Each franchise has opposing gamers who’ve executed their crew soiled prior to now. I’m positive Philadelphia Flyers followers wouldn’t thoughts Wayne Gretzky taking a number of photographs from Rocky Balboa after he received two Stanley Cups towards them. Nonetheless, what in regards to the hated gamers from your personal crew?
I’m not fully optimistic the San Jose Sharks have featured, or do characteristic presently, a participant that’s simply universally hated and loathed within the teal and white. As with every passionate fan base (as San Jose actually is), there are going to be those that rubbed followers the incorrect method. I’ve singled out a number of, whereas possibly not seen by all followers because the hated enemies, gamers {that a} good portion of Northern California hockey followers would merely like to neglect.
The Disappointment That Was Ed Belfour
We have to give Dean Lombardi credit score for taking an opportunity on Ed Belfour. This was the primary transfer he made as solo GM together with his huge boy pants on. Sitting solely three factors out of the playoffs (regardless of being final within the Pacific Division), Lombardi traded for Belfour. We don’t must stress the historical past of Belfour, however in the event you want a refresher, he received two Vezina Trophies and was a three-time All-Star on the time of the deal. Lombardi rolled the cube with this acquisition. Belfour went 3-9, sporting a 3.41 goals-against common (GAA) and .884 save share (SV%). For sure, San Jose didn’t make the playoffs that season.
Whereas Belfour was completely dreadful for the Sharks, it was the next offseason that set the tone. As a fan, you clearly have the proper to be pissed off at a participant for underperforming to your crew (extra on that later). Nonetheless, in Belfour’s case, when that participant desires to clean his fingers of your franchise with no actual rationalization, that’s a distinct story. The Sharks needed Belfour to remain, a lot in actual fact the crew employed Darryl Sutter to try to appease Belfour and his agent Ron Salcer.
“He felt [hiring Sutter] was a particular dedication by the crew to instill the self-discipline and profitable angle that was lacking,” stated Ron Salcer, Belfour’s agent on the time. “He’s actual happy. I might anticipate that Eddie could be a San Jose Shark and we’re excited by making it a profession in San Jose.”
From (Coach Boosts Belfour Bid, San Francisco Gate ,06/11/97)
As most tales go involving brokers promising a shopper’s dedication, Salcer was stuffed with crap. The agent of the All-Professional goalie made Lombardi and the Sharks appear to be the courtroom jesters’ of the NHL. Belfour signed with Dallas for much less cash as a result of he noticed them as a stronger crew. Whereas phrases had been by no means disclosed, Belfour (on the time) was the highest-paid participant in Dallas Stars historical past with the contract.
Paradoxically sufficient, the Sharks confronted Belfour within the playoffs throughout his first season with Dallas; the Shark Tank was positive to let him have it (San Jose misplaced the sequence 4-2). Regardless of the entire drama from the Belfour yr, the Sharks had been in a position to get one factor proper after that disastrous Belfour experimental season. The crew’s unhealthy play with Belfour enabled them to take Patrick Marleau with the second general decide of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Thanks, Ed.
Raffi Torres Goes From Villain to Hero to Villain
The Raffi Torres legacy in San Jose is a fairly unusual one. The NHL has seen their fair proportion of heavy hitters through the years; Torres has been one of many extra infamous in current reminiscence. His story with San Jose ends the identical method it started: an inexpensive shot.
This unusual saga began throughout the 2006 Western Convention Semifinal. The favored Sharks had been up 2-0 on the Edmonton Oilers, and the anticipation in San Jose was at an all-time excessive. Going into Sport 3, followers smelled blood within the water. San Jose was virtually assured of heading to the Stanley Cup. That was till Torres modified the course of the sequence. Torres took out Sharks’ promising rookie, Milan Michalek. That hit modified the momentum of the sequence, as San Jose failed to seek out their footing after the incident. Because of this, the Edmonton Oilers superior to the 2006 Stanley Cup Last.
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Years later, with that incident seemingly within the rearview mirror, the Sharks traded a third-round decide within the 2013 NHL Entry Draft for Torres. The participant who ended the Sharks’ run on the Stanley Cup was now taking part in in teal. Followers, whereas completely having a proper to hate his guts, did find yourself embracing Torres. Nonetheless, the character of his sport ended his time with the Sharks and attraction to the fanbase.
Associated: Sharks Vlasic And Simek Might Be Lineup Scratches By Seasons’ Finish
Within the first occasion, throughout a 2013 second-round playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Kings, Torres took out Jarett Stoll. The NHL would droop him for the remainder of the sequence (which San Jose misplaced). The ultimate straw got here throughout a 2015 preseason sport towards the Anaheim Geese. Torres fired an unlawful verify to the top of Geese ahead Jakob Silfverberg. The hit resulted in a 41-game suspension for Torres, a call with which the Sharks themselves agreed. Torres by no means performed one other NHL sport after that incident.
It’s Okay to Be Resentful of Erik Karlsson
As talked about within the Belfour part of this text, followers have a proper to be upset when a participant underperforms. Erik Karlsson is just not a hated participant by any means (though I’d argue he’s disliked by an excellent majority). Karlsson, who’s presently on a contract price $92 million over eight years, was extraordinarily underwhelming throughout his Sharks tenure previous to the 2022-23 season. A former Norris Trophy winner, he had seasons with Ottawa of 82, 78, 74 and 71 factors. His season-high level complete for San Jose was a minuscule 45 factors previous to 2022-23.
Past the shortage of manufacturing from Karlsson, there may be nonetheless a small majority of followers who haven’t forgotten his incident with Marc Edouard Vlasic. Whereas the 2 seemingly made up, there was an apparent lack of respect between the 2 at one level of their careers. Followers love the vitality and fervour from Vlasic; he’s at all times been a fan favourite (the exact opposite finish of the spectrum that this record is portraying).
Nonetheless, Karlsson’s 2022-23 season threw a brand new wrinkle into his San Jose legacy. In a tough season for the crew general, he dominated, posting top-of-the-line offensive seasons for a defenseman in NHL historical past with 101 factors. He made the Sharks’ in any other case poor offense right into a authentic one each time he was on the ice. That is an unimaginable accomplishment for a single participant, not to mention a defenseman. On the identical time, he struggled on protection, and by no means supplied the defensive talents anticipated of a crew’s high blueliner. Regardless of this imbalance, and regardless of the Sharks posting simply 60 factors for the season, he received his third Norris Trophy on the finish of the season.
The Sharks’ rebuilding standing and Karlsson’s excessive commerce worth led the 2 events to work collectively to seek out him a brand new dwelling throughout the offseason, and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Aug. 6, 2023. The Sharks had been in a position to shed a good portion of his wage, however obtained fewer belongings than anticipated in return for a participant of his caliber as a result of measurement of his contract.
San Jose has had some actual ache within the butt gamers through the years. This fan base, whereas passionate, is aware of that you just’re a Shark for all times once you placed on the teal sweater. Whereas the three gamers talked about have certainly rubbed followers the incorrect method, they’ve all made some contributions to the roster. I simply wouldn’t count on Belfour, Torres, or Karlsson to be welcomed again for the crew’s 50-year anniversary celebration.
