2025-26
Record: 39-35-8, 86 points, 5th in Pacific Division
Playoffs: Missed Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key Losses
F – William Eklund (Trade w/ OTT), D – John Klingberg (Free Agency), D – Mario Ferraro (WIN), D – Vincent Desharnais (WAS), D – Shakir Mukhamadullin (Trade w/ EDM)
Key Additions
D – Michael Kesselring (Trade w/ BUF), F – Ivar Stenberg (2nd Overall Pick), F – Mason Marchment (Signed via FA), D – Jacob Trouba (Signed via FA), G – Eric Comrie (Signed via FA), D – Darnell Nurse (Trade w/ EDM)
2026-27 Preview
Looking to Take the Next Step
The 2025-26 season marked another significant step forward in the San Jose Sharks’ rebuild. Under general manager Mike Grier, the organization has remained committed to a patient, youth-driven approach, and that strategy is beginning to pay dividends. The continued development of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa has provided the Sharks with an exciting young core, while the expected arrival of 2026 second-overall pick Ivar Stenberg for the 2026-27 season gives the franchise yet another high-end talent to build around.
San Jose’s progress hasn’t been driven solely by its young stars. Veteran forwards Alexander Wennberg, Keifer Sherwood, and Tyler Toffoli have all played important roles in the team’s development. Wennberg has enjoyed a resurgence with the Sharks, while Sherwood and Toffoli have provided valuable leadership, stability, and experience for a roster filled with emerging talent. Their presence has helped create an environment where the organization’s young players can continue to develop without carrying the entire burden of the rebuild.
The Sharks are still a young team with plenty of room to grow, but the foundation is clearly taking shape. Grier has assembled a roster that blends elite prospects with experienced veterans, creating a culture built on patience, development, and accountability. While San Jose may still be a year or two away from becoming a consistent playoff team, the trajectory is undeniably positive. If the organization’s young core continues its upward progression, the Sharks could soon find themselves back in the playoff conversation and on the path toward becoming a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.
Depth on the Blueline Improved
The Sharks made a concerted effort to strengthen their blue line this offseason, overhauling the defense with a series of significant moves. San Jose traded Shakir Mukhamadullin to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Darnell Nurse, allowed Mario Ferraro and Vincent Desharnais to depart in free agency, signed veteran defenseman Jacob Trouba, and acquired Michael Kesselring via trade to add further depth and stability.
Nurse headlines the revamped defensive corps. A battle-tested veteran with two Stanley Cup Final appearances during his time in Edmonton, he brings leadership, experience, and the ability to play heavy minutes in all situations. For a young Sharks team looking to take the next step, Nurse’s presence both on and off the ice should prove invaluable as the club continues its climb back into contention.
Trouba adds another layer of veteran leadership while bringing the physical, hard-nosed style of play that has defined his career. His willingness to play a shutdown role and bring an edge to the lineup gives San Jose another experienced voice in a dressing room that features an increasingly talented young core.
The addition of Kesselring could prove to be an underrated move. Although he endured a difficult 2025-26 season in Buffalo, he previously established himself as a dependable two-way defenseman with Arizona and Utah, producing more than 20 points in each of his first two full NHL seasons. If he can rediscover that form, he gives the Sharks another reliable option capable of contributing at both ends of the ice.
Collectively, these moves represent a significant upgrade to San Jose’s defensive depth. By surrounding its young offensive core with experienced, dependable veterans on the back end, the Sharks have taken another important step in their rebuild. If the new-look blue line comes together as expected, San Jose could be well-positioned to end its playoff drought and return to the postseason for the first time since reaching the Western Conference Final in 2019.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Collin Graf — Macklin Celebrini — Will Smith
Igor Chernyshov — Michael Misa — Mason Marchment
Ivar Stenberg — Alexander Wennberg — Kiefer Sherwood
Tyler Toffoli — Zack Ostapchuk — Ty Dellandrea
Defense
Sam Dickinson — Jacob Trouba
Darnell Nurse — Dmitry Orlov
Luca Cagnoni — Michael Kesselring
Goalies
Yaroslav Askarov
Alex Nedeljkovic