# 1996–97 San Jose Sharks season

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

### Final standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 49 | 24 | 9 | 277 | 205 | 107 |
| 2 | 4 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 36 | 33 | 13 | 243 | 231 | 85 |
| 3 | 7 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 36 | 37 | 9 | 252 | 247 | 81 |
| 4 | 9 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 35 | 40 | 7 | 257 | 273 | 77 |
| 5 | 10 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 32 | 41 | 9 | 214 | 239 | 73 |
| 6 | 12 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 28 | 43 | 11 | 214 | 268 | 67 |
| 7 | 13 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 27 | 47 | 8 | 211 | 278 | 62 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 49 | 24 | 9 | 277 | 205 | 107 |
| 2 | Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 48 | 26 | 8 | 252 | 198 | 104 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 38 | 26 | 18 | 253 | 197 | 94 |
| 4 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 36 | 33 | 13 | 245 | 233 | 85 |
| 5 | Phoenix Coyotes | CEN | 82 | 38 | 37 | 7 | 240 | 243 | 83 |
| 6 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 36 | 35 | 11 | 236 | 239 | 83 |
| 7 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 36 | 37 | 9 | 252 | 247 | 81 |
| 8 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 223 | 210 | 81 |
| 9 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 35 | 40 | 7 | 257 | 273 | 77 |
| 10 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 32 | 41 | 9 | 214 | 239 | 73 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 230 | 273 | 68 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 28 | 43 | 11 | 214 | 268 | 67 |
| 13 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 27 | 47 | 8 | 211 | 278 | 62 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

## Schedule and results

1996–97 regular season :
October: 5–5–3 (home: 1–1–2; road: 4–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 5, 19962–2 OTNew York Islanders (1996–97)0–0–1Recap
2WOctober 6, 19967–6 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)1–0–1Recap
3LOctober 8, 19960–6@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)1–1–1Recap
4LOctober 10, 19961–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)1–2–1Recap
5LOctober 12, 19963–5Boston Bruins (1996–97)1–3–1Recap
6TOctober 16, 19963–3 OTFlorida Panthers (1996–97)1–3–2Recap
7WOctober 18, 19964–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)2–3–2Recap
8WOctober 20, 19963–2@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)3–3–2Recap
9LOctober 22, 19963–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)3–4–2Recap
10LOctober 24, 19961–3@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)3–5–2Recap
11TOctober 26, 19962–2 OT@ New York Islanders (1996–97)3–5–3Recap
12WOctober 27, 19966–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)4–5–3Recap
13WOctober 30, 19963–1Calgary Flames (1996–97)5–5–3Recap :
November: 3–8–1 (home: 3–5–0; road: 0–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14LNovember 1, 19963–4@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)5–6–3Recap
15WNovember 2, 19964–3 OTMontreal Canadiens (1996–97)6–6–3Recap
16LNovember 6, 19961–4Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)6–7–3Recap
17WNovember 8, 19963–1Dallas Stars (1996–97)7–7–3Recap
18LNovember 12, 19963–4Hartford Whalers (1996–97)7–8–3Recap
19LNovember 15, 19961–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)7–9–3Recap
20TNovember 16, 19962–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)7–9–4Recap
21LNovember 18, 19962–4@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)7–10–4Recap
22LNovember 21, 19961–6Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)7–11–4Recap
23LNovember 23, 19960–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)7–12–4Recap
24WNovember 27, 19963–2Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)8–12–4Recap
25LNovember 29, 19962–4Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)8–13–4Recap :
December: 6–6–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 4–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26WDecember 1, 19964–3@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)9–13–4Recap
27WDecember 4, 19962–1@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)10–13–4Recap
28LDecember 7, 19963–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)10–14–4Recap
29WDecember 11, 19963–2Washington Capitals (1996–97)11–14–4Recap
30LDecember 13, 19960–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)11–15–4Recap
31LDecember 17, 19963–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)11–16–4Recap
32LDecember 20, 19962–3@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)11–17–4Recap
33LDecember 21, 19961–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)11–18–4Recap
34WDecember 23, 19962–1@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)12–18–4Recap
35WDecember 26, 19966–1Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)13–18–4Recap
36LDecember 28, 19963–5@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)13–19–4Recap
37WDecember 31, 19965–1@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)14–19–4Recap :
January: 4–7–1 (home: 2–4–1; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38LJanuary 2, 19971–4Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)14–20–4Recap
39LJanuary 4, 19973–4Calgary Flames (1996–97)14–21–4Recap
40TJanuary 7, 19971–1 OTBuffalo Sabres (1996–97)14–21–5Recap
41LJanuary 9, 19973–4St. Louis Blues (1996–97)14–22–5Recap
42WJanuary 11, 19972–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)15–22–5Recap
43WJanuary 13, 19975–4Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)16–22–5Recap
44LJanuary 20, 19971–6@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)16–23–5Recap
45WJanuary 22, 19977–2Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)17–23–5Recap
46LJanuary 24, 19971–3New Jersey Devils (1996–97)17–24–5Recap
47LJanuary 27, 19972–5@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)17–25–5Recap
48LJanuary 29, 19971–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)17–26–5Recap
49WJanuary 30, 19976–3@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)18–26–5Recap :
February: 4–7–2 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–5–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
50WFebruary 1, 19972–1Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)19–26–5Recap
51LFebruary 3, 19972–4Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)19–27–5Recap
52WFebruary 5, 19973–2Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)20–27–5Recap
53TFebruary 8, 19973–3 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)20–27–6Recap
54LFebruary 10, 19972–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)20–28–6Recap
55LFebruary 12, 19971–7@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)20–29–6Recap
56LFebruary 13, 19973–7@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)20–30–6Recap
57LFebruary 16, 19972–6@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)20–31–6Recap
58WFebruary 18, 19973–1Dallas Stars (1996–97)21–31–6Recap
59LFebruary 20, 19971–6Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)21–32–6Recap
60LFebruary 23, 19973–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)21–33–6Recap
61TFebruary 25, 19972–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)21–33–7Recap
62WFebruary 28, 19973–2@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)22–33–7Recap :
March: 3–10–0 (home: 2–6–0; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
63LMarch 1, 19972–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)22–34–7Recap
64LMarch 3, 19974–5 OT@ New York Rangers (1996–97)22–35–7Recap
65WMarch 6, 19972–0Ottawa Senators (1996–97)23–35–7Recap
66LMarch 9, 19971–2New York Rangers (1996–97)23–36–7Recap
67LMarch 11, 19973–4St. Louis Blues (1996–97)23–37–7Recap
68LMarch 14, 19971–4Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)23–38–7Recap
69LMarch 15, 19974–7Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)23–39–7Recap
70LMarch 19, 19972–4@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)23–40–7Recap
71WMarch 20, 19972–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)24–40–7Recap
72LMarch 22, 19971–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)24–41–7Recap
73LMarch 24, 19971–5Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)24–42–7Recap
74LMarch 26, 19971–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)24–43–7Recap
75WMarch 28, 19974–3Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)25–43–7Recap :
April: 2–4–1 (home: 1–2–1; road: 1–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76LApril 1, 19971–7@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)25–44–7Recap
77TApril 2, 19975–5 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)25–44–8Recap
78WApril 4, 19977–6 OTColorado Avalanche (1996–97)26–44–8Recap
79LApril 7, 19972–3Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)26–45–8Recap
80WApril 9, 19974–1@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)27–45–8Recap
81LApril 11, 19973–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)27–46–8Recap
82LApril 12, 19971–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)27–47–8Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 11 | Owen Nolan | RW | 72 | 31 | 32 | 63 | −19 | 155 |
| 39 | Jeff Friesen | LW | 82 | 28 | 34 | 62 | −8 | 75 |
| 9 | Bernie Nicholls | C | 65 | 12 | 33 | 45 | −21 | 63 |
| 25 | Viktor Kozlov | C | 78 | 16 | 25 | 41 | −16 | 40 |
| 21 | Tony Granato | RW | 76 | 25 | 15 | 40 | −7 | 159 |
| 8 | Darren Turcotte | C | 65 | 16 | 21 | 37 | −8 | 16 |
| 62 | Andrei Nazarov | LW | 60 | 12 | 15 | 27 | −4 | 222 |
| 17 | Steve Guolla | C | 43 | 13 | 8 | 21 | −10 | 14 |
| 23 | Todd Gill | D | 79 | 0 | 21 | 21 | −20 | 101 |
| 22 | Ulf Dahlen‡ | LW | 43 | 8 | 11 | 19 | −11 | 8 |
| 4 | Greg Hawgood | D | 63 | 6 | 12 | 18 | −22 | 69 |
| 10 | Marcus Ragnarsson | D | 69 | 3 | 14 | 17 | −18 | 63 |
| 33 | Marty McSorley | D | 57 | 4 | 12 | 16 | −6 | 186 |
| 3 | Doug Bodger | D | 81 | 1 | 15 | 16 | −14 | 64 |
| 42 | Shean Donovan | RW | 73 | 9 | 6 | 15 | −18 | 42 |
| 43 | Al Iafrate | D | 38 | 6 | 9 | 15 | −10 | 91 |
| 12 | Ron Sutter† | C | 78 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −8 | 65 |
| 22 | Bob Errey† | LW | 30 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −2 | 20 |
| 44 | Vlastimil Kroupa | D | 35 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −17 | 12 |
| 40 | Mike Rathje | D | 31 | 0 | 8 | 8 | −1 | 21 |
| 38 | Michal Sykora‡ | D | 35 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 59 |
| 16 | Dody Wood | C | 44 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 193 |
| 7 | Ville Peltonen | LW | 28 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −8 | 0 |
| 18 | Chris Tancill | C | 25 | 4 | 0 | 4 | −5 | 8 |
| 19 | Tim Hunter | RW | 46 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 135 |
| 36 | Todd Ewen | RW | 51 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −5 | 162 |
| 14 | Ray Whitney | LW | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −6 | 4 |
| 5 | Jason Widmer | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | Alexei Yegorov | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Ed Belfour† | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 8 |
| 91 | Jan Caloun | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 31 | Wade Flaherty | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 28 | Iain Fraser | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 32 | Kelly Hrudey | G | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 26 | Chris Lipuma‡† | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 22 |
| 30 | Chris Terreri‡ | G | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 32 | Kelly Hrudey | 48 | 16 | 24 | 5 | 1263 | 140 | 3.19 | .889 | 0 | 2631 |
| 30 | Chris Terreri | 22 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 553 | 55 | 2.75 | .901 | 0 | 1200 |
| 20 | Ed Belfour | 13 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 371 | 43 | 3.41 | .884 | 1 | 757 |
| 31 | Wade Flaherty | 7 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 202 | 31 | 5.18 | .847 | 0 | 359 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

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

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| 1,000th game played | Bernie Nicholls | October 20, 1996 | |
| First game | Steve Guolla | January 7, 1997 | |

## Draft picks

San Jose's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 2 | Andrei Zyuzin | Defense | Russia | Salavat Yulajev |
| 1 | 21 | Marco Sturm | Right Wing | Germany | Landshut EV |
| 3 | 55 | Terry Friesen | Goalie | Canada | Swift Current Broncos |
| 4 | 102 | Matt Bradley | Right Wing | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 6 | 137 | Michel Larocque | Goalie | Germany | Boston University |
| 7 | 164 | Jake Deadmarsh | Defense | Canada | Kamloops Blazers |
| 8 | 191 | Cory Cyrenne | Center | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 9 | 217 | David Thibeault | Left Wing | Canada | Drummondville Voltigeurs |