There have been some great players to play in San Jose. Let’s continue our series by looking at the best Sharks to wear jersey numbers 31-40. Once again, this list only looks at these players’ time with the Sharks. There will be repeats as some players have worn more than one number. Let’s dive into the list.
Greatest Sharks By the Jersey Numbers 31-40
#31 – Antti Niemi
Niemi came to the Sharks as a free agent in September 2010. He was coming off of a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks and looked to continue his success. He did exactly that by posting a .920 save percentage (SV%) and getting votes for the Vezina trophy in his first year. Niemi played four more consistent seasons in San Jose, highlighted by his stellar 2012-13 campaign. He played in 43 of the team’s 48 games and posted a .924 SV% and 2.16 goals against average (GAA), both the highest of his career. He also was third in Vezina voting and top-10 in Hart trophy voting. Niemi was traded to the Dallas Stars following the 2014-15 season.
#32 – Stéphane Matteau
Matteau played 345 games with the Sharks, spanning from 1997-98 to 2001-02. His first year was his most prolific, as he had 15 goals in 73 games. As his time in San Jose went on, his ice time and production diminished. However, he made the playoffs each year and was a key veteran presence on each team. Matteau joined the Florida Panthers for his final NHL season.
#33 – Dale Craigwell
Craigwell only played three seasons and 98 games in the NHL, all with the Sharks. He was called up to San Jose in 1991-92 and played in the team’s final 32 games. He had five goals and 16 points, showing good offensive upside. This would be his best stretch in the NHL, however, as he would only play in eight games the following year. He got one more shot with the Sharks in 1993-94 before making his way to the IHL.
#34 – Mikka Kiprusoff
This next Sharks jersey number is an intriguing case. Kiprusoff started his career in San Jose as the backup to Evgeni Nabokov. He only saw the ice in five games in 2000-01 before taking a full-time backup role the following year. He played in 20 games and posted a .915 SV%, good enough for a top-ten finish in Calder voting. His final campaign with the Sharks was a bit more difficult, as his SV% dipped to .879 and his GAA ballooned to 3.25. Kiprusoff was shipped off to the Calgary Flames for a second-round pick. That pick turned out to be Marc-Eduoard Vlasic.
#35 – Vesa Toskala
Who doesn’t love goalies? That’s where this next Sharks jersey number takes us. Following the departure of Kiprusoff, Toskala took over the backup role. He played well by never having his SV% dip below .900. In his final years, 2005-06 and 2006-07, Toskala took on a bigger role by playing in 37 and 38 games respectively. In 2006-07, he ended up with a .908 SV% and four shutouts. This effort got Toskala the starting job with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was traded there for a package of three draft picks.
#36 – Jeff Odgers
Odgers began his 821-game career with the Sharks. He played 334 in Teal and finished with over 1,000 penalty minutes. He never finished a season with under 100, even in the lockout-shortened 1994-95. Despite spending a lot of time in the penalty box, Odgers had three seasons with ten or more goals. He was a member of the playoff teams in 1993-94 and 1994-95 and played in 11 games during both. Odgers was shipped off to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Al Iafrate.
#37 – Rob Gaudreau
Gaudreau played for the Sharks in 1992-93 and 1993-94 after being selected in the expansion draft. In his rookie year, he scored 23 goals and 43 points in just 59 games. In the following campaign, Gaudreau’s goal-scoring dipped to 15 goals, but he held at 20 assists to finish with 35 points. He got time on the power play in both years, seemingly cementing himself as a solid point producer. However, the Ottawa Senators would claim Gaudreau in the 1995 Waiver Draft, bringing his time in the Bay to a close.
#38 – Mario Ferraro
This Sharks jersey number is a current player on the roster. Ferraro has established himself as a solid defenceman in his five years with the Sharks. He has finished with double-digit point totals each year. He also logs heavy minutes, averaging over 22 minutes per game since his rookie campaign. Ferraro also plays a solid defensive game by blocking a lot of shots and throwing the body. This was evident last year, as Ferraro was eighth in the league with 195 blocks. With San Jose in the midst of a rebuild, Ferraro figures to be a key piece on the back end.
#39 – Logan Couture
The next Sharks jersey number is a legend for the franchise. Another all-time great Shark, Couture has played all 933 career games in Teal and collected 701 points. However, this number could be a lot higher if Couture had better injury luck. He has five seasons with under 60 games played, including just five games played in 2023-24. Despite these setbacks, Couture is a staple of San Jose’s forward group. He was a key member of the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Final team and the 2010-11 and 2018-19 Western Conference Final teams. Couture has had nine seasons of 50 or more points, with his highest point season, 70, in 2019. Couture will be back in 2024-25 and will hopefully finish his career in San Jose.
#40 – Mike Rathje
The first repeat on this list, Rathje wore number 40 from 1993 to 2001. He logged heavy, consistent minutes on numerous playoff teams. His highest point season during this stretch was 16 in 1999-00. After his time in San Jose, he signed a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers in free agency.
Didn’t Make the Cut
There were definitely a few names that could have made the list. Although Jeff Friesen (39) had a few great seasons for the Sharks, it was going to be tough to supplant Couture. Other names that came close were Alex Stalock (32), Adin Hill (33) and Ryan Carpenter (40). This series was inspired by the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. You can check out the 31-40 lists for each team. We will continue this series with numbers 41-50.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
