Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Mgbanwe onye nkuzi Sharks na-esonyere ọtụtụ nnweta egwuregwu na mbido. N'ime ndị a, mgbakwunye nke NHL All-Star Goalkeeper Mike Vernon gosipụtara nke kachasị mkpa. N'abalị iri na asatọ nke ọnwa Ọgọstụ, afọ 1997, ndị Sharks nwetara Vernon site na Detroit Red Wings maka ụzọ abụọ nke agba nke abụọ; n'oge ahia ahụ, Vernon dị naanị ọnwa abụọ site na ịlaghachi azụ na Red Wings iji merie na 1997 Stanley Cup Finals. Na mgbakwunye, ndị Sharks wepụtara onye na-atụ anya na-atụ anya Patrick Marleau na nke abụọ n'ozuzu ha na draft
1997 NHL Entry Draft. N'agbanyeghi oge rookie na-adịghị mma, Marleau ga-enwe ọganihu dị ukwuu na Sharks n'ime afọ iri abụọ sochirinụ. N'ikpeazụ, a gbakwunyere Marco Sturm, onye mbụ a họpụtara na 1996, na ndepụta ahụ na mbido oge. Sturm na Marleau, ọkachasị, gbakwunyere nchịkọta nke ndị na-eto eto na-eto eto nke gụnyere ndị isi Jeff Friesen na Owen Nolan.