Greatest Sharks: Department of Defense II

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.

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:

Bryan Marchment

Jayson More: More 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 Suter: Although 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 Zettler: Never 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.

Which of these defensemen deserves to be added to Fear the Fin’s “Greatest Sharks” team?