Top Ten Greatest San Jose Sharks: Part 3 of 4

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Top Ten Greatest San Jose Sharks: Part 3 of 4

Numbers 2 through 4

As expected, a San Jose Shark will often make an impact off-the-ice as well as on-the-ice. Players participate in community events and charity functions, but this is not the off-ice impact that I am speaking of...I am referring to the impact a player has on an organization and its fans because of their on-ice play. In some cases, one single player can change the future of an entire franchise and when something like this occurs, it only makes sense for me to put them in my top four best San Jose Sharks of all time.

Number 4: Arturs Irbe
This Latvian goalie spent five seasons with the San Jose Sharks, posting eight shutouts in 203 games. Irbe's numbers were average and he definitely was not the best goaltender the Sharks have ever seen. However, he is in my top four because of what he brought to the young expansion team: a playoff berth. In the '93 - '94 season, Arturs played 4,412 minutes making 1,855 saves and winning 30 regular season games. Granted, Irbe had the help of the "Ov Line", but his stellar ("Like Wall") performances put the Sharks in the 8th and final playoff spot at the end of the regular season. The team went on to lose in the second round, but this kick-started the growth of hockey in San Jose. Prior to this season, hockey was only followed by fanatics. However, after a little taste of the playoffs, San Jose grew to love their boys in teal and Bay Area hockey exploded. In the past, you were lucky if half the season was televised; nowadays, it is shocking when one single game doesn't make it onto the air.

Number 3: Joe Thornton
Much has been said about great players and their ability to improve the play of their teammates; Thornton did well to keep this belief alive. Granted, Jumbo Joe has only been with the San Jose Sharks for two seasons, but his impact on the organization has been tremendous. Not only did he pull the team out from the gutter in late 2005, but he also rallied the team right into the playoffs earning him both the Hart Trophy (League MVP) and the Art Ross Trophy (League's highest point total). Since the day Joe arrived, Cheechoo has become one of the most dangerous snipers in the league. In addition, the Sharks' power play has been at the very top of the NHL for most of this season thanks in large part to Thornton's play-making ability. His leadership should be recognized as well; on some nights, the big centerman will change the momentum of a game by simply throwing his weight around or by controlling the puck for extended periods of time. Simply put, Joe's presence on the team places the Sharks in the elite category of the NHL.

Number 2: Patrick Marleau
The San Jose Sharks captain has literally grown with the franchise; at the young age of 18, Marleau started his NHL career ten years ago and has put up some solid numbers while never playing a game in the minors. To date, Patrick has posted 219 goals and 269 assists for a total of 488 points in 712 games. By the end of this year, Patrick will have made the playoffs eight times in his nine NHL seasons. Not afraid of the post-season pressure, Marleau has shown that he can perform by racking up 28 goals, 17 assists, and 45 points in 62 games played. His speed and skill with the puck is what sets him apart from other NHLers; however, his durability is something that should be applauded. If Marleau continues to stay healthy, he will hit his 1,000th regular season game by the age of 31. I personally hope that Patrick fulfills that rare scenario where a player spends his entire career playing for one squad. If this were to happen, I guarantee we will have our first retired number the very next year.

To be continued...next up, number 1.

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