 2016-17 to 2019-20. He posted a save percentage (SV%) above .900 in all but one season. Martin Jones and Dell formed the Sharks’ goaltending tandem in each of Dell’s years. Dell signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020. He made his way back to San Jose for the 2022-23 campaign before spending last year in the AHL.
Didn’t Make the Cut
Mike Grier (25) was considered, however, Damphousse’s production in the later years of his career was all the more impressive. Bryan Marchment (27), Manny Malhotra, Joonas Donskoi (27) and Vesa Toskala (29) were also considered for their respective numbers. This series was inspired by the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. You can check out the #21-30 articles for both teams. We’ll continue this series with numbers 31-40.
Main Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
