The 1997–98 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' seventh season of operation in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). Following their second last-place finish in as many years, the Sharks unceremoniously fired first-year head coach

Al Sims Allan Eugene Sims (born April 18, 1953) is a Canadian former professional hockey player and head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played ten seasons in the NHL between 1973 and 1983 with the Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers, Los Ange ...

; he was replaced by

Darryl Sutter Darryl John Sutter (born August 19, 1958) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is one of seven Sutter brothers, six of whom made the ...

, who had previously coached the

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

. 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 The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

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 The 1997 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1996–97 season, and the culmination of the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers. The R ...

. Additionally, the Sharks drafted highly-touted forward

Patrick Marleau Patrick Denis Marleau (born September 15, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward. With 1,779 NHL games played, he is the List of NHL players with 1,000 games played#1,500 or more games played, all-time l ...

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 Marco Johann Sturm (born September 8, 1978) is a German professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the List of NHL head coaches, head coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). As a Forward (ice hockey), forward, ...

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 Jeffrey Daryl Friesen (born August 5, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played over 800 games in the National Hockey League, spending roughly half his career with the San Jose Sharks, who drafted him in the 1994 NHL En ...

and

Owen Nolan Owen Liam Nolan (born 12 February 1972) is a Northern Irish-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. During his 18-year NHL career, he played for the ...

. 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 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Stanley Cup playoffs, playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 22, 1998 following the 1997–98 NHL season, 1997–98 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from e ...

, the Sharks faced the top-seeded

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...

. The Sharks quickly dropped their first two games in

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

; 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 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

and

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

Offseason

Regular season

Captain Todd Gill was traded to the

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

, in March.

Final standings

Playoffs

In a Conference Quarterfinals series, the Sharks met the #1 seeded and Presidents' Trophy-winning

. The Sharks were eliminated by the Stars in six games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1, , October 1, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left",

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1997–98) , , 0–1–0 , , , - , 2, , October 4, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 1–1–0 , , , - , 3, , October 7, 1997, , 0–1 , , align="left",

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

( 1997–98) , , 1–2–0 , , , - , 4, , October 9, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...

( 1997–98) , , 1–3–0 , , , - , 5, , October 11, 1997, , 5–2 , , align="left",

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1997–98) , , 2–3–0 , , , - , 6, , October 13, 1997, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1997–98) , , 2–4–0 , , , - , 7, , October 16, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left",

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1997–98) , , 2–5–0 , , , - , 8, , October 19, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

( 1997–98) , , 2–6–0 , , , - , 9, , October 22, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1997–98) , , 2–7–0 , , , - , 10, , October 25, 1997, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1997–98) , , 3–7–0 , , , - , 11, , October 27, 1997, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 4–7–0 , , , - , 12, , October 29, 1997, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 4–8–0 , , , - , 13, , October 31, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 4–9–0 , , , - , - , 14, , November 1, 1997, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 4–10–0 , , , - , 15, , November 4, 1997, , 0–0 OT, , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1997–98) , , 4–10–1 , , , - , 16, , November 7, 1997, , 3–4 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1997–98) , , 4–11–1 , , , - , 17, , November 8, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left",

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

( 1997–98) , , 5–11–1 , , , - , 18, , November 10, 1997, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

( 1997–98) , , 6–11–1 , , , - , 19, , November 12, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1997–98) , , 6–12–1 , , , - , 20, , November 13, 1997, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1997–98) , , 6–13–1 , , , - , 21, , November 15, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 6–14–1 , , , - , 22, , November 18, 1997, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 7–14–1 , , , - , 23, , November 20, 1997, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 8–14–1 , , , - , 24, , November 22, 1997, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1997–98) , , 9–14–1 , , , - , 25, , November 24, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 9–14–2 , , , - , 26, , November 25, 1997, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 9–15–2 , , , - , 27, , November 28, 1997, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 9–16–2 , , , - , 28, , November 30, 1997, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 9–17–2 , , , - , - , 29, , December 1, 1997, , 2–3 OT, , align="left", @

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

( 1997–98) , , 9–18–2 , , , - , 30, , December 4, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 10–18–2 , , , - , 31, , December 10, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 10–18–3 , , , - , 32, , December 12, 1997, , 1–0 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 11–18–3 , , , - , 33, , December 14, 1997, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 12–18–3 , , , - , 34, , December 16, 1997, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 13–18–3 , , , - , 35, , December 18, 1997, , 0–0 OT, , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 13–18–4 , , , - , 36, , December 21, 1997, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 14–18–4 , , , - , 37, , December 26, 1997, , 0–4 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 14–19–4 , , , - , 38, , December 29, 1997, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 14–20–4 , , , - , 39, , December 30, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

( 1997–98) , , 14–20–5 , , , - , - , 40, , January 2, 1998, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 15–20–5 , , , - , 41, , January 3, 1998, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 15–21–5 , , , - , 42, , January 6, 1998, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 15–22–5 , , , - , 43, , January 10, 1998, , 5–2 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1997–98) , , 16–22–5 , , , - , 44, , January 12, 1998, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 16–23–5 , , , - , 45, , January 14, 1998, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 16–24–5 , , , - , 46, , January 15, 1998, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 16–24–6 , , , - , 47, , January 21, 1998, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 17–24–6 , , , - , 48, , January 23, 1998, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 18–24–6 , , , - , 49, , January 24, 1998, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 18–24–7 , , , - , 50, , January 27, 1998, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 19–24–7 , , , - , 51, , January 29, 1998, , 0–3 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 19–25–7 , , , - , 52, , January 31, 1998, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 20–25–7 , , , - , - , 53, , February 2, 1998, , 2–3 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1997–98) , , 20–26–7 , , , - , 54, , February 4, 1998, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 21–26–7 , , , - , 55, , February 5, 1998, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 21–27–7 , , , - , 56, , February 7, 1998, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 21–28–7 , , , - , 57, , February 26, 1998, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 22–28–7 , , , - , 58, , February 28, 1998, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 22–29–7 , , , - , - , 59, , March 2, 1998, , 1–3 , , align="left",

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

( 1997–98) , , 22–30–7 , , , - , 60, , March 5, 1998, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 23–30–7 , , , - , 61, , March 6, 1998, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 24–30–7 , , , - , 62, , March 9, 1998, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 25–30–7 , , , - , 63, , March 11, 1998, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 25–31–7 , , , - , 64, , March 12, 1998, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 25–32–7 , , , - , 65, , March 14, 1998, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 26–32–7 , , , - , 66, , March 16, 1998, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 27–32–7 , , , - , 67, , March 18, 1998, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 27–33–7 , , , - , 68, , March 21, 1998, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 27–34–7 , , , - , 69, , March 22, 1998, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 27–35–7 , , , - , 70, , March 24, 1998, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 27–36–7 , , , - , 71, , March 26, 1998, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 28–36–7 , , , - , 72, , March 28, 1998, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 29–36–7 , , , - , 73, , March 30, 1998, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 29–37–7 , , , - , - , 74, , April 1, 1998, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 30–37–7 , , , - , 75, , April 2, 1998, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 30–37–8 , , , - , 76, , April 4, 1998, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 31–37–8 , , , - , 77, , April 7, 1998, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 32–37–8 , , , - , 78, , April 9, 1998, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 33–37–8 , , , - , 79, , April 11, 1998, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 33–37–9 , , , - , 80, , April 15, 1998, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 33–37–10 , , , - , 81, , April 16, 1998, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1997–98) , , 33–38–10 , , , - , 82, , April 18, 1998, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1997–98) , , 34–38–10 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 22, 1998 , , 1–4 , , align="left", @

, , Stars lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 24, 1998 , , 2–5 , , align="left", @ Dallas Stars , , Stars lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , April 26, 1998 , , 4–1 , , align="left", Dallas Stars , , Stars lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 28, 1998 , , 1–0 OT, , align="left", Dallas Stars , , Series tied 2–2 , , , - , 5 , , April 30, 1998 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @ Dallas Stars , , Stars lead 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , May 2, 1998 , , 2–3 OT, , align="left", Dallas Stars , , Stars win 4–2 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

; D =

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW =

Left wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position b ...

'' * '' = 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.''

Goaltending

* '' = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.''

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Draft picks

San Jose's picks at the 1997 NHL entry draft in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, Pennsylvania.

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 San Jose Sharks season S San Jose Sharks seasons

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

1990s in San Jose, California

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Draft picks

See also

Notes

References