Sharks Are The Last Team In The NHL Without An Ad On Their Jersey

Monday, September 21, 2026
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The San Jose Sharks' future is bright, as they've accumulated talent across their lineup and recently signed first-round pick Ivar Stenberg. 

General manager Mike Grier has set up the team for success as an eventual contender in the NHL, if Macklin Celebrini can be the one to help lead them into April and beyond once he matures as a leader. 

While they've been categorized as bottom dwellers and one of the worst teams while still building chemistry between their players, they've done something uncharacteristic of the other 31 franchises in the NHL. 

They're the last team in the NHL without an ad on their jersey. The decision to let teams put a second advertisement on their jersey (if we count Adidas or Fanatics) began in 2022-23 as another way for owners who cried poor to generate more cash flow after the downturn during the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened season. 

The league and ownership would squeeze fans and players out of money to make up for the shortfalls in escrow, and this was just another cynical cash grab. 

“Gary knew we had to come up with additional revenue streams,” Brad Alberts, Dallas Stars president, told ESPN this week. “It certainly had an impact on him, to push him over the line and have us do this. But we discussed this for a number of years.”

21% Revenue Added By 2024 Thanks To Ads

 We'd eventually see ads on helmets, and specialized ads for each market on the ice during games as the league began finding new ways of hoarding cash in order to fill their coffers once again. 

Of course, money makes the world go round in the NHL, as players are forced to pay into escrow, and owners need cash to pay their stars and depth talent. Per Sports Business Journal, the multitude of ad buys on the helmets and jerseys by 2024 saw a revenue increase of 21%. A gargantuan return for a league that fails to invest in ways that grow the game or make it easier to watch instead of subscribing to multiple streaming services (HBO Max, ESPN+). 

While the Sharks do have helmet ads, they're the last team in the league without a jersey sponsor.


It's a fair trade-off here, as fans get to enjoy their iconic teal jerseys without another brand trying to sell them something. 

But don't count on this lasting forever, as Sharks ownership could decide to switch this up at anymoment, appreciate it while it lasts. 

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