Top Ten Greatest San Jose Sharks: Part 1 of 4

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Top Ten Greatest San Jose Sharks: Part 1 of 4

Numbers 8 through 10

Over the years, San Jose Sharks history has been filled with both ups and downs. However, no matter how bad things were, Sharks fans have consistently remained loyal to their players in teal. The San Jose Sharks are a relatively young franchise (established 1991), but I don't think it is too early to create a Top Ten Greatest San Jose Sharks list. In fact, I found it rather tough to pick my top ten.

I went through all the past teams and pulled the players deserving consideration. Much to my surprise, I ended up with a list of about 30 players. Some of which were based strictly on statistics, while others held more sentimental value. At any rate, I was able to whittle my list down to a few personal favorites. Agree with them or not, here are numbers eight through ten.

Number 10: Marcus Ragnarsson
Eight of his nine NHL seasons were spent with the San Jose Sharks where he posted many rookie defensemen records. Though his highest point total was in his rookie year (8 goals, 31 assist, 39 points), it was his skill in the Sharks' zone that earned him honors. For many years, Rags was our most defensive defensemen. Night after night, he faced the opposing team's top forwards, often limiting their scoring chances and giving the Sharks a chance to win.

Number 9: Mike Ricci
There are still a lot of Ricci sweaters at the Tank and who can blame these fans. Number 18 spent some of his best years in the NHL wearing a Sharks jersey. In seven years with San Jose, the gritty winger posted solid numbers beside linemate Scott Thornton. Often centering the third line, Ricci proved his worth on both sides of the puck. Equally important to his ability on the ice was the leadership, experience, and heart that he brought to the team. Every night, the centerman would put his body on the line to make the play, often paying the price with pain.

Number 8: Jeff Friesen
If there ever was a player whom I thought would play his entire career with the San Jose Sharks, I thought it would have been Friesen. I bet that if he had his choice, he would have wanted to stay in teal his entire career. Fortunately for him, that was not the case and it led to him winning a Stanley Cup with the Devils. At any rate, the speedy Friesen spent seven years with San Jose. His well-rounded game kept him on the ice in almost any situation. To date, his best offensive season in the NHL was 1997 - 1998, where he posted 31 goals and 32 assists for a total of 63 points. Jeff suffered through the rough years in Sharks history, but kept his work ethic in tact. Playing hard on a nightly basis, Friesen made a name for himself in the NHL by helping to bring Team Teal back to the playoffs from 1997 - 2000.

To be continued...next up, numbers five through seven.

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