Although there have been some recent headlines, we are at the point during the NHL offseason where free agency, trades, and other transactions have slowed down. As a result, this is the perfect time to get into some personal hockey rankings, starting with the San Jose Sharks jersey history.
The Sharks have worn a total of 17 jerseys in their 30-year history, and each one will be ranked individually rather than by each jersey series. Each ranking will be provided with a photo of the jersey and a brief opinionated explanation as to why that jersey is ranked where it is. Without further ado, let's begin:
17) 2021 Reverse Retro
I liked the Sharks' Reverse Retro jersey when it was first revealed, but after I saw the team wear them on the ice, it didn't look as good. This was due to names and numbers on the back of these becoming difficult to read while on the ice. On top of that, the Sharks didn't perform very well when they wore their Reverse Retro sweaters during games this past season. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a terrible jersey, but I'm glad these are being retired after this past season because they bring not-so-great memories with them.
16) 1998-2007 White
I don't like the look of white jerseys as much as jerseys with more color in them, and I am thankful that dark-colored jerseys are usually the home jerseys for NHL teams because that makes the most sense to me. Out of all the white jerseys that the Sharks have worn in their 30-year history, I like the one they wore from 1998 to 2007 the least. It isn't a bad jersey by any means, but I find its design less appealing than those of other Sharks white jerseys.
15) 2001-07 Alternate
The alternate jersey from 2001 to 2007 is my least favorite of all the alternate jerseys the Sharks have worn. Like nearly every jersey worn by the Sharks in their history, this isn't a bad jersey. However, it seems a bit bland and monotone compared to the others, especially the later alternate jerseys.
14) 2007-13 White
The white jersey the Sharks wore on the road from 2007 to 2013 is a solid jersey, but is a bit dated and inconsistent compared to the ones ranked higher on the list.
13) 1991-98 White
The Sharks' first-ever white jersey has a solid, clean look to it, but I don't like it as much as the teal version. In addition, I like the crew-neck collars on the more recent jerseys more than the V-neck collars on the older jerseys. I should also mention that the Sharks' current logo is better than their original logo in my opinion.
12) 2013-17 White
Another solid, clean look for a white jersey. The only gripe I have about this one is that the quality of Reebok jerseys in general aren't as good as that of the current Adidas jerseys.
11) 2018-Present White
Similar design to the previous jersey on this list, except optimized by Adidas.
10) 1998-2007 Teal
This jersey serves as the inspiration for the Reverse Retro jersey that the Sharks wore during select games last season. However, I like the jersey that served as inspiration better than the Reverse Retro but not as much as other Sharks dark jerseys.
9) 2007-13 Teal
The Sharks' primary home jersey from 2007 to 2013 is a great-looking jersey that takes fans back to some great seasons in franchise history. Like its away counterpart, this jersey's main downsides are its somewhat dated and not-as-consistent feel to it. Other than that, this is an all-around great jersey that I would like to add to my collection someday.
8) 1991-98 Teal
Another all-around incredible jersey, except later versions of it in the form of the 2015-16 and 2021 Heritage jerseys have improved on the original in terms of overall quality and certain design elements.
7) 2015 Stadium Series
The jersey that the Sharks wore at their first-ever outdoor game in 2015 versus the Kings at Levi's Stadium is a one-of-a-kind gem. Although the Sharks lost that game, this is another jersey I would love to own one day. However, I am well aware that the Sharks' Stadium Series jersey from 2015 is very difficult to find and likely carries a significant premium over most Sharks jerseys due to its exclusivity. Still, it would be amazing to eventually get my hands on one.
6) 2008-17 Alternate
We have yet another fantastic jersey from the Sharks in the form of a black alternate jersey worn by the team from 2008 to 2017. It also brings back great memories as it was my first Sharks jersey that I got from my first Sharks game in early February of the 2013-14 season. As you can tell from the first photo, my first Sharks jersey had Joe Thornton on the back of it. I'm grateful that this jersey is in my collection; however, there is a later Sharks alternate jersey that is cooler and more eye-popping that I will cover later in this ranking.
5) 2015-16 Heritage
The first of two Sharks' Heritage jerseys, this one commemorating Team Teal's 25th anniversary and worn in a few games during the 2015-16 season. The main reason I have this one ranked lower than the Sharks' most recent heritage jersey is that the former jersey's collar isn't as nice, and Adidas jerseys are assembled better than Reebok jerseys.
4) 2021 Heritage
The Sharks' latest Heritage jersey commemorates their 30th anniversary and was worn during a handful of games this past season. Although the Sharks had a disappointing 2021 season, they had generally performed well in these jerseys. This is the best version of any Heritage jersey in Sharks history, and I want one in my jersey collection more than most other sports jerseys, preferably with a name and number on the back. Since the Sharks' latest Heritage jersey was only for this past season, stores and websites are running out of them, and I hope they go on clearance or are offered at a discount so it will be easier for me to get my hands on one.
3) 2013-17 Teal
A clean, simple, and unique design that works very well for the Sharks. It gets bonus points over many of San Jose's earlier jerseys because I prefer the Sharks' current logo over their original logo.
2) 2018-Present Stealth Alternate
This is the Sharks' current alternate jersey, and it is top-tier. It has such a slick, dope, and aggressive design with a glow-in-the-dark feel to it. The stick on the Stealth logo is completely teal, and the sleeves around the elbows have a circuit board pattern on them since San Jose is known for being a technology hub. Both of these elements add to the jersey's overall coolness. From the moment I saw it released and on the ice, I knew I had to have one in my possession, and I'm grateful to have one that I received as a Christmas gift with Erik Karlsson on the back of it.
1) 2017-Present Teal
The Sharks' current home jersey narrowly beats out their Stealth alternate as my favorite Sharks jersey of all time. Like their previous primary home jersey, the Sharks' current primary home jersey is solid, simple, consistent, and unique, except the latter is optimized by Adidas. Like the Stealth alternate, I am also proud to have the Sharks' current teal jersey in my collection with Joe Pavelski on the back of it. Both my Sharks teal and Stealth jerseys were produced by Fanatics, not Adidas, which is okay with me. I would love to add more of the Sharks' teal and Stealth jerseys to my jersey collection with different players' names and numbers on the back of them; that's how much I dig these jerseys.
Comment below what other Sharks/NHL/hockey aspects you want me to rank next.
Source: sjsharks.com
