After losing a first round series to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said/lamented:
“In the end, you’ve got to have big-time players up the middle and on the back to be successful. So those are questions in our organization that we work towards, drafting good and developing good, but we don’t win too much. That’s the facts.”
So, who on the Sharks current roster are the “big time” players? The ones that are easy to justify a Hockey Hall of Fame induction?
Joe Thornton, center. 2005-present. Every time he scores or assists, he’s climbing the list of all-time scorers in the HHOF. Gold Medal in Olympics. Art Ross trophy 2005. Hart Memorial trophy 2005. NHL All Star.
And near the top of the list:
Patrick Marleau, center. 1997-present. Holder of many franchise records. Gold medals in Olympics. NHL All Star.
Joe Pavelski, center. 2006-present. Silver medal in Olympics.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, defenseman. 2006-present. He’s the steady defensive defenseman who you don’t notice as he’s always in position. Gold medal in Olympics.
Brent Burns, defenseman. 2011-present. Unpredictable, unconventional. NHL All Star. Hybrid defenseman and sometime forward.
But other than that? Time will tell.
Sharks players that have made the Hall of Fame?
- Igor Larionov, center. Shark from 1993 to 1995. Inducted 2008
- Ed Belfour, goaltender. Shark in 1997. Inducted 2011.
- Rob Blake, defenseman. Shark from 2008 to 2010. Inducted 2014.
And Larry Robinson, (former) associate coach. Inducted in 1995 (as player).
Retired players that probably should be in HHOF?
- Mike Vernon, goaltender. Shark from 1997-2000
- Vincent Damphousse, center. Shark from 1998-2004
- Teemu Selanne, right wing. Shark from 2000-2003.
- Gary Suter, defenseman. Shark from 1998-2002.
- Doug Wilson, defenseman. Shark from 1991-1993. (Or might he get in as a builder/GM?)
- Owen Nolan, right wing. Shark from 1995-2003. Inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
- Arturs Irbe, goaltender. Shark from 1991-1996. Inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
I’d add Mike Ricci, but he is all heart, and that’s hard to quantify.
Who do you think of the Sharks current depth chart will make the Hall of Fame?