The San Jose Sharks home opener is slowly getting closer, as we’re down to 61 days until they host the Vegas Golden Knights to kick off the season. The number 61 has been used twice in Sharks history. Most recently, Santeri Hatakka wore the number in nine NHL games during the 2021-23 season. After a few seasons in the American Hockey League and another short NHL stint with the New Jersey Devils, Hatakka is returning to Europe this season to play in the Swedish Hockey League. In the Bay Area, though, there’s only one player who comes to mind for most when they see the number 61. Justin Braun, a steady defensive-minded defenseman, wore it for parts of nine seasons for the Sharks. From 2011 to 2019, Braun established himself as an everyday player on the blue line before moving to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2019-20 season, where he’d spend the majority of his remaining NHL career. Braun is still playing today, at the age of 38, becoming a fixture of the German DEL over the past couple of seasons. He’s recently joined a new team for the 2025-26 season, as he’ll suit up for Dresdner Eislöwen this fall.
