Editing San Jose Sharks (section)

====Playoff contention, falling short of expectation (2006–2015)====
The Sharks entered the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]] as the youngest team in average age, as well as the biggest team in average weight, and they raced out to a 20–7–0 start, the best in franchise history. A concern made by fans and members of the media was the lack of a left winger to play on a line with the duo of Thornton and Cheechoo. Wilson seemingly addressed this issue by acquiring 25-year-old 20-goal-scorer [[Mark Bell (ice hockey)|Mark Bell]] from the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite scoring a goal in his first two games with San Jose, Bell was widely considered a flop in San Jose. Off-ice issues, including being cited for drunk driving and an alleged hit-and-run<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Bell booked on drunk driving, hit-and-run suspicion |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2575018 |access-date=October 26, 2012 |publisher=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> contributed to his on-ice play. By the end of the season, Bell was consistently either a healthy scratch or a fourth-liner.

[[File:Brian Campbell 08.jpg|upright|thumb|In an effort to bolster their team for the [[2008 Stanley Cup playoffs|2008]] playoffs, the Sharks acquired [[Brian Campbell]] prior to the League's trade deadline.]]
Two significant trades were made at the trade deadline for defenseman [[Craig Rivet]] and winger [[Bill Guerin]]. The trades coincided with Nabokov putting together a string of outstanding performances. The Sharks finished the regular season with the best record in franchise history at 51–26–5. In the conference quarterfinals, the Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators for the second year in a row. In the conference semifinals, the Sharks were defeated for the second time by the Detroit Red Wings.

In advance of the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]], the Sharks updated their logos and jerseys to adjust to the new Rbk EDGE jersey.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerseys Through The Years|url=https://www.nhl.com/sharks/team/jersey-history|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=SJSharks.com|access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

The Sharks rode on a very hot streak in the month of March. They were aided by the trade-deadline acquisition of [[Brian Campbell]], for whom they gave up [[Steve Bernier]]. Going the entire month without a regulation loss, the Sharks captured their third Pacific Division title with a franchise-record 108 points. San Jose started the [[2008 Stanley Cup playoffs|2008 playoffs]] beating the Calgary Flames four games to three in San Jose's first-ever Game 7 on home ice. San Jose eventually lost to the Dallas Stars in the conference semifinals. Game 6 required four overtime periods, and was the longest game in the team's history. This was the Sharks' third playoff loss to Dallas.

The Ron Wilson era officially came to an end on May 12 when the Sharks fired him, citing San Jose's disappointing second-round losses in the previous three seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=363248 |title=San Jose Sharks – News: Wilson Relieved of Head Coaching Duties – 05/12/08 |access-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513130152/http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=363248 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Wilson ended his tenure in San Jose with 206 wins, 122 losses, 19 ties, and 48 losses in overtime or in the shootout in 385 regular season games and a 28–24 record in 52 postseason games. He moved on to be hired as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with assistant coaches who were also two former Sharks, [[Tim Hunter (ice hockey)|Tim Hunter]] and [[Rob Zettler]], to make up the Toronto coaching staff.

On June 11, 2008, the San Jose Sharks named former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach [[Todd McLellan]] as their new head coach for the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Carchidi|first=Sam|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/flyers/McLellan-out-in-San-Jose-becomes-major-Flyers-candidate.html|title=McLellan out in San Jose, becomes major Flyers coaching candidate|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=April 20, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2017}}</ref> [[Todd Richards (ice hockey)|Todd Richards]], [[Trent Yawney]] and Jay Woodcroft were named assistant coaches, while Brett Heimlich was named staff assistant. During the off-season, San Jose's major headlines included signing defenseman [[Rob Blake]], acquiring defensemen [[Dan Boyle (ice hockey)|Dan Boyle]] and [[Brad Lukowich]], as well as trading defenseman Craig Rivet to the [[Buffalo Sabres]]. Midway through the season, San Jose added playoff warrior [[Claude Lemieux]] to their roster. Lemieux, 43 years old, was rejoining the NHL after a five-year absence. At the trade deadline, San Jose acquired checking-line winger [[Travis Moen]] and the injured defenseman [[Kent Huskins]] from the Anaheim Ducks.

The Sharks finished the regular season as Presidents' Trophy champions with 53 wins and 117 points, both franchise records. Despite their successful regular season, the Sharks were eliminated by the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks in six games in the first round of the playoffs. The team was heavily criticized{{By whom|date=March 2014}} for once again failing to succeed in the postseason. General manager Doug Wilson promised the team would undergo significant changes in the off-season.

[[File:Dany Heatley 2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Dany Heatley]] was acquired by the Sharks during the 2009 off-season. The Sharks sent [[Milan Michálek|Milan Michalek]] and [[Jonathan Cheechoo]] to the [[Ottawa Senators]] in return for Heatley.]]
In the 2009 off-season, Wilson held to his word with many major moves. The first was Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich to the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. It was widely believed{{By whom|date=March 2014}} that San Jose made this trade so it could free up [[NHL Salary Cap|salary cap]] space to make a second trade: [[Milan Michálek|Milan Michalek]] and Jonathan Cheechoo were sent to the [[Ottawa Senators]] in exchange for [[Dany Heatley]] and a draft pick. Assistant coach Todd Richards left and was replaced by Matt Shaw. Aside from the trades, several contracts were not renewed, including those of [[Mike Grier]], [[Marcel Goc]], [[Tomáš Plíhal|Tomas Plihal]] and [[Alexei Semenov (hockey player)|Alexei Semenov]].

San Jose also signed forward [[Scott Nichol (ice hockey)|Scott Nichol]] and added grit to the team by signing [[Joe Callahan (ice hockey)|Joe Callahan]], [[Jed Ortmeyer]] and [[Manny Malhotra]], plus [[Benn Ferriero]]. Jeremy Roenick and Claude Lemieux both announced their retirements from the NHL. Another major move by San Jose was stripping Patrick Marleau of the captaincy and assigning it to the newly re-signed Rob Blake. One reason for the move was that Marleau was named [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]] by Wilson and McLellan wanted to name his own. Dan Boyle and Joe Thornton were named the alternates. On February 7, 2010, San Jose acquired [[Niclas Wallin]] from the [[Carolina Hurricanes]]. On February 12, 2010, San Jose traded [[Jody Shelley]] to the New York Rangers for a draft pick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=60529 |title=2010 NHL Trade Deadline list of trades – 2010 Trade Deadline |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref>

The Sharks finished the regular season leading the Western Conference with 113 points and being the second team in the NHL after the [[Washington Capitals]]. In the conference quarterfinals, the Sharks eliminated the Colorado Avalanche. In the conference semifinals, the Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings. The eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, beat the Sharks in the conference finals with a four-game sweep.

On June 23, 2010, Wilson announced that they would not offer an unrestricted free agent contract to long-time goaltender Evgeni Nabokov after playing ten seasons with the team. Due to the cap issue, the Sharks had to choose between former captain Patrick Marleau and Nabokov. On July 1, 2010, the Sharks signed goalie [[Antero Niittymäki|Antero Niittymaki]] from the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_15421087 | title=Sharks sign goalie Antero Niittymaki to two-year contract | date=July 2010}}</ref> On September 2, 2010, the Sharks signed former member of the Chicago Blackhawks and Stanley Cup-winning goaltender [[Antti Niemi (ice hockey)|Antti Niemi]] to a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharks Add Niemi|url=http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=536763|website=San Jose Sharks|date=September 2, 2010|access-date=May 26, 2016}}</ref> Niemi was the goaltender who helped the Blackhawks defeat the Sharks in the conference finals the season before.<ref name="niemi">{{cite web|title=Antti Niemi signs four-year contract extension|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=6170332|publisher=ESPN|date=March 1, 2011}}</ref> On March 1, 2011, Niemi signed a four-year contract extension with San Jose worth $15.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="niemi"/>

[[File:Jumbo Joe and Dany Heatley vs Ryan Kesler and Dan Hamhuis (5757641600).jpg|thumb|The Sharks faced the [[Vancouver Canucks]] during the [[2011 Stanley Cup playoffs#Western Conference Final|2011]] Western Conference finals. The Sharks would lose the series 4–1.]]
On March 31, 2011, the Sharks clinched their 13th (and seventh consecutive) playoff berth in franchise history with a 6–0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Five days later, they clinched their sixth Pacific Division championship. Entering the [[2011 Stanley Cup playoffs|2011 playoffs]] as the second seed in the Western Conference, the Sharks opened their playoff run with the franchise's first-ever playoff series against division and state rivals, the Los Angeles Kings. After winning Game 1, 3–2 in overtime on a [[Joe Pavelski]] goal, the Sharks dropped the second game of the series 4–0, heading to [[Staples Center]] with the series tied at one apiece. The Kings took another 4–0 lead in Game 3 but five-second-period goals by the Sharks capped with a [[Devin Setoguchi]] overtime winner gave the Sharks a 6–5 victory and tied them for the second-biggest comeback in Stanley Cup playoff history. They would go on to win Game 4, lose Game 5 and finally win the series in its sixth game, with captain Joe Thornton scoring the series winner in the third overtime game of the series.

The Sharks advanced to the conference semifinals to face the third-seed Detroit Red Wings, whom they had defeated in five games during the previous postseason's second round. Just like the year prior, the Sharks won the first three games of the series and lost the fourth but instead of replicating the previous year's success in Game 5, the Sharks dropped two more games as the Red Wings became the eighth team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games of a series. However, they would not become the fourth team in history to pull off the comeback as the Sharks prevailed, 3–2, with the game-winning goal scored by former captain Patrick Marleau who had endured media criticism from former teammate and now NBC Sports Network television personality Jeremy Roenick for his lackluster play in Game 5 of the series against the Red Wings. The Sharks advanced to their third conference finals series, their first playoff meeting with the Vancouver Canucks. San Jose dropped the first two games of the series at [[Rogers Arena]] in Vancouver but rebounded with a 4–3 victory thanks to two first-period goals by Marleau in Game 3. However, they lost the fourth game of the series and eventually were eliminated from the playoffs after a Game 5 in Vancouver that featured a game-tying goal by the Canucks' [[Ryan Kesler]] with 18.3 seconds remaining in the third period as well as a quirky bounce off a side stanchion that allowed [[Kevin Bieksa]] to score the overtime goal that advanced Vancouver to their third Stanley Cup Finals and left the Sharks eliminated in Round 3 for the second consecutive postseason.

[[File:Brent Burns 2016.jpg|thumb|left|upright|During the [[2011 NHL entry draft]] the Sharks acquired [[Brent Burns]] through a trade with the [[Minnesota Wild]].]]
The first major move made by San Jose in the 2011 off-season was to trade popular winger (and former first-round pick) Devin Setoguchi, the Sharks' 2010 first-round pick [[Charlie Coyle]] and a first-round pick in the [[2011 NHL entry draft]] to the [[Minnesota Wild]] for All-Star defenseman [[Brent Burns]] and a second-round pick in the [[2012 NHL entry draft]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Pierre LeBrun |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/9708/burns-setoguchi-trade-good-for-both-clubs |title=Burns-Setoguchi trade good for both clubs |date=June 25, 2011 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=567147 |title=PRESS RELEASE: Burns Now With Sharks |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref> This came after Setoguchi had signed a three-year, $9&nbsp;million contract extension with the Sharks. The Sharks continued their off-season retool by orchestrating a second transaction with the Wild, shipping Dany Heatley to Minnesota in exchange for [[Martin Havlát|Martin Havlat]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568408 |title=Sharks Get Havlat For Heatley |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref> both to relieve cap space as Heatley was slated to carry a cap hit $2.5&nbsp;million greater than Havlat's for the duration of their respective contracts and to acquire a player in Havlat with a history of playoff production at the expense of Heatley, whose postseason numbers with the Sharks had been far less than stellar – the forward had managed to score just five goals in 32 playoff games in two years with San Jose.

The Sharks finished the [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12 season]] with a 43–29–10 record, good for 96 points and the seventh seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, after winning Game 1 of their first-round series with the St. Louis Blues in overtime, they lost the final four games of the series, marking the second time they lost in the conference quarterfinals under Todd McLellan. It was later announced that McLellan would remain on the bench for a fifth season.

Prior to the [[2012–13 NHL lockout|lockout]]-shortened [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]], [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] player and coach [[Larry Robinson]] was added to McLellan's coaching staff to assist with San Jose's penalty-killing unit, which was 29th in the NHL during the previous season. Assistant coach [[Jim Johnson (ice hockey, born 1962)|Jim Johnson]] was also added to bring a defensive style to the play of the Sharks. Brett Heimlich was also promoted to the role of video coordinator to assist the new coaching staff. Along with the two coaches, veteran defenseman Brad Stuart was re-acquired in order to bolster the Sharks' blue line, and on January 12, he played in his first game at HP Pavilion in over seven years. In the first round of the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|2013 playoffs]], the Sharks swept the Vancouver Canucks, their first series-sweep in franchise history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dubow|first=Josh|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sharks-sweep-canucks-4-3-075426002--nhl.html|title=Sharks sweep Canucks with 4–3 win in OT|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=May 7, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2013}}</ref> The Sharks would subsequently fall 4–3 to the [[2012 Stanley Cup Finals|defending Stanley Cup champion]] Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the playoffs.

Prior to the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], the Sharks unveiled new uniforms, which included less orange, along with adding a lace-up collar.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stubits|first=Brian|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/23236738/sharks-unveil-newlook-jerseys-with-classic-approach-less-orange|title=Sharks unveil new-look jerseys with classic approach, less orange|work=[[CBS Sports]]|date=August 20, 2013|access-date=October 31, 2013}}</ref> In addition to the new uniforms, prior to the start of the season, Brett Heimlich took on the additional role of statistical analyst for the coaching staff. The Sharks started the season 8–0–1, and were the last team in the NHL to stay undefeated in regulation<ref>{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/sports/hockey/sharks-stay-undefeated.html|title=Sharks Stay Undefeated|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 22, 2013|access-date=October 31, 2013}}</ref> until October 25, when the Sharks lost to the Boston Bruins.<ref>{{cite news|agency=[[Reuters]]|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/ice-hockey-highlights-thursdays-national-hockey-league-games-035424177--nhl.html|title=Ice Hockey – Bruins end Sharks run|work=[[Yahoo! Sports|Yahoo! Sport]]|date=October 25, 2013|access-date=October 31, 2013}}</ref> In the first round of the [[2014 Stanley Cup playoffs|2014 playoffs]], the Sharks were matched with rivals and eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. Although the Sharks took a 3–0 series lead, the Kings came back to tie the series before advancing with a 5–1 win in game seven (only the fourth time in the 97-year history of the NHL where a team lost a best-of-seven series after winning their first three games). After the loss, general manager Doug Wilson described the Sharks' playoff failures "like [[Charlie Brown]] trying to kick a football".

On August 20, 2014, head coach Todd McLellan announced the team would go into training camp for the [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15 season]] without a captain, and that all players (including former captains Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau) would have the opportunity to compete for the captaincy.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pollak|first1=David|title=Sharks take away Thornton's captaincy; Raffi Torres out indefinitely|url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_26373522/sharks-take-away-thorntons-captaincy-raffi-torres-out|access-date=August 20, 2014|work=Contra Costa Times|date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> No captain was named during the season. The Sharks hosted the [[2015 NHL Stadium Series|2015 Stadium Series]] against the Kings at [[Levi's Stadium]] in February 2015, losing 2–1. Earlier in the season, the Sharks were in playoff contention, but they would ultimately lose games to key Western Conference opponents as the season went on. Despite posting a record of 40–33–9, the Sharks finished fifth in the Pacific Division and missed the playoffs for the first time in ten years. On April 20, 2015, the team announced that they had agreed to "part ways" with McLellan, Johnson and Woodcroft, as well as Video Coordinator Heimlich.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=764206&navid=TW|title=Sharks and McLellan Mutually Agree to Part Ways}}</ref>