The powerful and poignant images recorded our losses – from wildfires and shootings to COVID and abortion rights – and our gains, in sports arenas, playing fields and parades. There were deaths and funerals and festivals that documented the sorrow of the year and also the elation.

The astonishing and the sublime also were captured – sometimes in the same frame. Such was the retirement of a 100-year-old park ranger.

The Bay Area’s beauty is on full display – the sunsets, the salt ponds, the fog and snow. A stunning supermoon, the last of the year, rose behind the Golden Gate Bridge.

We present 2022, through the eyes of Bay Area News Group photographers.

Highs and Lows

Gabe Abatecola, of San Jose, watches the final minutes of the United States men’s national team World Cup match against Iran in San Jose on Nov. 29. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Family members embrace as law enforcement officers escort the body of Alameda County Sheriff Deputy Aubrey Phillips through the grounds of Oakmont Memorial Park & Mortuary in Lafayette on Feb. 15. Phillips died after suffering a medical emergency while carrying out a traffic stop Saturday morning in the city of Dublin. (Aric Crabb/Staff Photographer)

Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry (30) celebrate the final moments of their fourth-quarter comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference Finals playoffs at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 20. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

St. Francis’ Erin Curtis (6) hugs St. Francis’ Whitney Wallace (5) as they celebrate their NorCal Open Division Girls Volleyball Championship 3-1 win against Archbishop Mitty at St. Francis High School in Mountain View on Nov. 15. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Natalia (no last name given) and her son Stefan, 8, listen to speakers during a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine outside in Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Feb. 24. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Fr. Petro Dyachok becomes emotional during an interview in St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Center in Santa Clara on March 10. His wife, Natalya, is currently staying in the city of Chortkiv in western Ukraine to help their daughter and her family. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Tina McWright holds up the helmet of her son Camdan McWright during a moment of tribute for the San Jose State football player who was killed in a traffic accident last week, before the Spartan’s game against Nevada in San Jose on Oct. 29. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe comforts Bianca Palomera as she becomes emotional while speaking at City Hall in Antioch on Dec. 13. Palomera, 19, an employee at The Habit in Antioch, defended an autistic child who was being bullied, and lost her right eye after being punched. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

A moment of silence is held during a community meeting in Montague on Sept. 4 as the sheriff of Siskiyou County confirms two people died in the Mill Fire. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

Stacey Silva of Gilroy with a blanket made in memory of her parents at her home in Gilroy on May 10. Her father, Gary Young, died of COVID-19 in 2020. Her mother, Melody Young, died of cancer in 2019. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Split-Second Action

Coco Gauff returns the ball against Naomi Osaka in the second set during the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament at San José State University on Aug. 4. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

The California High cheerleaders perform a halftime routine during the Grizzlies football game against Pittsburg High in San Ramon on Sept. 9. (Doug Duran/Staff Photographer)

Li Yu-Jhun serves during the Women’s Doubles final for the World Table Tennis Feeder Series Fremont 2022 at Table Tennis America in Fremont on May 8. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Sharks’ Rudolfs Balcers fights for the puck against Florida Panthers’ Jonathan Huberdeau at the SAP Center on March 15. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Warriors’ Klay Thompson uses control of the ball as he’s double teamed by Celtics’ Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the Chase Center on June 13. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

49ers’ Samson Ebukam strips away the ball from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 3. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

Warriors’ Jordan Poole goes up for a basket against Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) during Game 3 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series at Chase Center on May 7. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

Los Angeles Angels’ Andrew Velazquez leaps to catch a fly ball hit by Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp in the first inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum on May 14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

Where we live

A “Starlight Ball” featuring a limo ride and a red carpet walk brought Adam Shariff and Ally Brady together on the dance floor at the Blue Oaks Church-sponsored event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton on April 29. (Doug Duran/Staff Photographer)

Lashanna Hornage, program manager for Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, smiles under her rainbow umbrella during Silicon Valley Pride Parade in San Jose on Aug. 28. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Members of Lisa Performing Arts take the stage for a performance during a Lunar New Year celebration at Santana Row in San Jose on Feb. 4. (Anda Chu/Staff Photographer)

Noah Pelchin, center left, of San Francisco, and Alex Morris, of San Francisco, lay in their derby car, Bathtime, during SFMOMA’s Soapbox Derby in San Francisco on April 10. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Homeless artist Daniel McClenon sleeps on a sidewalk outside a Walgreens in San Francisco on May 13 with a portrait of Jimmy Hendrix he’s been painting with pens on cardboard. His artwork was stolen a few days later. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest active park ranger at 100 years old, celebrates her retirement from the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park on April 16, in Richmond. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

The obituary of Stephen Elliott, who died of COVID-19 on Jan. 5, is held by his son, Ryan Elliott of Palo Alto, on May 4 in Palo Alto. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Elise Joshi, a U.C. Berkeley student, climate and labor organizer on campus Nov. 17. Joshi evolved a TikTok For Biden account shared by a group of creators into Gen-Z for Change, a 12-employee nonprofit she executive directs, which leverages social media to promote civil discourse and political action among her peers. (Aric Crabb/Staff Photographer)

Luke and James cool off with some water at the homeless encampment near the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport at West Hedding Street in San Jose on Sept. 6. They declined to give their last names. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Peter and Tina Nguyen of San Jose pose for a picture at Duc Vien Buddhist Temple in San Jose on Feb. 1, at the start of the Lunar New Year. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Natalie Vanessa, of San Leandro, works out at Marina Park in San Leandro on Feb. 7. Warm temperatures are expected to continue through the week according to the National Weather Service. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

Dre Hernandez, of San Jose, poses in his 1979 Chevy Malibu while San Jose car clubs celebrated the city’s decades old ban on cruising being lifted at San Jose City Hall in San Jose on Aug. 31. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Members of the Black Men of Labor Social Aid and Pleasure Club carry the casket of Ray “Big Chief Hatchet” Blazio during a jazz funeral in New Orleans on July 14. Blazio, 82, the city’s oldest-living Mardi Gras Indian chief, died on June 17. He lived in Oakland for 13 years after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

San Jose Taiko performs during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuinin San Jose on July 9. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Ava Solda, left, and Riley Velasco play on the bleachers at Cory Field at San Jose American Little League in San Jose on April 7. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Franz Robert performs on the Grace-Liberty Theater pipe organ during a service at Grace Baptist Church on March 6 in San Jose. The church celebrated the 100th anniversary of the theater’s pipe organ during the Sunday service, and planned 13 months of centennial programs. (Aric Crabb/Staff Photographer)

Los Gatos-Campbell Longhorns players watch as assistant coach Jeff Whipple hugs head coach Saul Kennedy during a team meeting after practice at Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos on Nov. 29. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

California School for the Deaf’s Devan Vierra (6) signs to his team in the locker room before their game against Trinity Christian at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont on Sept. 1. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Campolindo’s Sean Spillane quietly prays in the end zone as his team warms up before their game against Las Lomas at Campolindo High School in Moraga on Oct. 28. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

Sea to Sky

The Colorado Fire burns toward the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur on Jan. 22. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

The bright crimson waters of the Cargill Salt ponds flow beside a railroad in Newark on Jan. 27. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

The Transamerica Pyramid reflects sunlight as it pokes through the thick fog blanketing San Francisco early Jan. 20. San Francisco’s iconic pointy-headed skyscraper turned 50 this year. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

A visitor walks at sunset at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 25 in Fremont. The refuge marked its 50th anniversary this year. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Skiers and snowboarders ride down the slopes from the KT-22 summit during the grand opening of Palisades Tahoe gondola line in Olympic Valley on Dec. 16. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

Steve Bruemmer, who was bitten by a great white shark while swimming on June 22, near the site of the attack at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on Oct. 5. (Doug Duran/Staff Photographer)

A deer flees the Oak Fire burning near Yosemite Park on Triangle Road in Mariposa on July 22. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

Houseboats are docked in Shasta Lake as California’s largest reservoir falls to only 36% of capacity during the ongoing drought on Aug. 5. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

A firefighter battles a vegetation fire near Pacheco Boulevard in Martinez on Aug. 4. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

The Sturgeon super moon rises behind the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline as seen from Sausalito on August 11. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

Community Conflict

Robert Hernandez lifts a tarp while exiting his trailer at a homeless encampment on the baseball fields off of Irene Street in San Jose on Sept. 19. (Shae Hammond/Staff Photographer)

Piles of belongings and debris, canopies, RVs, tents and vehicles making up part of Oakland’s Wood Street homeless encampment linger on July 14, three days after a massive fire there displaced about one dozen residents. CalTrans started clearing the city’s largest encampment in September after Oakland won a $4.7 million state grant to shelter its occupants. (Jane Tyska/Staff Photographer)

Abortion rights demonstrators protest outside San Francisco City Hall after the Supreme Court overturned the abortion rights case Roe v. Wade on June 24. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

Protesters Elisa Smith and Stormy Adams react as workers cut down trees in People’s Park in Berkeley on Aug. 3.  UC Berkeley plans to begin constructing housing at the site for 1,100 university students and 125 homeless residents.  (Aric Crabb/Staff Photographer)

Emerald Johnson, aunt of Sophia Mason, an 8-year-old girl from Hayward whose mother and mother’s boyfriend stand accused of murdering her, with a photo of Mason, her drawings and school work at Johnson’s home in Hayward on June 7. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

On the eighth day of his hunger strike, Westlake Middle School teacher Maurice André San-Chez, is comforted after answering a reporter’s questions on Feb. 8. San-Chez and another Westlake teacher struck to stop the Oakland Unified School District’s plan to close or merge 16 schools. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

Crime and Consequences

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, center, and her family leave the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse after the jury found her guilty in San Jose on Jan. 3. (Dai Sugano/Staff Photographer)

Antoinette Walker cries on the shoulder of Frank Turner as Penelope Scott speaks to the media in Sacramento on April 4. Walker is the older sister of De’Vazia Turner who was shot and killed during a mass shooting a day earlier. Six people died and 12 others were injured in the April 3 shooting. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

Law enforcement officers from different agencies respond after multiple people were shot in a complex of schools on Fountain Street in Oakland on Sept. 28. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

Kathy Teng Dwyer, from Oakland, places a candle during a vigil near where Lili Xu, 60, was killed during an attempted robbery in Oakland on Aug. 22. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Jenni Kumimoto carries her son Ben, 6, to their car after picking him up from kindergarten at Los Alamitos Elementary School in San Jose on May 25. Jenni Kumimoto, 36, a kindergarten teacher at Graystone Elementary School, spoke with her 6-year-old son Ben about the Uvalde school shooting in Texas. (Aric Crabb/Staff Photographer)

Family and friends release balloons on the one-year anniversary of the deaths of 7-year-old Sela Mataele and her mother’s partner Ramiro Castro, who were killed by a drunk driver in Pittsburg, at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Antioch on April 12. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff Photographer)

Beauty, Beholden

A dog runs through a field of wildflowers during a warm early morning at Shell Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek on March 23. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

Members of the Huaxing Arts Group wait on their float, “The Beauties of the Tang,” for the start of the Chinese New Years Parade in San Francisco on Feb. 19. (Karl Mondon/Staff Photographer)

Editor’s Note: This frame was composed in-camera by combining two exposures captured moments apart. Giants pitcher Yunior Marte pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park on July 15. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff Photographer)

People gather during the Holiday Tree lighting ceremony at Jack London Square in Oakland on Dec. 3. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

The full moon rises behind the Oakland hills and the Mormon Temple on Dec. 6. (Ray Chavez/Staff Photographer)

Elise MacGregor Ferrell, of Santa Cruz, plays the bagpipes during a memorial service for Fran the whale at Moss Landing State Beach in Moss Landing on Oct. 3. Fran, the most photographed whale in California and well known by tourists and whale enthusiasts in Monterey Bay, washed ashore on a beach in Half Moon Bay in August, a victim of a ship strike. (Doug Duran/Staff Photographer)

Photographers

Anda Chu – @anda_chuAric Crabb – @AricCrabbDai Sugano – @daisuganoDoug Duran – @duran_dougJane Tyska – @tyskagramJose Fajardo – @fuzyjoeKarl Mondon – @karlmondonNhat V. Meyer – @nhatgnatRay Chavez – @rayinactionShae Hammond – @shae_hammond

Photo/Video Editors

Anda ChuDoug DuranDylan Bouscher – @DylanBouscherLaura Oda – @lodafoto

Managing Editor: Visuals

Sarah Dussault

But not in Santa Clara County, which criticized the state’s guidelines in announcing that no spectators will be permitted at San Francisco 49ers and San Jose Earthquakes games this year. Santa Clara and Alameda counties are in the orange tier (Tier 3), while San Francisco on Tuesday moved into the yellow, or minimal, risk level (Tier 4).

Here is what it means to each of the Bay Area’s professional sports teams for the moment:

49ers: The 49ers welcomed the state’s decision that would have allowed about 14,000 fans to watch games at 68,500-seat Levi’s Stadium. But Santa Clara County public health officials said it was too risky to allow any fans into games. County chief executive Dr. Jeff Smith called sports events “super spreaders” that could potentially lead to an outbreak.

“Without some kind of other treatment besides social distancing, having these large congregations is a great risk no matter what,” Smith said in a news conference. “That was the very first activity that was precluded because it was such a high risk. It will be the last one that the county would consider opening.”

Earthquakes: The county’s response also spoiled hopes for the Quakes, who could have 3,600 fans in its 18,000-seat stadium according to state guidelines. The MLS team has two regular-season home games left: Oct. 28 against Real Salt Lake and Nov. 1 against Los Angeles FC. But the Earthquakes also could host playoff games this year. All of the games — regular season and beyond — will be played in an empty Earthquakes Stadium.

Sharks: The NHL season is expected to start Jan. 1, but the state’s guidelines released Tuesday apply to outdoor events only. Based on Santa Clara County’s reaction Tuesday it is doubtful public health officials will permit fans inside SAP Center anytime soon. Smith, the county executive, indicated Tuesday that until the country has an effective treatment or vaccine for the novel coronavirus, large gatherings will not be allowed in the county.

Warriors: San Francisco public health officials have some time before deciding what to allow for the Chase Center and Golden State Warriors games. Like the Sharks, the Warriors’ indoor facility poses a more challenging situation for health officials. The NBA season is expected to start in January or February. As we’ve learned this year, a lot can happen in three months.

Giants: The San Francisco Giants have even more time before learning the fate of their 2021 season. They would not play at Oracle Park until the end of spring training, perhaps late March. San Francisco public health officers have plenty of time to decide if they will follow the current state directive — if it even applies in the spring.

Athletics: The Oakland A’s face a similar situation as their cross-Bay MLB team. The major difference is the Athletics will follow guidelines from Alameda County public health officers. County officials did not immediately respond to questions about how they might handle outdoor pro sports events should the situation be the same next spring. But the public health officers and the A’s have plenty of time to deal with whatever happens.

San Jose State opens its football season Saturday at home against Air Force. Although the Mountain West Conference has not ruled out allowing spectators, Santa Clara County’s Smith did not sound optimistic.

“I can’t clarify” the state’s guidelines for colleges “because it doesn’t make sense to me,” he said. “They are saying they are allowed without attendance. I don’t understand how that protects the students, the actual people who are playing the game.”

High school sporting events are tentatively scheduled to resume in January and run through the spring semester, but the financial incentives are much smaller to have students and fans attend games.

Santa Clara County, one of the country’s most restrictive when it comes to public activities during the pandemic, went against state guidelines for professional sports and amusement parks.

Under new coronavirus guidance announced Tuesday by the State Department of Public Health, pro sports teams and amusement parks such as Disneyland were aproved to begin selling a limited number of tickets.

As far as the state is concerned, teams in the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda and San Francisco can hold outdoor events with spectators at reduced capacity. The 49ers, for instance, would be allowed to let about 14,000 people into their 68,500-seat stadium. State officials loosened restrictions for counties that fell into the “orange” or “yellow” tiers in the four-tier system for reopening.

But within 90 minutes of the state’s announcement Tuesday, Santa Clara County put an end to any plans the 49ers might have had for their next home game, issuing a statement that said “audiences at professional sporting events will not be allowed anytime soon.”

Later, at a news conference, county executive Dr. Jeff Smith said it would be “dangerous” to open stadiums.

“This is the worst thing in the world to be doing,” Smith said. “At a time when California is beginning to see some light, this amounts to another step backward. We’ve already done steps backwards in California that have cost tens of thousands of lives and this is another risk to do this.”

The county’s statement came after the 49ers had praised California  Gov. Gavin Newsom for loosening the restrictions. The team had added that it expected to work with county health officials to create a plan that “protects the health and wellness of all San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium employees, patrons and our community.”

The team declined to comment after the county’s ruling.

The 49ers’ next home date is Nov. 5, a Thursday night game against the Green Bay Packers. But don’t expect County officials to change their decision any time soon.

“The fact is that throughout the nation, the virus is spiking,” Smith said. “All of the health experts in the nation that are respectable have predicted another spike in November and December. It’s going to get worse. It’s going to get a lot worse. Right now is not the time to be relaxing regulations.”

California assigns each of its 58 counties to a tier based on its adjusted coronavirus case rate and the rate of positive tests in the county. Tiers 1 and 2, the most “distressed” counties, have an adjusted seven-day case rate of more than four people per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate above 5 percent over a seven-day period.

Santa Clara and Alameda counties have been upgraded to Tier 3, which represents “moderate’ spread of the virus in the county. San Francisco County is now Tier 4, which represents “minimal” spread of the virus.

Neither of the state’s two other NFL teams — the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers — is permitted to host fans because their stadium is in Los Angeles County, which is Tier 1, indicating the virus is “widespread” in the county.

Like the 49ers, the San Jose Earthquakes experienced a short-lived moment of joy Tuesday. The Major League Soccer team also had a statement praising Newsom after the state’s ruling, only to get the county’s directive 90 minutes later.

The state guidelines do not apply to the San Jose Sharks and the Golden State Warriors because they play in indoor arenas. But the directive could create a framework for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics when they open the 2021 season next spring.

The guidelines announced Tuesday do not involve colleges. California’s Public Health Department two weeks ago released guideline for the return of collegiate athletics. San Jose State is scheduled to open its football season Saturday night at CEFCU Stadium without fans. Cal opens Nov. 7 against Washington while Stanford is at Oregon. The Pac-12 Conference announced last month it would not allow any fans at its games.

“It’s just unconscionable,” Smith said of opening sports venues. “They’re putting lives at risk. People who think that they’re safe are going to be at risk. People at home, not just the people who attend the games, will be at risk. We haven’t even opened schools, we are still worried about businesses being able to survive. It makes no sense whatsoever to have audiences at stadiums.”

Roy, 23, played 113 games for the Barracuda of the AHL from 2017 to 2020, but his career has been plagued by serious knee injuries. He tore the left anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Oct. 2016, and was injured again in Dec. 2017, cutting his first pro season short.

The Sharks traded up to draft Roy 31st overall in 2015. To acquire the pick, the Sharks sent the No. 39 selection in 2015, their second round pick in 2016 and their sixth rounder in 2017 to the Avalanche. Those picks turned into winger A.J. Greer, Cameron Morrison and Denis Smirnov. Only Greer played in the NHL, as he dressed for 37 games for the Avalanche over three seasons.

Goalie Andrew Shortridge also did not receive a qualifying offer, and both he and Roy become unrestricted free agents. Wednesday was the deadline to issue qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

Earlier this week, the Sharks announced new contracts for defensemen Nicolas Meloche and Jake Middleton. As of now, the Sharks have nine defensemen on two-way contracts

The Sharks, per CapFriendly, have 42 players right now on NHL contracts, eight below the maximum. They needed to keep room available to potentially re-sign their own pending unrestricted free agents or sign other UFAs, starting Friday. It is also likely that at least one or two members of this year’s draft class will receive entry-level contracts at some point in the coming months.

“As we rotate through and we sign some new players in, we have to make some hard decisions on players that may not be qualified, and Jeremy fell into that,” Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said. “He gave it a good go here.”

The Sharks also announced that forward Antti Suomela agreed to a one-year, two-way contract and forward Manuel Wiederer agreed to a one year AHL deal. Suomela, a former free agent signing, has played in 47 NHL games over two seasons.

Dahlen is with Timrå IK in the Allsvenskan this season, although there is a chance he could play in North America in 2021 after Timrå.

After Wednesday’s draft, general manager Doug Wilson said conversations with his pending UFAs and RFAs will intensify, as well as, “anybody we’d be looking at going forward.”

“As far as contract negotiations, they’re all fluid. You never know when you’re close to the goal line,” general manager Doug Wilson said. “I may think I’m in a certain place, they may think they’re in a certain place, applying to all contacts that we’re discussing with players out there.”

FIRST ROUND

Overall  Player                      Team                            Position    Ht/Wt         2019-20 statistics

No. 31  Ozzy Wiesblatt           Prince Albert (WHL)     RW           5-10/183      64GP/25G/45A/36pim

SECOND ROUND

Overall  Player                        Team                            Position    Ht/Wt          2019-20 statistics

*38th     Thomas Bordeleau      U.S. Under-18             C               5-10/175     47GP/16G/30A/16pim

56th     Tristen Robins               Saskatoon (WHL)        RW           5-10/173     62GP/33G/40A/28pim

THIRD ROUND

Overall  Player                          Team                         Position     Ht/Wt         2019-20 statistics

**76th     Danil Gushchin          Muskegon (USHL)      LW              5-8/165       42GP/22G/25A/42pim

FOURTH ROUND

Overall  Player                          Team                         Position    Ht/Wt          2019-20 statistics

***98th   Brandon Coe              North Bay (OHL)         RW            6-4/190       60GP/25G/32A/39pim

SEVENTH ROUND

Overall  Player                      Team                         Position    Ht/Wt          2019-20 statistics

****196th    Alex Young                Canmore (AJHL)        C             5-11/170     53GP/36G/46A/24pim

201st    Adam Raska              Rimouski (QMJHL)    RW          5-10/178     35GP/13G/8A/37pim

****206th    Linus Oberg               Orebro (SHL)             RW          5-11/203     37GP/4G/4A/18

210th  Timofey Spitserov        Culver Military            RW          5-11/174     40GP/49G/27A/6pim

* — Sharks trade No. 34 overall pick to Buffalo for No. 38 and No. 100 overall selections

** — Sharks trade No. 100 and No. 126 picks to Edmonton for No. 76 overall pick

*** — Sharks trade 2021 third-round pick (originally belonged to Washington) to Montreal for No. 98 pick

**** — Acquired from N.Y. Rangers for fifth round pick in the 2020 draft

Right before they were set to pick at No. 34, the Sharks traded that selection to the Buffalo Sabres for the 38th and 100th overall picks. They used the No. 38 pick to  take Bordeleau, whose father, Sebastien, and grandfather, Paulin, both played in the NHL.

They held onto the second of the their second round picks to select Robins, whose father, Trevor, who started a 10-year pro career in 1993 with the Kansas City Blades, the Sharks’ former IHL affiliate. .

The Sharks made four trades Wednesday and ended up with nine draft picks, selecting all forwards, including four in the seventh round.

“When we looked at it, we just said it was a deep draft, let’s get as many chances as we possibly can,” Sharks director of scouting Doug Wilson Jr. said. “That’s how we ended up with nine picks.”

Bordeleau, 18, played 48 games with the U.S. national under-18 team last season and had 16 goals and 30 assists. Bordeleau will be a freshman at the University of Michigan this year.

Robins, 18, had 33 goals and 40 assists with Saskatoon of the WHL last season with a plus-16 rating.

Both are about the same size. Robins is listed at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds, and Bordeleau is 5-foot-10 and 179 pounds, as seven of the nine forwards the Sharks took are listed below 6-foot. The exceptions are forwards Brandon Coe (6-foot-4, fourth round) and Linus Oberg (6-0, seventh round).

“You’re looking for hockey players,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “You’re looking for the type of ingredients that (make) guys successful in this league, regardless of their size. Six of the nine guys we drafted are right shots. They can all skate, they can think the game at a high level.”

Bordeleau was the 29th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, and 51st overall by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

“I think my biggest strength is my hockey IQ,” Bordeleau said. “I’m strong on my edges, strong on faceoffs. It’s easy for me to find guys on the ice and just be able to create plays.”

The Sharks traded the 100th and 126th overall picks to Edmonton to move up into the third round and select Russian winger Daniil Gushchin, who played the last two seasons with Muskegon of the USHL. Listed at 5-foot-8, Gushchin had a combined 38 goals and 45 assists in 93 games for the Lumberjacks.

In the seventh round, the Sharks took forwards Alex Young, Adam Raska, Oberg and Timofey Spitserov.

Sebastien Bordeleau played in the NHL for seven seasons as a centerman from 1995-2002. Paulin Bordeleau played in the NHL as a forward from 1973-1979.

Naturally, Bordeleau’s father and grandfather played a big role in his development.

“With my dad, working on my game, basically just every day since I was young,” he said. “My grandpa being my coach (six years ago) and teaching me some stuff also on the way to where I am right now. They’ve both been a big influence for me and I owe them a lot.”

Although he’s a native of Houston, Bordeleau almost considers himself an international citizen. His family moved to Switzerland when he was five months old, and stayed there until he was 10 as he watched his father play in the Swiss League. In 2012, the family moved back to Montreal.

Thomas Bordeleau continued to play in Quebec before he moved to Michigan to join the U.S. development program. He played for the under-17 national team during the 2018-19 season and the under-18 team this past year. He was in Montreal on Wednesday, but is coming back to the U.S. Thursday to start evaluation camp for the U.S. World Junior hockey team.

“It’s not really a normal journey, but it was awesome,” Bordeleau said.

Like it was meant to be @SanJoseSharks | @tristenrobins1 pic.twitter.com/Cj7MUXxKrh

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) October 7, 2020

Robins is the son of former pro goalie Trevor, who also played for Saskatoon and signed a contract with the Sharks in the early 1990s. Tristen Robins wore an old-school Sharks jacket as he met with reporters over Zoom.

“I was kind of projected all over the place,” Robins said. “I’m just happy to be a Shark and excited to get the opportunity.”

But that’s what happened after Doug Wilson Jr., the Sharks’ director of scouting, said Wiesblatt’s name to announce the pick and used sign language for his first name. Wiesblatt’s mother, Kim White, has been deaf since birth and has always used sign language to communicate with her children — four boys and a daughter.

It was a hot topic on social media, and Wiesblatt’s profile was still one of top trending names on hockeydb.com well after the conclusion of the first round.

“I just wanted to tell the kid that you’re a part of the Sharks’ family,” Wilson Jr. said, “and we’re really excited for you.”

Here’s what we learned Tuesday about Wiesblatt, the Sharks’ day one plan and their approach to day two.

HOCKEY FAMILY: Wiesblatt, 18, has three brothers — Ocean, 21, Orca, 20, and Oasiz 16 — and a sister, Oceania, the youngest. The three brothers all play hockey, with Ocean playing four seasons of Tier II junior in Western Canada. Orca three seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL and Oasiz a prospect with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

WHY OZZY AT 31?: After four of the Sharks’ five draft choices last year were over 6-foot., Wilson Jr. felt the prospect pool needed a bit more skill and speed. He feels Wiesblatt is one of the “fastest kids in all of major junior hockey.” “It’s tough to get the puck off his stick. No one gains entry like he does. He’s shifty.”

HOW WIESBLATT FITS IN LONG TERM: It’ll be another year or two before Wiesblatt can seriously challenge for an NHL job, but he has elements to his game the Sharks value. “He was a kid that we had targeted for a while,” Wilson Jr. said. “Right shot center with speed, scoring ability, playmaking. He just fits with our group. … When you have players like Evander Kane, Timo Meier and John Leonard and Ryan Donato who can shoot, you want to make sure you have some speed and some playmaking to get them pucks in the right spots.”

TAKING CALLS ON 31: Wilson Jr. said other teams checked in on the Sharks to see if they had any interest on moving down.

“We had a few teams call up to try and get back in at 31, and Ozzy was too good to pass up at the time,” Wilson Jr. said. “With (No. 34), there’s probably a good chance there’s other teams trying to get in there. But our list is the list.”

A MOVE INTO THE THIRD ROUND?: After picking at No. 55, the Sharks do  not have another pick until the start of the fifth round. The Sharks made six trades on the second day of the draft last year.

“No. 34, with the names here that are available on the reload (Wednesday), it’s going to be a tough one,” Wilson Jr. said. “We’re going to take the best player available and maybe look at something later on. For right now, there’s some pretty good names left here.”

STICK TAPS TO THE FLAMES: Calgary traded down twice in the first round Tuesday, going from 19th to 22nd, and 22nd to 24th, picking up two extra third round picks in the process.

BEST AVAILABLE: According to Bob McKenzie’s list of best available players, the Sharks should have a chance at one of the following: LW John-Jason Peterka, D William Wallinder, RW Noel Gunler, D Helge Grans or D Jeremie Poirier.

SCOUTS INVOLVED: Wilson Jr. mentioned that he Brian Gross and Ryan Russell, two Western Canadian amateur scouts for the Sharks, all saw Wiesblatt several times. On Gross and Russell, Wilson Jr. said, “They know spirit, they know heart, and this kid has it. It just works out that his skill level is undeniable.

“When you get to know the kid, and you get to know the family, you realize, this guy’s a Shark. That’s what kind of put it over the top.”

As he made the selection, Doug Wilson Jr., the Sharks’ director of scouting, said Wiesblatt’s name and used sign language for his first name. Wiesblatt’s mother, Kim White, has been deaf since birth and has always used sign language to communicate with her children — four boys and a daughter.

“That means a ton, especially to my mom and the deaf community in general,” Wiesblatt said. “It’s just a very nice gesture to do, and my mom will never forget that.”

Right after Wilson Jr. finished making the announcement, the Wiesblatt family rejoiced, and used sign language back toward the camera that was in their living room.

“He’s an unbelievable kid with an unbelievable family,” Wilson Jr. said. “It’s a bunch of hard workers. He’s got character. He’ll run through the wall for you. This is a huge moment for 17- and 18-year-olds. In my life, my mom is a huge factor, she really is. And if I was in this moment, I would want to be able to share it with my parents, too.

“I would have loved to have (signed) his whole name, but I’m not that smart. I just wanted to tell the kid that you’re a part of the Sharks family and we’re really excited for you.”

The moment @ozzywiesblatt was drafted was absolutely amazing pic.twitter.com/UXBC3cXWSa

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 7, 2020

As Wiesblatt met with the media over Zoom, Brent Burns, Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson and Kevin Labanc joined to offer their congratulations.

“This is one of the coolest days of my life,” Wiesblatt said. “My family and myself have faced a lot of hardships, but this is kind of the icing on the cake. It’s starting to pay off, but I still know there’s a lot of hard work ahead.”

Wiesblatt, 18, blossomed in his third year with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League last season, collecting 70 points in 64 games.

“He’s a center, he’s a right shot, he’s fast and he’s skilled,” Wilson said. “He’s an agitator. He’s new age toughness in the NHL.”

Wiesblatt, a Calgary native, is listed at 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, was the 19th-ranked North American skater by central scouting.

The Sharks had over 150 Zoom interviews with potential draft picks over the last several months and the Sharks’ front office felt like they made a genuine connection with Wiesblatt.

“I had a couple of conversations with them, and kind of right off the bat, they felt like family,” Wiesblatt said.

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The Bell Centre in Montreal was originally supposed to host the 2020 draft. Instead, the Sharks and other teams around the league made their selections from their home cities. Commissioner Gary Bettman was at the NHL Network studios in New Jersey, and introduced each team from a podium right before they made their first-round selections.

GM Doug Wilson, assistant general manager Joe Will and Wilson Jr. were stationed inside SAP Center, staying in communication with pro and amateur scouts and in touch with other teams to discuss any possible trades.

None materialized, as the Sharks used the No. 31 pick, acquired Feb. 24 from the Tampa Bay Lightning, to draft Wiesblatt.

“In a normal scenario, Ozzy would have been walking on stage in Montreal, putting on a Sharks jersey and hugging his family,” Wilson Jr. said. “Hockey’s fun, and he’s earned it. We wanted to figure out a couple of small gestures that could really show him that the Sharks care about him.”

The Sharks have the third pick, 34th overall, when the second round starts Wednesday morning. They also pick at No. 55, using the selection they received from the Washington Capitals in the Brenden Dillon trade from February. That pick used to being to the Colorado Avalanche.

From the little research I’ve done on Ozzy Wiesblatt, the words that stuck out were “Fast” “Feisty” & “A pain in the ass” #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/HdNnowsBqi

— SnipeCity420  (@SnipeCity420) October 7, 2020

“I’m not sure where it’s going to go,” Wilson Jr. said. “I just think that when you pair Ozzy with whoever we’re going to get at 34, and also (55), I think it’s going to work out well.”

Wilson acquired goalie Devan Dubnyk and forward Ryan Donato from the Minnesota Wild, but did not want to give more picks in this year’s draft to get them.

Instead, the Sharks gave up a 2021 third rounder for Donato, and a 2022 fifth-rounder for Dubnyk. San Jose also received a seventh-round pick from the Wild in the Dubnyk deal.

“The ingredients that we’re looking for in particular, we think this draft is full of and very deep,” Wilson said recently. “Utilizing those three picks in this type of draft is probably gong to be our priority.”

To complete the draft, the Sharks also have two picks in the fifth round, 125th and 126th overall, and two in the seventh, 200th and 209th.

“I think the strength of this draft is actually the depth of it,” Wilson Jr. said last week. “In my four drafts, this is the longest ranked list that we’ve had. We’re looking at guys who could fall into the third, fourth or fifth rounds that in previous seasons would have gone earlier.

“We were re-watching a couple of exciting players (recently) that in previous years would have maybe gone 20 and this year they’re going 40.”

The Ottawa Senators chose Tim Stützle with the third overall pick they acquired from the Sharks in the 2018 blockbuster trade that saw Karlsson come from Ottawa. That deal will finally be completed next year, as the Senators also wound up with the Sharks’ 2021 second round pick.

Forward Alexis Lafreniere was chosen first overall by the New York Rangers, and the Los Angeles Kings selected center Quinton Byfield with the second pick. Byfield became the highest drafted Black player in league history.

That would have been the Sharks’ pick at No. 3 overall, of course, had they not traded it or at least protected it as part of the 2018 blockbuster deal that brought Erik Karlsson to San Jose.

Nevertheless, even though the Sharks are not picking tonight until No. 31 — the draft choice they acquired as part of the Barclay Goodrow deal — they should still be able to find a quality player.

The first round of the NHL Draft will start with the first round on Tuesday at 4 p.m., and continues Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. with rounds two through seven.

There will be good players available at the spots the Sharks are picking at, particularly in the first two rounds.

“From my own evaluation of this draft, I think there’s real quality,” said Craig Button, TSN’s director of scouting, told this newspaper. “How do I define quality? Top six forwards, top four defensemen, potentially number one goaltenders later in the first round, from No. 21 on, into the second round.”

Button compared this year’s draft to setting up at a smorgasbord — there’s something for everybody.

“Do I want this to eat or do I want that? They’re both good,” Button said.

Here a look at a few players Button, a former general manager of the Calgary Flames, thought could be available later in the first round. The Sharks own the 31st overall selection in the first round on Tuesday and the 34th and 55th overall picks in the second round on Wednesday.

Forwards

Tyson Foerster, 6-1, 195 pounds — Was the Barrie Colts’ leading scorer last season with 80 points in 62 games, Has decent size, and an above-average shot. Loves to rip one-timers. Button said he reminds him of Corey Perry. Might he be gone by 31, though?

Brendan Brisson, 6-0, 185 pounds — The Manhattan Beach native and son of agent Pat Brisson is an exceptionally heady player with a nose for the puck. Had 59 points in 47 games for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Had top line center potential.

Jan Mysak, 5-11, 180 pounds — Czech Republic native played in the OHL last season and had 25 points in 22 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Great on the forecheck. Also a heady player. Button compares him to Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens.

Ozzy Wiesblatt, 5-10, 183 — Really blossomed in his third year in the WHL last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, collecting 70 points in 64 games. Smart player, good skater.

Defensemen

Helge Grans, 6-2, 206 pounds — Right shot defenseman s playing with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League. In 21 games with the Redhawks last season as a 17-year-old in a professional league, had four points and four penalty minutes. Good skater, smart, competitive, big body, long reach.

Jeremie Poirier, 6-0, 199 pounds — Left shot defenseman is elite skater and an offensive dynamo, recording 53 points in 64 games last season for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. Good chance he goes earlier than 31, though.

Ryan O’Rourke, 6-0, 173 pounds — Left shot defenseman had 37 points in 54 games last year for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, and is a good puck mover. He’s got some snarl to his game too, and loves to battle and compete.

HAVE FUN, WILL TRAVEL: Thanks to his father Ted’s travels as a professional hockey player, Ryan Donato played on a variety of youth hockey teams as a kid, and had teammates such as Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Conor Garland.

DRAFT STATUS: Donato was selected 56th overall in 2014. In his draft class, he ranks 28th in goals (29) and 30th in points (57).

OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE: Donato, a Boston native, played five games for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, and led the Americans with five goals and six points. Donato scored in the quarterfinals with the Czech Republic, but the American lost 3-2 and were eliminated from the tournament.

BUSY TIME IN 2018: Donato signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins after his junior season ended at Harvard. As he was finishing the regular season with the Bruins, he was also taking classes and finishing his semester at the Ivy League school. He had two residences at the time: One at a hotel near TD Garden arranged and the other at a dormitory with three other people at Harvard.

FAMILY TIES: Donato’s father, Ted, has been Harvard’s coach since 2004. His cousin, John Farinacci, was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round in 2019. “My dad was excited,” Donato said. “He knows this league’s all about opportunity.”

Searched for an image of Ryan Donato for the video, and found this absolute gem. He with Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton. Three legends. pic.twitter.com/5qO277x2KA

— Tougie24 (@Tougie24) January 2, 2018

FAMILY TIES. PART TWO: Ted Donato played 796 NHL games over 13 professional seasons, including from 1997 to 1998 with the Boston Bruins when he was a teammate with Joe Thornton. Donato made eight other stops, with seven other teams before he signed with Boston as a free agent in 2003, rejoining Thornton. The two were also teammates during the 2003-04 before Donato retired.

FIRST GAMES: Ryan Donato’s first hockey games as a player came 20 years ago when in Dallas when Ted Donato played with the Stars. Ryan Donato did not start to blossom as a player until 2004 when the family was back in Boston and Ted Donato became the men’s hockey coach at Harvard.

CHANGE OF SCENERY: After Donato played 46 regular season games with his hometown team, the Bruins sent him and a 2019 fifth round draft pick for former Sharks prospect Charlie Coyle. Coyle was later part of the deal that brought Brent Burns to San Jose in June 2011.

HOT START: Donato got off to a quick start with the Wild with four goals and 11 assists in his first 15 games. He averaged 15 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time per game the rest of that season with the Wild.