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San Jose Sharks Thowback Jerseys: Ten Reasons Why It Should Pay Homage To The California Golden Seals

By Catherine Silverman

Apr 30, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) makes a save against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Kings defeated the Sharks 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) makes a save against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Kings defeated the Sharks 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ten Reasons Why the California Golden Seals deserve to be included in the San Jose Sharks throwback jerseys

I’m salty, I’m bitter. Whatever.

When the San Jose Sharks had their possible 2015 Stadium Series jersey designs leaked Friday night, I was impressively underwhelmed for a number of reasons.

Do you know what would have made me less underwhelmed? If the jersey design committee had struck a deal with California designer Ross Taylor, and used this mock-up he created:

design credit to Ross Taylor
design credit to Ross Taylor /

This uniform sketch, named the ‘California Golden Sharks’, should be used by the San Jose Sharks pretty much every single year as a throwback — and here’s why.

  1. As one of the NHL‘s newest teams, this gives San Jose an opportunity to wear throwback jerseys that actually look different from what they already wear.
  2. The California Golden Seals, who were the National Hockey League’s first Bay Area team from 1967-1976, pretty much originated the teal jerseys. San Jose totally owes them a nod for this.
  3. With the explosion of hockey’s fanbase in the past decade, this is a perfect way to educate new fans on some of the league’s now-defunct franchises; this argument applies to why the Hurricanes owe Hartford a nod and the Avalanche should pay tribute to Nordiques.
  4. By actually producing these, the California Golden Seals can officially have an alternative(ish) logo to remember that isn’t their sorry cousin of the Buffaslug.
  5. The San Jose Sharks are one of the few teams that never really made any color scheme changes; even the Phoenix Arizona Coyotes have swapped out that insane multi-colored Aztec rug they used to wear for a simple crimson and black. This gives them some hideous teal-and-yellow action, effectively endearing their current uniform even more to all current fans.
  6. Have I mentioned that the old logo looked like the Buffaslug?
  7. No one is fooled; we all know the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars are both DYING to wear something referencing the Minnesota North Stars when they host an outdoor game. Since I thrive on chaos, this provides both teams the perfect justification for doing so — and gives us all a chance to watch them tear each other to shreds when it happens.
  8. This > the Star Trek uniforms they’re actually probably wearing this year.
  9. This would inevitably lead to Columbus wishing they’d paid homage to the only ever semi-relevant Ohio hockey team, the Cleveland Barons, which is where the Golden Seals relocated to and played from 1976-1978 before being shuttled once more… to Minnesota, where they were dubbed the North Stars…
  10. … which would lead to the realization that the California Golden Seals are ACTUALLY THE DALLAS STARS, and establish a new three-way rivalry between San Jose, Minnesota, and Dallas via a throwback jersey pissing contest.

Someone, please make this happen.

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