# 1997–98 San Jose Sharks season

The 1997–98 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' seventh season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). Following their second last-place finish in as many years, the Sharks unceremoniously fired first-year head coach Al Sims; he was replaced by Darryl Sutter, who had previously coached the Chicago Blackhawks. At the time of his hiring, Sutter was the first head coach in franchise history to have previously coached another NHL team.
The Sharks' coaching switch was accompanied by a handful of player acquisitions and debuts. Of these, the addition of five-time NHL All-Star goaltender Mike Vernon proved most important. On August 18, 1997, the Sharks acquired Vernon from the Detroit Red Wings for a pair of second-round picks; at the time of the trade, Vernon was only two months removed from backstopping the Red Wings to victory in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals. Additionally, the Sharks drafted highly-touted forward Patrick Marleau with the second overall pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Despite a lackluster rookie season, Marleau would enjoy considerable success with the Sharks over the following two decades. Lastly, 1996 first-found pick Marco Sturm was added to the roster early in the season. Sturm and Marleau, in particular, supplemented a burgeoning collection of young forwards that already included mainstays Jeff Friesen and Owen Nolan.
In Sutter's first season at the helm, the Sharks' play improved substantially. While they once again failed to post a winning record, the team managed to clinch the Western Conference's eighth (and final) playoff berth. In the first round of the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Sharks faced the top-seeded Dallas Stars. The Sharks quickly dropped their first two games in Dallas; upon returning to San Jose, however, the Sharks rallied to tie the series at two games apiece. An upset was not to be, however, as the Stars responded with a pair of one-goal victories to win the series in six games. Despite a quick exit from the playoffs, the 1997-98 season would prove to be a turning point for the franchise. After finishing with the Western Conference's worst record in four of their first six seasons of play, the Sharks would miss the postseason just twice between 1998 and 2019.

## Regular season

Captain Todd Gill was traded to the St. Louis Blues, in March.

### Final standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
| 2 | 5 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
| 3 | 7 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
| 4 | 8 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
| 5 | 11 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
| 6 | 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
| 7 | 13 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
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 – Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
| 2 | x – Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
| 4 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
| 6 | Phoenix Coyotes | CEN | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
| 7 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
| 8 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
| 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
| 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
| 11 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
| 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
| 13 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

## Playoffs

In a Conference Quarterfinals series, the Sharks met the #1 seeded and Presidents' Trophy-winning Dallas Stars. The Sharks were eliminated by the Stars in six games.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1997–98 regular season :
October: 4–9–0 (home: 2–5–0; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 1, 19973–5Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)0–1–0Recap
2WOctober 4, 19973–2Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)1–1–0Recap
3LOctober 7, 19970–1Ottawa Senators (1997–98)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 9, 19972–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)1–3–0Recap
5WOctober 11, 19975–2Boston Bruins (1997–98)2–3–0Recap
6LOctober 13, 19972–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1997–98)2–4–0Recap
7LOctober 16, 19972–5New York Islanders (1997–98)2–5–0Recap
8LOctober 19, 19973–5@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)2–6–0Recap
9LOctober 22, 19972–5Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)2–7–0Recap
10WOctober 25, 19974–3@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)3–7–0Recap
11WOctober 27, 19972–1@ New York Islanders (1997–98)4–7–0Recap
12LOctober 29, 19973–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)4–8–0Recap
13LOctober 31, 19973–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)4–9–0Recap :
November: 5–8–2 (home: 2–4–1; road: 3–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14LNovember 1, 19970–2@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)4–10–0Recap
15TNovember 4, 19970–0 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)4–10–1Recap
16LNovember 7, 19973–4Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)4–11–1Recap
17WNovember 8, 19973–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)5–11–1Recap
18WNovember 10, 19976–4@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)6–11–1Recap
19LNovember 12, 19972–5Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)6–12–1Recap
20LNovember 13, 19973–6@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)6–13–1Recap
21LNovember 15, 19972–3Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)6–14–1Recap
22WNovember 18, 19974–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)7–14–1Recap
23WNovember 20, 19973–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)8–14–1Recap
24WNovember 22, 19975–2@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)9–14–1Recap
25TNovember 24, 19972–2 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)9–14–2Recap
26LNovember 25, 19971–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)9–15–2Recap
27LNovember 28, 19972–4New Jersey Devils (1997–98)9–16–2Recap
28LNovember 30, 19971–6@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)9–17–2Recap :
December: 5–3–3 (home: 1–1–2; road: 4–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
29LDecember 1, 19972–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)9–18–2Recap
30WDecember 4, 19973–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)10–18–2Recap
31TDecember 10, 19973–3 OTWashington Capitals (1997–98)10–18–3Recap
32WDecember 12, 19971–0@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)11–18–3Recap
33WDecember 14, 19972–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)12–18–3Recap
34WDecember 16, 19975–1Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)13–18–3Recap
35TDecember 18, 19970–0 OTVancouver Canucks (1997–98)13–18–4Recap
36WDecember 21, 19974–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)14–18–4Recap
37LDecember 26, 19970–4Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)14–19–4Recap
38LDecember 29, 19971–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)14–20–4Recap
39TDecember 30, 19972–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)14–20–5Recap :
January: 6–5–2 (home: 5–4–1; road: 1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40WJanuary 2, 19984–1@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)15–20–5Recap
41LJanuary 3, 19980–3@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)15–21–5Recap
42LJanuary 6, 19981–5St. Louis Blues (1997–98)15–22–5Recap
43WJanuary 10, 19985–2Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)16–22–5Recap
44LJanuary 12, 19981–3Dallas Stars (1997–98)16–23–5Recap
45LJanuary 14, 19982–4Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)16–24–5Recap
46TJanuary 15, 19982–2 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)16–24–6Recap
47WJanuary 21, 19987–1Calgary Flames (1997–98)17–24–6Recap
48WJanuary 23, 19983–2Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)18–24–6Recap
49TJanuary 24, 19981–1 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)18–24–7Recap
50WJanuary 27, 19984–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)19–24–7Recap
51LJanuary 29, 19980–3Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)19–25–7Recap
52WJanuary 31, 19985–2Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)20–25–7Recap :
February: 2–4–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53LFebruary 2, 19982–3New York Rangers (1997–98)20–26–7Recap
54WFebruary 4, 19983–0@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)21–26–7Recap
55LFebruary 5, 19982–4@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)21–27–7Recap
56LFebruary 7, 19983–6@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)21–28–7Recap
57WFebruary 26, 19983–1St. Louis Blues (1997–98)22–28–7Recap
58LFebruary 28, 19981–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)22–29–7Recap :
March: 7–8–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 4–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59LMarch 2, 19981–3Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)22–30–7Recap
60WMarch 5, 19985–4Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)23–30–7Recap
61WMarch 6, 19983–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)24–30–7Recap
62WMarch 9, 19983–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)25–30–7Recap
63LMarch 11, 19983–5@ New York Rangers (1997–98)25–31–7Recap
64LMarch 12, 19981–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)25–32–7Recap
65WMarch 14, 19982–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)26–32–7Recap
66WMarch 16, 19982–1Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)27–32–7Recap
67LMarch 18, 19981–3Dallas Stars (1997–98)27–33–7Recap
68LMarch 21, 19980–2Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)27–34–7Recap
69LMarch 22, 19981–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)27–35–7Recap
70LMarch 24, 19983–4Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)27–36–7Recap
71WMarch 26, 19985–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)28–36–7Recap
72WMarch 28, 19984–1@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)29–36–7Recap
73LMarch 30, 19982–6@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)29–37–7Recap :
April: 5–1–3 (home: 3–0–1; road: 2–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 1, 19983–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)30–37–7Recap
75TApril 2, 19983–3 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)30–37–8Recap
76WApril 4, 19985–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)31–37–8Recap
77WApril 7, 19986–0Calgary Flames (1997–98)32–37–8Recap
78WApril 9, 19985–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)33–37–8Recap
79TApril 11, 19981–1 OTVancouver Canucks (1997–98)33–37–9Recap
80TApril 15, 19983–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)33–37–10Recap
81LApril 16, 19981–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)33–38–10Recap
82WApril 18, 19984–1Calgary Flames (1997–98)34–38–10Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1998 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (1) Dallas Stars – Stars win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 22, 19981–4@ Dallas StarsStars lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 24, 19982–5@ Dallas StarsStars lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 26, 19984–1Dallas StarsStars lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 28, 19981–0 OTDallas StarsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LApril 30, 19982–3@ Dallas StarsStars lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 2, 19982–3 OTDallas StarsStars win 4–2Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## 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 | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 39 | Jeff Friesen | LW | 79 | 31 | 32 | 63 | 8 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 11 | Owen Nolan | RW | 75 | 14 | 27 | 41 | −2 | 144 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −1 | 26 |
| 15 | John MacLean† | RW | 51 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 0 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Patrick Marleau | C | 74 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 2 | Bill Houlder | D | 82 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 13 | 48 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 19 | Marco Sturm | LW | 74 | 10 | 20 | 30 | −2 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 37 | Stephane Matteau | LW | 73 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 4 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Murray Craven | LW | 67 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 4 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
| 9 | Bernie Nicholls | C | 60 | 6 | 22 | 28 | −4 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | −2 | 8 |
| 21 | Tony Granato | RW | 59 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 3 | 70 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Marcus Ragnarsson | D | 79 | 5 | 20 | 25 | −11 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 18 | Mike Ricci† | C | 59 | 9 | 14 | 23 | −4 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 23 | Todd Gill‡ | D | 64 | 8 | 13 | 21 | −13 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Mike Rathje | D | 81 | 3 | 12 | 15 | −4 | 59 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 6 |
| 20 | Andrei Zyuzin | D | 56 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 66 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 14 |
| 28 | Shawn Burr | LW | 42 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 50 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 |
| 33 | Marty McSorley | D | 56 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 140 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Doug Bodger‡ | D | 28 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Jarrod Skalde‡†‡† | C | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −2 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Joe Murphy† | RW | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 20 |
| 43 | Al Iafrate | D | 21 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −1 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −4 | 10 |
| 12 | Ron Sutter | C | 57 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 14 |
| 26 | Dave Lowry† | LW | 50 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 51 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 25 | Viktor Kozlov‡ | C | 18 | 5 | 2 | 7 | −2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42 | Shean Donovan‡ | RW | 20 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Alexander Korolyuk | LW | 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Rich Brennan‡ | D | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Bryan Marchment† | D | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 17 | Steve Guolla | C | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 62 | Andrei Nazarov‡ | LW | 40 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −4 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Mike Vernon | G | 62 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 24 | Barry Potomski | LW | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Niklas Andersson | LW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Kelly Hrudey | G | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 30 | Jason Muzzatti† | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Ken Sutton† | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Dody Wood‡ | C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.
| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 29 | Mike Vernon | 62 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 1401 | 146 | 2.46 | .896 | 5 | 3564 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 138 | 14 | 2.41 | .899 | 1 | 348 |
| 32 | Kelly Hrudey | 28 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 600 | 62 | 2.73 | .897 | 1 | 1360 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3.00 | .833 | 0 | 20 |
| 30 | Jason Muzzatti† | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 4.49 | .846 | 0 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Marco Sturm (November) |
| Team | Sharks Player of the Year | Mike Vernon |
| Team | Sharks Rookie of the Year | Patrick Marleau |
| Team | Sharks Rookie of the Year | Marco Sturm |
| Team | Sharks Rookie of the Year | Andrei Zyuzin |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Patrick Marleau | October 1, 1997 |
| First game | Alexander Korolyuk | October 4, 1997 |
| First game | Marco Sturm | October 4, 1997 |
| First game | Andrei Zyuzin | October 7, 1997 |
| 1,000th game played | Murray Craven | March 30, 1998 |

## Draft picks

San Jose's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 2 | Patrick Marleau | Center | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 1 | 23 | Scott Hannan | Defense | Canada | Kelowna Rockets |
| 4 | 82 | Adam Colagiacomo | Right Wing | Canada | Oshawa Generals |
| 5 | 107 | Adam Spylo | Right Wing | Canada | Erie Otters |
| 7 | 163 | Joe Dusbabek | Right Wing | United States | Notre Dame |
| 8 | 192 | Cam Severson | Left Wing | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 9 | 219 | Mark Smith | Center | Canada | Lethbridge Hurricanes |