We’re just 78 days away from the San Jose Sharks kicking off their season against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Only two players in franchise history have worn the number 78. The first was Benn Ferriero from 2010 to 2012, and most recently, Nico Sturm in 2023, before switching to 7 after the first season.
Ferriero played 98 total NHL games over five years. Ninety-two of those came with the Sharks, where he spent three seasons. He scored 14 goals and added 8 assists for 22 points. After his time in San Jose, he had brief stints with the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, playing just six more NHL games and recording one assist.
Then there’s Sturm, who has bounced around the league and spent three seasons with the Sharks. He joined the organization in 2022-23 and was traded to the Florida Panthers at the 2025 deadline. During his time in San Jose, he played 184 games, putting up 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points. Over his NHL career, Sturm has appeared in 331 games across seven seasons with the Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Panthers. He has recorded 92 points in that span.
Former Sharks Forward Linked to CSKA Moscow
According to <a href="https://belarushockey.com/khl/news/2025/07/16/cska-projavljaet-interes-k-napadajuschemu-kevinu-labanku/">Belarus Hockey</a>, it appears that former San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc may be making the jump to play in the Kontinental Hockey League.
San Jose Sharks Could Once Again Have Multiple Calder Trophy Candidates
Last season, the San Jose Sharks had a finalist for the Calder Trophy, Macklin Celebrini, and another finished sixth in voting, Will Smith. Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Sharks are essentially guaranteed to have one candidate for the Calder, but there’s a chance they could have as many as three players with a legitimate shot of winning the Award at the end of the season.
80 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 80
We are just 80 days away from the start of the San Jose Sharks season against the <a href="http://thn.com/vegas">Vegas Golden Knights.</a>
81 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 81
We’re officially just 81 days away from opening night, when the San Jose Sharks will host the <a href="http://thn.com/vegas">Vegas Golden Knights </a>to officially kick off the 2025-26 season.
From The Archive: Go-Go Sharks
The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 78 years of history, stories, and features.