San Jose Sharks
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Max Miller·Aug 7, 2023·Partner

Top 5 Sharks Fighters of All Time

The San Jose Sharks have had some of the game's best enforcers. Here are the top five best fighters in San Jose history.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports - Top 5 Sharks Fighters of All TimeKyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports - Top 5 Sharks Fighters of All Time

The San Jose Sharks have had their fair share of enforcers throughout NHL history.

John Scott, Jody Shelley, and Marty McSorley wore the teal uniform and got into scraps.

There have been some iconic fights in Sharks' history too. Brad Staubitz taking on Jordin Tootoo is arguably the most significant fight, with a Sharks jersey being worn.

These five fighters will forever live in San Jose Sharks' enforcer history.

1. Link Gaetz

48GP 326PIM 14 fights (with San Jose)

Although Gaetz wasn't with the Sharks for very long, he made his presence felt. 

The 6'3, 215lbs forward made sure he got the Sharks going. 

According to hockeyfights.com, his best fight in teal came against the great Bob Probert on Nov. 14, 1991.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cI1wBYgxwQ[/embed]

"The two drop the gloves and tie up next to the San Jose bench. They each connect with a few rights just before Probert switches hands and lands two lefts. Probert switches back, and they go toe-to-toe with rights. Gaetz switches hands and starts throwing lefts while Probert struggles to get an arm free. They grapple for a short while until Probert gets loose and throws two uppercuts that knock Gaetz's helmet off. They each throw another right and then wrestle around until the linesmen come in. Probert tries to get a right in, but the two are separated and sent to the dressing rooms."

Gaetz is not the biggest name on this list, but when Sharks fans think of fighters, he is the first to come to mind.

2. Jeff Odgers

334GP 1001PIMS 95 fights (with San Jose)

Odgers is the all-time leader in fights for the San Jose Sharks with 95. 

At 5'11, Odgers, by far, was not the biggest guy, but he was incredibly scrappy. He played with an edge. He did his best to get under the skin of the opponent. 

Odgers had 21 fights against the Los Angeles Kings, the most against any opponent in his career. The Vancouver Canucks came in second with 17.

Odgers would take on some of the other great fighters in NHL history, and more than once. Odgers fought Probert, Tie Domi, and Rob Ray six times. He scrapped with McSorley four times.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkaWnbqmZs[/embed]

With fighting beginning to fade in the NHL, Odgers team record of 95 fights with the Sharks is unlikely ever to be matched.

3. Ryane Clowe

423GP 567PIMS 49 fights (with San Jose)

Clowe was and still is a fan favorite for the San Jose Sharks. He had a shootout move to the backhand that was nearly unstoppable.

Clowe's 49 fights rank second all-time in Sharks' history. Clowe put up 273 points in his eight years with the Sharks. He became the do-it-all guy before it got popular. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS0kMb2nqLc[/embed]

He would hit, fight, and score when called upon. At 6'3, 225lbs, the winger was one of the original power forwards the NHL had seen. 

The most fights in a Sharks uniform came in the 09-10 season, where he tallied 11. 

He fought against the Anaheim Ducks six times and the Calgary Flames five times in his career.

It is hard to think of other names of iconic Sharks fighters and not bring up Ryane Clowe.

4. Micheal Haley

97GP 232PIMS 28 fights (with San Jose)

Haley is remembered as one of the last few true enforcers in the NHL. 

At 5'11, Haley was not the biggest enforcer, but he threw punches with the best of them. His most commonly fought team was the Ducks, with eight. 

His top opponents were Chris Stewart and Mark Stuart, who Haley fought three times.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI3_KHfegqo[/embed]

Haley led the league in PIMS with 212 during the 17-18 season with the Florida Panthers. 

As for his time in teal, Sharks fans remember Haley as the ultimate tough guy. He was willing to go out there and protect his team and get the crowd going.

5. Brad Staubitz

82GP 186PIMS 20 fights (with San Jose)

A few other players could've rounded out this list, but Staubitz's time in San Jose is remembered for his fighting.

He has arguably the most iconic scrap in San Jose Sharks' history. Both players threw haymaker after haymaker in a bout with Nashville Predators' Jordin Tootoo. Both players were left bloodied. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xTtkozOvdg[/embed]

Staubitz was the ultimate tough guy winger and will be remembered in San Jose for his energetic but fierce fights.

He fought the most against the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets in his career. He had fought against those teams six times.