First off, I'd like to thank everyone at SB Nation for allowing me the privilege of being their blogger for Los Tiburones de San José.  I have been a Sharks season holder since literally their beginning, when in October of 1991 the then-pups first ventured into the murky waters of the National Hockey League at the Cow Palace.  I was there for their first win, seemingly ten zillion losses, and have watched Team Teal rise and fall over the years.

As the new NHL season gets underway, the Sharks are one of its elite teams.  Their lineup includes Joe Thornton, the best playmaker in the league, along with sharpshooter Jonathan Cheechoo, all-around star Patrick Marleau, and up and coming offensive force Milan Michalek.  The defense is young and talented, with Matt Carle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic leading the youth movement.  Evgeni Nabokov when on his game is among the league's best.  The team is overseen by general manager Doug Wilson whose operative philosophy is grow and keep your own.

In this space, you'll see the standard fare of a SBN blog: open threads for all games, wrapups, news and views.  What you will hopefully also see is a love of the game itself.  Hockey is the perfect blend of force and finesse, something worth savoring and sharing.  This is the place to do just that.

So again -- welcome!