Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Kuchinja kwoumurairidzi kweSharks kwakaperekedzwa nokuwana vatambi vashomanene nokutanga. Pakati peizvi, kuwedzerwa kwevashanu-nguva NHL All-Star muchengeti wepagedhi Mike Vernon kwakaratidza kuve kwakakosha. Musi waAugust 18, 1997, maSharks akatenga Vernon kubva kuDetroit Red Wings nokuda kwekusarudzwa kwechipiri; panguva yekutengeserana, Vernon akanga ari mwedzi miviri chete kubva pakudzorera maRed Wings kukunda mu1997 Stanley Cup Finals. Mukuwedzera, vaSharks vakanyora mberi kwaPatrick Marleau akakurumbira zvikuru nechisarudzo chechipiri chose mu
1997 NHL Entry Draft. Pasinei nenguva isina kunaka ye rookie, Marleau aizonakidzwa nekubudirira kukuru neSharks mumakumi maviri emakore anotevera. Pakupedzisira, Marco Sturm, akawanikwa ari wokutanga muna 1996 akawedzerwa pachikwata pakutanga kwemwaka. Sturm naMarleau, zvikurukuru, vakawedzera muunganidzwa wevaduku vaduku vaipfuura mberi uyo wakanga watova nemadzimai makuru Jeff Friesen naOwen Nolan.