SALT LAKE CITY — Mario Ferraro has seen a lot of losing.

But despite everything, he has maintained a winning mentality.

“We’re going to get our first win in Utah,” Ferraro said Saturday evening after the San Jose Sharks were defeated 7-3 by the Vegas Golden Knights.

This turned out to be no small “guarantee”: the Sharks are 0-7-2, and they are the first team in NHL history to start consecutive seasons with nine consecutive losses.

Did Ferraro really want to guarantee victory?

“What did you want me to say, that we go in and lose? No, we’re going to win. I believe in that. We will do that tomorrow,” Ferraro said defiantly on Sunday, on the eve of the San Jose Sharks’ first-ever game against the Utah Hockey Club. ‘Maybe you don’t believe it. Maybe the people watching don’t believe it, and that’s fine. We don’t feel like doing that.”

The deputy captain doubled down: “We don’t care what the outside world thinks. We know what they are thinking. Tomorrow we are going to win a hockey match.”

San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky loved Ferraro’s attitude: “We have to believe we can win before we actually win. We need some belief there that we can get the job done. I think that’s a good mentality to have. I don’t think it’s bulletin board material. It is that we have to take care of ourselves.”

So maybe it’s more faith than guarantee.

But does the rest of the team believe like Ferraro? Thanks to the unstoppable defender, who has been called the heartbeat of the team in recent seasons, because he put himself on the line with his comments.

The 26-year-old Ferraro was unlucky to make his debut for the San Jose Sharks in 2019/2020 as their long struggle came to an end. In another era, he could have easily been Brent Burns’ partner through Burns’ Norris Trophy campaigns or an underrated tough guy like Justin Braun.

But instead, Ferraro was born a little too late: He and his Sharks have never seen the playoffs.

“The young man has been through a lot in his NHL career. He has lost a lot of hockey games, which takes a toll mentally. I don’t care what sport you play,” Warsofsky said. “He’s carrying a letter and trying to grow as a leader. He’s trying to grow as a player. He is in a difficult situation, so I sympathize with him. He shows up every day with a smile on his face and he is working. It’s in good condition. He gives it everything he has, he cares.”

There’s no doubt about it: Ferraro is a winner. He’s just never done it, at least not in the NHL. Hopefully he’ll be able to do it soon with the San Jose Sharks.