J. F. Quintin

Jean Francois Quintin became one of the original Sharks when San Jose acquired Quintin from Minnesota in the dispersal draft on May 30, 1991. The dispersal draft was a special method the league used to stock the Sharks roster with players from Minnesota's reserve list as the Sharks owners previously owned the North Stars.

A prolific scorer in junior hockey with the QMJHL's Shawinigan Cataractes, Quintin was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in 1989 (fourth round, 75th overall). J.F. played a total of 182 games and recorded 260 total points (81 goals, 179 assists) from 1986-89.

J.F. was immediately placed with the Stars farm team in Kalamazoo when he turned pro. It certainly wasn't easy for the St. Jean Quebec native as he didn't know how to speak a word of English at the time. As he became more comfortable with his English and life away from Quebec, his hockey improved. His first year he scored 20 goals and 38 points. But by year 2 he scored 31 goals and 74 points.

In the summer of 1991 Quintin's rights transferred to the expansion San Jose Sharks. J.F.'s career looked promising at the time. He had played really well in the minors and had a strong training camp with the Sharks, leading the team in scoring. It looked like Quintin had earned himself a left wing spot with the Sharks until he seriously hurt his knee in a preseason game. He would miss the first 3/4s of the season and never really recovered from the injury. He was quoted as saying "The knee injury, it took away a step."

Quintin finished the year by playing for the Sharks farm team in Kansas City to rehabilitate the knee. He did receive a 8 game call up in which J.F. fared very well. He scored three goals, including two in his home province of Quebec. He scored his first NHL goal during San Jose's inaugural season, in a 7-4 win over the Quebec Nordiques on Feb. 26, 1992. Two days later, he scored against the Montreal Canadiens, setting the stage for a 3-3 tie. J.F.'s two goals against the teams that he grew up idolizing were a huge hilite for him.

Quintin however still struggled to make the NHL lineup with his bad knee. He played in 14 games in 1992-93 (2 goals, 5 assists) but was released by the Sharks at the end of the year. No NHL team gave him a contract offer.

Quintin continued to play pro hockey by remaining with the Kansas City Blades for several minor league seasons. He is one of the most accomplished players in Blades history with his name peppered all over the team record book.

Quintin later played five seasons in Europe, too.