1996–97 San Jose Sharks season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1996–97
Year:	1996
Team:	San Jose Sharks
Record:	27–47–8
Homerecord:	14–23–4
Roadrecord:	13–24–4
Conferencerank:	13th
Divisionrank:	7th
Goalsfor:	211
Goalsagainst:	278
Attendance:	17,420
Goalsleader:	Owen Nolan (31)
Assistsleader:	Jeff Friesen (34)
Pointsleader:	Owen Nolan (63)
Pimleader:	Andrei Nazarov (222)
Plusminusleader:	Tim Hunter (0) Michal Sykora (0)
Winsleader:	Kelly Hrudey (16)
Gaaleader:	Chris Terreri (2.75)

The 1996–97 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' sixth season of operation in the National Hockey League. The Sharks again failed to make the playoffs, finishing 13th in the Western Conference.

Offseason

Defenseman Todd Gill was named team captain, following the departure of Jeff Odgers.

Regular season

On October 18, the Sharks scored three short-handed goals in a 4–1 win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.^[1]

The Sharks finished the regular season last in scoring (211 goals for) and had the most power-play opportunities against (409).^[2]

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" |1||T||October 5, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 6, 1996||7–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||1–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|3||L||October 8, 1996||0–6 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||1–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|4||L||October 10, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||1–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|5||L||October 12, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||1–3–1 || |- align="center" |6||T||October 16, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||1–3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||October 18, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||2–3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8||W||October 20, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||3–3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|9||L||October 22, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||3–4–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|10||L||October 24, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||3–5–2 || |- align="center" |11||T||October 26, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||3–5–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||October 27, 1996||6–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||4–5–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |13||W||October 30, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||5–5–3 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|14||L||November 1, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||5–6–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |15||W||November 2, 1996||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||6–6–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|16||L||November 6, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||6–7–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |17||W||November 8, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||7–7–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|18||L||November 12, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||7–8–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|19||L||November 15, 1996||1–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||7–9–3 || |- align="center" |20||T||November 16, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||7–9–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|21||L||November 18, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||7–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|22||L||November 21, 1996||1–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||7–11–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|23||L||November 23, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||7–12–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |24||W||November 27, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||8–12–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|25||L||November 29, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||8–13–4 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |26||W||December 1, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||9–13–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |27||W||December 4, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||10–13–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|28||L||December 7, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||10–14–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |29||W||December 11, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||11–14–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|30||L||December 13, 1996||0–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||11–15–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|31||L||December 17, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||11–16–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|32||L||December 20, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||11–17–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|33||L||December 21, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||11–18–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |34||W||December 23, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||12–18–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |35||W||December 26, 1996||6–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||13–18–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|36||L||December 28, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||13–19–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |37||W||December 31, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||14–19–4 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|38||L||January 2, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||14–20–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|39||L||January 4, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||14–21–4 || |- align="center" |40||T||January 7, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||14–21–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|41||L||January 9, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||14–22–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |42||W||January 11, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||15–22–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |43||W||January 13, 1997||5–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||16–22–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|44||L||January 20, 1997||1–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||16–23–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |45||W||January 22, 1997||7–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||17–23–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|46||L||January 24, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||17–24–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|47||L||January 27, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||17–25–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|48||L||January 29, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||17–26–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |49||W||January 30, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||18–26–5 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |50||W||February 1, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||19–26–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|51||L||February 3, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||19–27–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |52||W||February 5, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||20–27–5 || |- align="center" |53||T||February 8, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||20–27–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|54||L||February 10, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||20–28–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|55||L||February 12, 1997||1–7 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||20–29–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|56||L||February 13, 1997||3–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||20–30–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|57||L||February 16, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||20–31–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |58||W||February 18, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||21–31–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|59||L||February 20, 1997||1–6 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||21–32–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|60||L||February 23, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||21–33–6 || |- align="center" |61||T||February 25, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||21–33–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |62||W||February 28, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||22–33–7 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|63||L||March 1, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||22–34–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|64||L||March 3, 1997||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||22–35–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |65||W||March 6, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||23–35–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|66||L||March 9, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||23–36–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|67||L||March 11, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||23–37–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|68||L||March 14, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||23–38–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|69||L||March 15, 1997||4–7 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||23–39–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|70||L||March 19, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||23–40–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |71||W||March 20, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||24–40–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|72||L||March 22, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||24–41–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|73||L||March 24, 1997||1–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||24–42–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|74||L||March 26, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||24–43–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |75||W||March 28, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||25–43–7 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|76||L||April 1, 1997||1–7 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||25–44–7 || |- align="center" |77||T||April 2, 1997||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||25–44–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |78||W||April 4, 1997||7–6 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||26–44–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|79||L||April 7, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||26–45–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |80||W||April 9, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||27–45–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|81||L||April 11, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||27–46–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|82||L||April 12, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||27–47–8 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.

	Regular season
	Player
11		RW	72	31	32	63	−19	155
39		LW	82	28	34	62	−8	75
9		C	65	12	33	45	−21	63
25		C	78	16	25	41	−16	40
21		RW	76	25	15	40	−7	159
8		C	65	16	21	37	−8	16
62		LW	60	12	15	27	−4	222
17		C	43	13	8	21	−10	14
23		D	79	0	21	21	−20	101
22		LW	43	8	11	19	−11	8
4		D	63	6	12	18	−22	69
10		D	69	3	14	17	−18	63
33		D	57	4	12	16	−6	186
3		D	81	1	15	16	−14	64
42		RW	73	9	6	15	−18	42
43		D	38	6	9	15	−10	91
12		C	78	5	7	12	−8	65
22		LW	30	3	6	9	−2	20
44		D	35	2	6	8	−17	12
40		D	31	0	8	8	−1	21
38		D	35	2	5	7	0	59
16		C	44	3	2	5	−3	193
7		LW	28	2	3	5	−8	0
18		C	25	4	0	4	−5	8
19		RW	46	0	4	4	0	135
36		RW	51	0	2	2	−5	162
14		LW	12	0	2	2	−6	4
5		D	2	0	1	1	1	0
15		RW	2	0	1	1	1	0
20		G	13	0	0	0		8
91		RW	2	0	0	0	−2	0
31		G	7	0	0	0		0
28		C	2	0	0	0	−1	2
32		G	48	0	0	0		0
26		D	8	0	0	0	−2	22
30		G	22	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

	Regular season
	Player
32		48	16	24	5	1263	140	3.19	.889	0	2631
30		22	6	10	3	553	55	2.75	.901	0	1200
20		13	3	9	0	371	43	3.41	.884	1	757
31		7	2	4	0	202	31	5.18	.847	0	359

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy	Tony Granato	^[3]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Tony Granato	^[4]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Owen Nolan	^[4]
Team	Sharks Player of the Year	Jeff Friesen	^[5]
Team	Sharks Rookie of the Year	Steve Guolla

Milestones

Draft picks

San Jose's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.^[7]

Round		Player	Position	College/Junior/Club team
1	2	Andrei Zyuzin	Defense	Salavat Yulajev
1	21	Marco Sturm	Right Wing	Landshut EV
3	55	Terry Friesen	Goalie	Swift Current Broncos
4	102	Matt Bradley	Right Wing	Kingston Frontenacs
6	137	Michel Larocque	Goalie	Boston University
7	164	Jake Deadmarsh	Defense	Kamloops Blazers
8	191	Cory Cyrenne	Center	Brandon Wheat Kings
9	217	David Thibeault	Left Wing	Drummondville Voltigeurs

References

Web site: San Jose Sharks 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: 1996-97 San Jose Sharks Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 26, 2023.

Notes and References

Web site: San Jose Sharks at Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Box Score — October 18, 1996.
Web site: 1996-97 NHL Summary.
Web site: Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy . records.nhl.com . July 27, 2023.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997 . www.nhl.com . July 27, 2023.
2014–15 San Jose Sharks Media Guide, p.255–58
Web site: Players who reached the 1,000th-game mark as San Jose Sharks . East Bay Times . July 27, 2023 . October 20, 2011.
Web site: 1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 27, 2023.