Collection: San Jose Sharks Hockey Cards

San Jose Sharks hockey cards showcase Hall of Fame legend Joe Thornton and modern stars like Logan Couture and William Eklund. Eklund’s rookie cards are key targets for collectors, especially his Young Guns rookie from Upper Deck. Thornton's vintage cards remain nostalgic collector favorites, while modern Sharks rookies and autographs provide strong appeal for team loyalists.

The San Jose Sharks, founded in 1991, quickly established themselves as one of the NHL’s most popular expansion franchises, combining teal jerseys, a loyal fan base at the Shark Tank, and competitive teams that became perennial playoff contenders. Early years featured goaltender Artūrs Irbe, captain Bob Errey, and the stunning 1994 playoff upset over the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings, marking the franchise’s first postseason series victory. The late 1990s and 2000s brought stars like Owen Nolan, whose physical play and scoring touch made him a fan favorite, and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who backstopped multiple playoff runs. The 2000s also introduced forward Patrick Marleau, the franchise’s all-time leader in games and goals, and Joe Thornton, acquired in 2005, who became one of hockey’s premier playmakers, winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP that same season. Alongside sniper Jonathan Cheechoo, the 2006 Rocket Richard winner, and captain Joe Pavelski, the Sharks reached the Western Conference Finals multiple times but fell short until their 2016 Stanley Cup Final appearance, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins despite strong performances from Brent Burns, Logan Couture, and goaltender Martin Jones. Recent seasons have focused on transitioning from the Marleau-Thornton era to a younger core featuring Tomas Hertl, Erik Karlsson, the 2023 Norris Trophy winner, and top prospects aiming to bring San Jose back to playoff contention. From the early “Cinderella” upsets to consistent playoff runs and modern rebuilding efforts, the Sharks’ history blends star power, near-misses, and one of the NHL’s most passionate West Coast fan bases.