Last week, Bleacher Report released their version of 'Every NHL Team's Mount Rushmore of the Quarter Century,' and it had me thinking about who William Espy and I would put on the San Jose Sharks' Mount Rushmore.

On Mount Rushmore, there are four spots. On Bleacher Report’s, they decided to go with two forwards, a defenseman, and a goalie. However, this isn’t necessarily the way anyone has to go. With the Sharks, it makes sense, especially considering they’ve had a lot of great players suit up for them. So, William and I will choose who we feel are the four most deserving Sharks to be on their Mount Rushmore, regardless of position.

Spencer’s Spot 1: Patrick Marleau

To me, there is no question that Patrick Marleau is the greatest Shark of all time. He leads the franchise in games played (1,607), goals (522), points (1,111), and power-play goals (163). Some would argue that Marleau isn’t the greatest Shark because he wasn’t always the best player on the rosters he was a part of. However, it’s hard to deny that he isn’t one of the all-time greats when considering everything he has done within the organization.

William’s Spot 1: Patrick Marleau

As Spencer noted, Marleau set quite a few records during his time with the San Jose Sharks. He's often referred to as "Mr. Shark" for very good reason. The fact that the organization decided he should be the first player with his number in the rafters of the SAP Center spoke volumes about both his on-ice accomplishments and his off-ice contributions to the Bay Area. Ultimately, there's very little question about who belongs in the top spot in my mind. 

Spencer’s Spot 2: Jumbo Joe Thornton

Jumbo Joe Thornton is widely considered to be the best Shark of all time. Regardless, him and Marleau are synonymous with the organization. He deserves to be one of the names on the team’s Mount Rushmore. He is the all-time leader in assists and won both a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross Trophy in 2005-06. He cemented himself as the best playmaker in Sharks’ history with his 804 assists, which could stand as the team’s assist record forever.

William’s Spot 2: Joe Thornton

Thornton's 15 seasons with the Sharks established him as one of the organization's biggest legends. The Sharks acquired him in his prime, and he quickly became one of the faces of the franchise alongside Marleau. In his first season in the Bay Area, Thornton became the only Hart Trophy winner in organization history. At the end of the day, his time in San Jose is what led him to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Even today, he's still making an impact by helping the organization's next group of superstars as a player development coach. 

Thornton & Marleau's Families Vacation Together In Europe When the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks" target="_blank">San Jose Sharks</a> made the trade to acquire Jumbo Joe Thornton back on November 30, 2005 from the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins" target="_blank">Boston Bruins</a>, no one in their wildest dreams would have thought that he and Patrick Marleau would become the best of friends.

Spencer’s Spot 3: Joe Pavelski

Bleacher Report had defenseman Brent Burns in this spot, but to me, it belongs to Joe Pavelski. During his time with the Sharks, he showed that he could help lead the team alongside Logan Couture as the next dynamic duo. He sits third in points with 761, ranks second in goals with 355, and fourth in assists with 406. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get the team over the hump in the playoffs and ultimately left to join the Dallas Stars after 963 games with the Sharks.

William’s Spot 3: Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Marc-Edouard Vlasic's time with the Sharks ended unceremoniously, and he's certainly been past his prime for the last few seasons. However, when he was at his best, Vlasic was one of the NHL's top stay-at-home defensemen. Alongside Marleau and Thornton, Vlasic is one of the only players to play 1,000 career games with the Sharks, finishing his time in teal after 1,323 games. He was far from the flashiest player, but in his prime, he was certainly a crucial part of the team.

Spencer’s Spot 4: Evgeni Nabokov

In the last spot, I have chosen goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. He is undeniably the best goalie in franchise history. He ranks first in games played with 563, wins with 293, and shutouts with 50. He also won the Calder Trophy in 2000-01. In terms of single-season records, during the 2007-08 season he posted a 46-21-8 record with a .910 SV% and a 2.14 GAA, which is the best season by any goalie in Sharks’ history.

William’s Spot 4: Evgeni Nabokov

Between the pipes, there's truly only one option. Nabokov often got votes for the Vezina Trophy throughout his career, and even received votes for the Hart Trophy on six occasions. He's the standard that all goaltenders in San Jose are measured up against, and until a Shark finally wins the Vezina, that's unlikely to change. 

Honorable Mentions

As mentioned in Spot 3, there are a few honorable mentions that could be switched in and out with Pavelski. The aforementioned Burns is an option, as well as Logan Couture, who ranks fourth in franchise history with 701 points. The good news for the Sharks and their fan base is that they’ve had so many good players suit up for their team. It’s very difficult to determine who rightfully belongs on their Mount Rushmore outside of Thornton and Marleau.

From The Archive: New 'Big Joe' A Winner The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

From The Archive: Same Ol’ Erik? You Betcha The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

From The Archive: Control Freak The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

From the Archive: Stay-At-Home Shark The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.