In 1991, the San Jose Sharks entered the NHL as an expansion franchise and many of the players on that first team were acquired in a dispersal draft. Much of the team's existence has been full of playoff runs, many of which never really get off the ground. In the team's history, they have had eleven recognized captains.
The first two seasons were captained by Doug Wilson, a veteran player who was perfect for an expansion team like San Jose in that he offered some toughness and the ability to lead. 1993 to 1995 had Bob Errey as captain, and like Wilson, Errey was a good fit as captain, in that when the Sharks made the playoffs for the first time in 1994, he offered some playoff experience and a Stanley Cup championship in his time with Pittsburgh. The 1995-96 season was captained by Jeff Odgers, and the following two seasons were captained by Todd Gill. In 1998, Owen Nolan would be named captain, and he would bring a power forward mentality for the next five seasons. The 2003-04 season began with rotating captains, as Mike Ricci, Vincent Damphousse, and Alyn McCauley would begin as captain. Midway through the season, Patrick Marleau would be named captain. He would be stripped as captain after the 2008-09 season in which the Sharks were the top seed in the playoffs, yet lost to Anaheim in the first round. Rob Blake would be named captain for the 2009-10 season and would serve that one season before retiring. The offseason would see the Sharks name Joe Thornton as captain.
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