San Jose Sharks: Top Five Goalies In Franchise History

1. Evgeni Nabokov

Last, but not least, all Sharks fans’ favorite netminder: Evgeni Nabokov.

Nabby holds almost every record for goaltenders in Sharks history: Games played (563), wins (293), shutouts (50), saves (13,463), and points (10). The Kazakhstani-Russian goaltender was a 9th-round selection by the San Jose Sharks in 1994 and he did not disappoint as a highly touted sleeper pick.

In his 10 seasons with San Jose, the two-time All-Star put up a 2.39 GAA and .912 save percentage. After joining the team in 1999, he became the favorite for the starting position – a role he did not relinquish for nine out of the ten years.

Nabokov dazzled his rookie year (2000-2001), earning a 2.19 GAA and .915 save percentage in 66 games. At the age of 25, he went on to win the first Calder Trophy by a goaltender in Sharks history ahead of phenomenal seasons from forwards Brad Richards and Martin Havlat.

Nabokov is also the only goaltender in San Jose’s 27 years of existence in the NHL to score a goal.

On March 12, 2002, Nabokov fired the puck right down the ice and picked the corner, sealing a 7-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Along with that goal, Nabokov tallied 9 assists for a franchise-high 10 points at the goalie position.

Nabby weathered the storm throughout his playoff career with a 40-38 record, 2.29 GAA, and .913 save percentage. Nabokov led his team to the playoffs in nine seasons, but never reached the Western Conference Finals or the Stanley Cup.

With the endless chants of “Nabby! Nabby!” that buzzed throughout The Tank during his time and the No. 20 jerseys that still rise throughout the sea of teal, Nabokov, without a doubt, the best goaltender in the history of the San Jose Sharks.