1991 – 92 San Jose Sharks season The 1991 – 92 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks ' inaugural season . They finished in sixth place in the Smythe Division with a record of 17 wins , 58 losses , and 5 ties for 39 points . Goaltender Jeff Hackett was named team MVP . Offseason . Connection to Minnesota . The Gund family had been partners in the Oakland Seals franchise which was moved to Cleveland to become the NHL Cleveland Barons . This franchise was merged with the North Stars franchise and the Gunds became partners in the North Stars ' franchise . The Gund family had long wanted to bring hockey back to the San Francisco Bay Area , and asked the NHL for permission to move the North Stars there in the late 1980s , but were vetoed by the league . Meanwhile , a group led by former Hartford Whalers owner Howard Baldwin was pushing the NHL to bring a team to San Jose , where a new arena was being built . Eventually a compromise was struck by the league , where the Gunds would sell their share of the North Stars to Baldwin ' s group , with the Gunds receiving an expansion team in the Bay Area to begin play in the 1991 – 92 NHL season . In return , the North Stars would be allowed to participate as an equal partner in an expansion draft with the new Bay Area team . Neither team retains the history of the Seals / Barons franchise . On May 5 , 1990 , the Gunds officially sold their share of the North Stars to Baldwin and were awarded a new team in the Bay Area , based in San Jose . Over 5000 potential names were submitted by mail for the new team . While the first - place finisher was " Blades , " the Gunds were concerned about the name ' s negative connotations ( weapons , etc ) and went with the runner - up , " Sharks . " The name was said to have been inspired by the large number of sharks living in the Pacific Ocean . Seven different varieties live there , and one area of water near the San Francisco Bay Area is known as the " Red Triangle " because of its shark population . The team ' s first marketing head , Matt Levine , said of the new name , " " Sharks are relentless , determined , swift , agile , bright and fearless . We plan to build an organization that has all those qualities . " " Drafting . On top of the normal expansion process , the Sharks participated in a draft to select players from the North Stars . The Sharks and Stars then participated in an expansion draft . Both teams selected in the NHL Entry Draft . The Sharks selected second - overall in the first round , and then first - overall in the following rounds . The Sharks selected Pat Falloon with their first pick , regarded widely as a " draft bust . " Regular season . The Sharks ' inaugural season was one of the worst all - time in NHL history with only 17 wins . Season standings . " Note : W = Wins , L = Losses , T = Ties , Pts = Points , GF = Goals For , GA = Goals Against " Player stats . Forwards . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; AST = Assists ; PTS = Points ; PIM = Points " Defencemen . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; AST = Assists ; PTS = Points ; PIM = Points " Goaltending . " Note : GP = Games played ; W = Wins ; L = Losses ; T = Ties ; SO = Shutouts ; GAA = Goals Against " Draft picks . Dispersal Draft Results . " The Sharks selected 24 players from the North Stars . " References . < / div >