It’s hard to believe for the people who were around to remember him, but Arturs Irbe played just 183 regular season games in Sharks teal. He was the undisputed starter for just two seasons, one of them shortened by lockout. But Irbe looms large in San Jose Sharks lore. He was the first person to seize the mantle of most beloved Shark, and his play helped to establish the Sharks in a time when the nascent team was a joke to many hockey fans. He is remembered fondly among NHL fans for his grimy-looking pads — which he repaired and maintained himself — but was so much more than that.
Ex-Shark of the Week: Arturs Irbe
