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Greatest Sharks: Department of Defense II

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Yellow visors? Oh, so sexy

With the conclusion of the latest round of voting, two more players have been added to Fear the Fin's "Greatest Sharks" team. Sandis Ozolinsh (26%, 32 votes) and Kyle McLaren (17%, 21 votes) both garnered enough support to merit their inclusion.

As with rounds past, we're going to hold off on the breakdown until all players at the position have been selected. I will say this, though: Out of all the possible combinations of defensemen, I think this pairing is the most elite. The players' individual skill sets are very complimentary. The paring of Ozolinsh and McLaren is very similar to that of the Boyle - Murray paring we saw for much of the season. Sandis, like Boyle, would have the freedom to join the offense knowing that a smart, physical player (McLaren) was there to make up for his defensive lapses.

The voting continues below; make the jump for player analysis if you need a quick refresher.

Star-divide

 

Note: To be considered a member of the "Greatest Sharks", you must have played parts of a minimum of three seasons with the team. A player must receive at least ten vote s and 15% of the overall vote to be included on the "Greatest Sharks" roster. If the ten vote and 15% total is not met by at least six players, a second round of voting will take place which will include all players who did not receive at least ten votes and 15% of the vote.

Note 2: Lines are not necessarily determined by voting order. After overall voting has ended, the FTF staff will determine the best line combinations.

Scott Hannan: Hannan, another Sharks' first round selection, was quite possibly the most talented defensive player to ever wear teal. Making the all star team during the 2003-2004 season, Hannan was an integral part of the Sharks success during that years' playoffs. Against the Colorado Avalance, Hannan effectively shut down NHL legend Peter Forsberg, helping the Sharks advance to the conference finals for the first time in team history.

Bryan Marchment: Accused of being somewhat of a "dirty" player during his NHL career, Marchment played six seasons with the Sharks. Averaging more than a minor penalty per game while with the team, the assistant captain was a popular figure in San Jose and often set the tone of the game with either his physical style or by engaging a well placed scuffle with the oppsoing team. In 2000-2001, Marchment participated in a career high 11 fights. 

Jayson MoreMore was one of the first Sharks, as he was taken from the New York Rangers in the 1991 NHL Expansion draft. More spent five seasons with San Jose, helping the team to their first playoff appearance during the 1993-1994 NHL season. In 287 games with the Sharks, More posted 50 points, racking up 545 penalty minutes in the process.

Jeff Norton: Oddly enough, the journeyman Norton would play three separate stints with the Sharks. In 225 games with the team, Norton notched 93 points and added 14 during the playoffs. He was somewhat of a good luck charm for the team, as the Sharks would make the playoffs in five of Norton's six seasons in San Jose.

Marcus Ragnarsson: As Mike Rathje's defensive partner for most of his NHL career, Ragnarsson enjoyed some successful seasons in San Jose. In 519 games with the Sharks, the Big Swede amassed 153 points. In 2000-2001, Ragnarsson was selected to the NHL All Star team, one of only a few San Jose defenseman to ever make the cut.

Mike Rathje: The third overall pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Rathje would play 11 seasons with the San Jose Sharks. The six-foot-five lefty was an imposing presence on the ice. Although his career with San Jose was somewhat tarnished after his holdout during the 2001-2002 season, he played more games in teal than any other defenseman. Rathje was never an offensively minded player, but he still has more points than any other Sharks defender. In 671 regular season games with San Jose, Rathje would tally 155 points. 

Brad Stuart: Perhaps no San Jose Sharks prospect was met with as much hype as Brad Stuart, who was selected third overall in the 1998 NHL entry draft. Billed as an extremely skilled offensive defenseman, Stuart would score 153 points in only 377 games with San Jose. His most famous goals came in 2004, when he scored two goals in a span of 17 seconds against the Los Angeles Kings. In 2007, Stuart was traded to Boston along with Wayne Primeau and Marco Sturm for Joe Thornton. He would go on to win a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.

Gary SuterAlthough Suter joined the Sharks in the twilight of his NHL career, he still showed the skill that made him one of the best defensemen in the history of the league. Suter would score 101 points in only 227 games with the team while playing a  solid defensive game. In his first full season with the Sharks, Suter would score six goals, adding 2 goals and 5 assists in 12 playoff games.

Rob ZettlerNever a master with the puck, Zettler only tallied one goal while in San Jose. As more of a defensive defenseman, Zettler was known for his strong play in his own zone. In 196 games with the team, Zettler would earn 314 minutes in the box.

Poll
Which of these defensemen deserves to be added to Fear the Fin's "Greatest Sharks" team?
Scott Hannan
46 votes
Bryan Marchment
27 votes
Jayson More
0 votes
Jeff Norton
2 votes
Marcus Ragnarsson
19 votes
Mike Rathje
32 votes
Brad Stuart
28 votes
Gary Suter
20 votes
Rob Zettler
7 votes

181 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 25 comments |

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Comments

Display:

This thing rigged?

I voted for Mush and nothing happened.

Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad

by Dave Valentine on Mar 13, 2009 6:02 AM PDT reply actions  

Sometimes it takes a minute to register,

by TCY on Mar 13, 2009 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions  

Yeah,

It looks that way. Thanks Matt

Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad

by Dave Valentine on Mar 13, 2009 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions  

No problem dude. You can always check your personal page, it’ll tell you if your vote went through.

by TCY on Mar 13, 2009 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions  

Thanks, Matt

Being an old guy, I hadn’t thought of that yet. I’d have got around to it sooner or later though

Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad

by Dave Valentine on Mar 13, 2009 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions  

ehrhoff

I don't like you Detroit.

by mattman on Mar 13, 2009 8:29 AM PDT reply actions  

I think

Christian Ehrhoff will decline greatly with the Sharks.

As soon as he is traded or signs with another team, somehow he will become one of the greatest defenseman ever.

by idunno723 on Mar 13, 2009 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

Maybe in the future, but I don’t think anyone has a crystal ball to that could tell us that. Maybe Miss Cleo, but we’d have to shell out some dough. Could Ehrhoff be like Nick Lidstrom, a late bloomer who becomes one of the greatest defenseman of all-time? Sure, anything’s possible.

Right now he doesn’t cut it to make it on the list in my opinion. The future is anyone’s guess.

Fear The Fin: Where The Second Round Is Overrated

by Mr. Plank on Mar 13, 2009 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

i just think he's got a ton of talent and could be a good contributor for our squad,

tons of potential/upside, basically i see more in him than most do around here, but i could be wrong we’ll see

I don't like you Detroit.

by mattman on Mar 13, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

Oh I see a lot of talent in him too, that’s whats so frustrating ya know? He’s an extremely on/off player, and has been for most of his career here.

I’m not sure how the saying goes, but it’s something like, “You’re always hardest on the ones with the most potential.” Ehrhoff has a ton of potential, Rob Schremp has a ton of potential.

It’s just translating that onto the ice that is the hardest part. Hopefully working under Dan Boyle (a fairly similar player in theory) will help him find his way.

Fear The Fin: Where The Second Round Is Overrated

by Mr. Plank on Mar 13, 2009 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

Doug Wilson

would appear to agree with Ehrhoff’s talent and potential being pretty high. I think that’s a big part of why he’s still here with a nice extension, while Matt Carle got shipped out.

But yeah, it would be really nice to see him get more consistently on.

It takes a big man to cry and it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. -Jamie Baker

by Lurker Shark on Mar 13, 2009 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

definitely appears that way,

we’ve got a good foursome of defense locked up right now in boyle, murray, vlasic, and ehrhoff, personally i love watching boyle and ehrhoff run our powerplay, it is awesome

I don't like you Detroit.

by mattman on Mar 13, 2009 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

Craig Rivet

He was an awesome shark and i was so bummed when they traded him away. As for Ehrhoff, he is too much of an offensive minded defenseman. He should take his cues for Vlasic and focus on shutting people down on D and getting points when he can

by xsjsharksx on Mar 13, 2009 10:56 PM PDT reply actions  

they are two completely different players with different roles,

not to say ehrhoff couldn’t do a few things better defensively and vica for vlasic

I don't like you Detroit.

by mattman on Mar 13, 2009 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

Craig Rivet is awesomeness

Hey, remember that one time he beat up Steve Ott..

by idunno723 on Mar 13, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

god again?

I don't like you Detroit.

by mattman on Mar 13, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

Sadly,

He wasn’t here long enough. Would have been nice to have been able to keep him around.

It takes a big man to cry and it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. -Jamie Baker

by Lurker Shark on Mar 13, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm always amused by these polls

More than 120 votes. Who are all you people?!

Jeff and Brad voted ‘Norton’

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Mar 14, 2009 2:41 PM PDT reply actions  

Oh

That’s just me and my other 119 accounts…

by idunno723 on Mar 14, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

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