The Best All-Time San Jose Sharks Late-Round Gems

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 2: Evgeni Nabokov #20 and Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks celebrate a win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on April 2, 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Sharks beat the Oilers 2-1. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 2: Evgeni Nabokov #20 and Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks celebrate a win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on April 2, 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Sharks beat the Oilers 2-1. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 8: Evgeni Nabokov #20 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates the win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 8, 2010 at HP Pavilion at San Jose in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 8: Evgeni Nabokov #20 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates the win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 8, 2010 at HP Pavilion at San Jose in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)

2. Evgeni Nabokov

The best goaltender in franchise history, Evgeni Nabokov, got drafted 219th overall by the Sharks in the 9th round of the 1994 NHL Draft. Nabokov spent 9 years (2000-2010) with Team Teal and holds numerous franchise goaltender records.

He owns the franchise record for games played (563), wins (293), and shutouts (50). He is also second in franchise history for goals against average with a 2.39 career GAA with the Sharks and fourth for save percentage having posted a .912 save percentage.

Nabby won the 2001 Calder Memorial Trophy being named the NHL’s rookie of the year and was a finalist for the 2008 Vezina Trophy, which is given to the league’s most outstanding goaltender. Nabokov also became the seventh goalie in NHL history to score a goal when he buried a full-ice empty net goal against Vancouver on March 10, 2002.

Nabokov is not only the best goaltender in San Jose’s history, he is generally one of the most popular players that has ever dawned teal. Sharks fans were thrilled when it got announced in 2015 that Nabokov will be joining the scouting department as a developmental coach. In only a few seasons Nabokov’s influence on the goaltenders within the organization and will likely earn him more opportunities to prove his coaching aptitude.