The San Jose Sharks have been a franchise for 25 years and until Monday, when the Stanley Cup Final starts, have never made it to the final. Prior to this season six teams have never made it to the end of the play offs (Phoenix, Nashville, San Jose, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Columbus).Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski and Thornton have never played in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Marleau has been with the Sharks since he was drafted by them in 1997. This season he became one of five players to play over 1,400 career games with only one team. As well as being the youngest player to reach 1,300 and 1,400 career games played. Marleau won two gold medals for Canada. For the season. his stats are 29 goals, 38 assists.

Pavelski has been with the Sharks since 2006 and was named captain this year.  During his first season he was given the nickname “Little Joe” during a hot streak before a leg injury that radically decreased his playing time in his rookie season.  He played in two Olympics (2010 and 2014) coming home with a sliver in 2010. So far this season, Pavelski has 51 goals and 49 assists. The Captain has come a long way from his humble start with the Sharks as a seventh round pick in 2003.

Thornton started playing for the Sharks in 2006, coming from the Bruins. He was given the nickname “Jumbo Joe”. He also played in two Olympic games in 2006 and 2010, bringing home the gold with teammate Marleau for Canada in 2010.  This season Joe Thornton has been on fire with 32 goals and 72 assists. He leads the team in assists. Thornton was stripped of his captaincy but stuck around to help this squad make its first ever Stanley Cup Final.

The San Jose Sharks take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday at CONSOL Energy Center, puck drop is slated for 8:05 PM

Photo credits: https://fansided.com/2016/04/13/nhl-playoffs-5-reasons-san-jose-sharks-can-win-stanley-cup/2/