San Jose Sharks Season Preview 2025-26

San Jose Sharks Season Preview 2025-26

In today’s video, we continue on with our NHL season preview series. Today, we look at one of the young, fun, upand cominging, very talented teams in the league, the San Jose Sharks. Will they be able to be more competitive this year? How much of a step can your young players make? Today, we’re going to take a look at what we expect the lineup to look like and the expectations for the Sharks for the 2526 season coming up next. So, welcome back to another video here at TopShelf Hockey. As I mentioned, today we’re previewing the upcoming season for the San Jose Sharks. Of course, they’ve been near the bottom of the standings for the last few years. Uh, today we’re going to examine whether or not we feel they’re going to be able to move up a whole lot on that, take a look at their young players, what kind of expectations they face, what’s the lineup going to look like, and just what’s the overall uh kind of growth going to be for this team for the upcoming year. here. So, in case you’re new to this series, essentially we’re going to do a quick recap of what the 2425 campaign looked like for the team. Look like look at some team and individual stats. We’ll look at their cap space. Uh look at addition, subtraction, so how the team has changed over the year, projected lineup, uh any rookies that can impact this lineup, what should we expect as far as trades, contract extensions, and what are the top questions facing the team going into the campaign. So, let’s first get started with recapping the 24-25 season here for the San Jose Sharks. Of course, it was another, you know, dismal year as far as standings go, but lots of fun at the same time. I hope Sharks fans had the ability to kind of ignore the record a little bit and focus more on the growth and the development of some of these players who are going to be stars in this league for a long, long time. They ended up with a record of 20, 50, and 12 with 52 points. I mean, that’s that’s not great. They were dead last in the Pacific near the bottom of the league. Um, but like I said, all in all, I still found them be a fun team to watch. I mean, you know, typically for me being on the East Coast, the Sharks sometimes can be a challenging team to watch. I do watch them a lot when they’re uh on East Coast tours for the road trips. when they’re at home, it can be a little challenging, but I do I found myself wanting to watch this team more and more last year because there was just a lot of talented kids that were just fun to really uh watch them play. Of course, it was also the first year of new head coach Ryan Worovski. Uh I think he had a pretty decent year. I don’t think the expectations were very high on standings and I think he’ll have really not a lot of pressure in that sense for the first few years here. But all in all, they were dead last in the league though in both goals for and goals against. Ranked 32nd with 208 goals for 310 against. So, we need to see some improvement there. And I do hope that this team, and I think they can make some strides forward this year. I don’t expect them to be super high in the standings by any means, but I do think there’s enough talent there that they can definitely win some more games and become a little bit more competitive. As far as the playoffs go, they obviously missed last year and they’ve been out of the playoffs for six consecutive years. The last time we saw them in the playoffs was in 2019 when they lost in the Western Conference Final. So, it’s been a while. Now, you know, most teams, like we said, a lot of these full-on rebuilds have been taking about 8 years. Uh it’s not unusual. like look at you know teams like the Senators like you know for example you know Montreal was able to kind of I guess accelerate the rebuild a little bit but they also didn’t tear it down to the you know the bare bare minimum here like we saw other teams like Ottawa and San Jose do. So you know it’s not quite the same. Meanwhile, you’ve got teams like Buffalo. It feels like they’ve been rebuilding forever and they started I kind of feel like they started a rebuild after a lot of years of going through a rebuild. Uh so you don’t want to see that. That’s that’s for sure. But I do believe in the vision here of Mike Greer as a GM and seems to be doing a good job assembling lots and lots of young talent. Of course, they were led last year by first overall pick Mlin Celbrini, who had a fantastic rookie season with 63 points. Did miss some time, got hurt very early on, and that certainly derailed um a great first game, but ultimately, you know, um time was missed, but he still had a great year, led the team in scoring. Uh William Ecklan continues to progress as well. 58 points was second in scoring. Uh newly signed free agent acquisition, Tyler Tofoley, who’s I think is going to be huge for this team. Continued to be a really solid player putting out 54 points around 30 goals. Uh he seemed to have a great relationship with guys like Celini and Smith and I just think he’s going to be the ultimate pro here. I I don’t think there’s any desire from to leave the Sharks. He signed there for a reason. I I believe they’ve got family in the area through his wife’s side. You know, she’s originally from California. He played in LA a long time and I think he was at a stage of his career where he just kind of wanted to have some uh you know, consistency. You know, he had a scenario where he bounced around a bit, right? After leaving LA, he went to Vancouver, Vancouver to Montreal, played in Montreal for a few years, goes to Calgary, then he goes Calgary to Winnipeg, you know, made his basically did the Canadian tour. uh and now he finds himself uh with the Sharks. So, I mean, ultimately, like I said, I don’t think he has any desire to want to leave. He’ll be one of the few veterans that sticks around for a few years. Uh Will Smith was fourth in team scoring as well with 45 points. Also, might have started a little slower, but really came on and thought and got better as the year went along. Uh we did see some changes for this team throughout the year. A lot of guys were moved. I mean, it wasn’t too late in the year when they traded goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. Of course, they moved Mikuel Granland. They moved Fabian Zetterland. That one was a little bit more of a surprise where he was a little bit of a younger-ish player. Um, but I think there was some concerns that they didn’t they weren’t real crazy, I don’t think, where his next contract was going. So, they saw an opportunity that to give him uh move him to Ottawa and get player like Zack Oapchark back who they feel could be a hopefully a good fixture in their bottom six moving forward. Uh Jake Wallman was moved, Cody Cece, um you know, Nico Stern guys, they were they basically picked up four deadline flips for sure. Uh but ultimately the team did change a lot with a lot of their uh veteran players. Now now going into this current season right now they have just over $9 million in cap space 9.24 million bucks. Uh and that’s only because of the recent acquisition of the carry price contract which they got from Montreal. Theoretically as far as active players they would be you know almost 20 between 19 and $20 million uh in space available. But that price contract was acquired so that they could make moves throughout the year. We know that they’re going to have a similar approach this year where they’re likely going to sell off some veterans as the season goes along and they don’t have to worry about falling under the salary cap floor. Uh but as far as looking at the full uh changes to this team and how the team has changed throughout the year uh looking at the subtractions which there were a lot less than the additions like I said a lot of their other subtractions happened near the deadline with Granland Zetlin Wman Cece you know all those guys moved out uh but during this offseason we saw them move along from Thomas Bordal he’s no longer a shark Walker Der is no longer a shark Sabin who is more of a minor leager and Dell uh Gushkin. So, those four guys no longer with the Sharks, but they brought in some interesting players to try to make this team a little bit better as well. Um, additions to the team this year include Shane Bowers. Bowowers is probably going to be an up and down player, somebody who can be a call-up option. I’m not sure he’ll start the year in San Jose. He’ll probably go with the Barracuda. They son Adam Goddat comes over from Ottawa after a bit of a I don’t know what you want to call it but he’s had a bit of a journeyman um career um over the last you know three or four seasons but found a home in Ottawa where he was essentially the fourthline center but then due to the absence of David Pon early in the year missed an extensive time after taking a leave for personal reasons. Uh Godette got a chance to play more in the top six get some power play time and absolutely hit a career season. Um so he blew his career numbers up for goals was absolutely out of the water. So Godette um you know with a big opportunity there gets a two-year deal out of the Sharks. Uh there was definitely interest for Ottawa to keep him but not at that kind of money uh or term. So Godette goes to San Jose. They also got Philip Kersev formerly of the Blackhawks. Jeff Skinner comes over from Edmonton after, you know, what appeared to be a nice cheap pickup on a skilled winger who could has scored 30, 40 goals before. Didn’t work out with the Oilers. He’ll go to San Jose and see what he can do there. Uh Ryan Reeves was picked up from the Leafs, of course, you know, toughness, but to be honest, and we’ll get into this in the next segment here. I don’t know where where Reeves fits, but we’ll see. Couple veteran defenseman come in are short deals as well. John Clingberg uh who finished the year with the Edmonton Oilers and Dmitri Orlov formerly of the Hurricanes before that with the Capitals. Uh Alexandovich also comes over of course was with the Red Wings most recently as well. Um and of course like I said the carry price contract was an addition to get them um in a situation for a cap space that they were not anywhere near the floor. If they make some trades they don’t have to take contracts coming back. Now, as far as rookies that can impact this roster and this uh team this year, and we’re looking at guys who could make impact because there’s a lot of guys who would fall into that rookie category who might get some games this year. But I look to a player like Sam Dickinson. Sam Dickinson to me looks NHL ready. Um they do have enough veteran guys though that I I don’t know that he’s going to start um in the NHL. I they easily could cuz I I do think he’s ready for it, but I think he’ll probably go to the Barracuda and maybe be a callup option a little bit later, but we’ll see. There’s also injuries that play a role. Michael Misa, of course, their first round pick in 2025 I expect will play a big role. Those are the two main rookies that I expect to have the most impact, but a guy like Bstead also will be interesting to see how his development goes this year. As far as trade bait goes, like any moves we expect them to make. To be honest, I think San Jose will be busy, but not immediately. And I think it’s going to be gradual just like last year throughout the season, we could see a couple of trades early, and I suspect a bunch more late by the deadline. But I suspect this will be the last year for Mario Ferrero. Um, he’s finally, I think, at a a point where they they definitely move him. Clingberg, uh, likely only, if he plays well and gets interest, he’ll be a one and done as well. Um, Nick Ley, another player who came over. I suspect uh Lety will probably get interest to go elsewhere. Guys like Jeff Skinner, Ryan Reeves could be interesting at the deadline, too. But again, it’s going to depend on their performance. They have to play better than they did last year to get that interest. As far as contract extensions goes, I’m not sure we’re going to see much of anything around that this year during the season at least. I think they’ve made it pretty clear they’re focused on the short term and really that there’s a bunch of veterans that could be extended partway through the season. Some are anybody who signed a one-year deal will be eligible in January. The rest will be eligible anytime. I don’t know that we’re going to see much of that. I think that they’re going to kind of take their time here, sell off some veterans, make room for young talent. I I don’t I don’t really see that being something we see a whole lot of this year. Now, as far as a projected lineup, this is going to be challenging. they have more than enough players um on the D side and the forward side and I do wonder if some of their young guys might be kind of you know maybe blocked if you will. I’m not sure where they’re going to put them or if they’re going to see some guys end up on waiverss or traded before the season starts. We’ll see. But in goal your tandem is going to be uh Nadulkovich and Ascarov of course who Ascarov who came over from Nashville. So, um, a couple of, you know, Yasceros, another goalie of the future. Nadalkovich is, you know, I think fair to say, young enough that he could be a good, uh, 1 A1B guy maybe for a few years if he plays well. We’ve seen kind of some inconsistencies in his game, but he does have some talent. There’s no doubt. On the D, on the DOR, uh, this is going to be interesting. Um, you could see a top six that has Mario Murio Ferrero, Timothy Logan, Orlov Clingberg, Lety, and Vinnie Dear. These are all guys that are with the team. Um, all NHL defenseman. And then on top of that, you’ve got Muka Madullan, you got Jack Thompson. He said they got Sam Dickinson who looks ready to me. So that’s way more guys than you need. Like I’m just not sure are they going to like put somebody on waiverss to to make room for Dickinson. I don’t I don’t know. I mean, you know, there there’s more than enough guys here. So, I maybe they start the year with Dickinson playing in the AHL. Maybe these guys are, you know, I suspect we could see two or three of them move throughout the season. I’m not sure, but there’s more than enough capable D there. Um, even guys like Thompson and Muk Madullan, like I just, you know, are they going to go with more of a veteran Dor? I I just I just don’t know. Um, so I’m not sure how some of these younger guys are going to get ice time or if some of these veteran guys are just not going to get much of a role. So that’s going to be interesting to see. At forward, I suspect you’re going to see probably a top line of Celibbrini with Ekkan and Tofoley. Uh, a second line very well could be Will Smith with a couple of veterans and Adam Goddette and Jeff Skinner. We’ve heard um the the Sharks say that they expect guys like God and Skinner to to get an opportunity to play top six. So, you know, we’ll see. Uh third line, Alex Wenberg could be the third line center. Um which is pretty likely. Guys like Kersev, maybe Colin Graph could be the wingers there. Um Zacho Stap could be a fourth line center. You got Barkley Gadro tied to Andrea. But then that still leaves like where does Michael Misa fit? Uh, does he get a chance to play either on the wing in the top six? Maybe put him with Will Smith and maybe you drop down Godette and maybe a guy like Kurv or Delandrea. I’m not sure like somebody else could move down or come out. Guys like Carl Grundstrom and Ryan Reeves, like we haven’t even talked about those guys. I’m not sure that they can even grab a spot. I don’t I don’t know that Ryan Reeves is going to be a regular. Like I really don’t I mean you could put him in there I guess but who you know is there somebody else that’s you know gonna you’re gonna not have a in his in there that could be like I just don’t get it. Grundstrom really had a tough year last year. I can see a scenario where he’s either put on waiverss or he’s traded or he just scratched. I’m not sure, but I’m not too concerned with Grundstrom and really I the acquisition of Reeves to me was kind of pointless, but um here we are. Misa is the one I do wonder about. Um but really I think Misa should be playing over those guys and maybe like I would throw Misa on the second line with Will Smith and then maybe Jeff Skinner. Uh move Godette, maybe he could play more on your third line, you know. um you have options there for sure, but they definitely have a few veteran guys that to me are blocking some young guys and I just don’t know if they’re really going to get roll. So I do wonder if Grundstrom Reeves, you know, guys like Darren or Lety Clingber just signed, but like you some of these guys won’t maybe not be there super long. But the questions facing the team going into the season is can they be more competitive? I think the answer is yes. I think they can be. I don’t think they’re going to be a whole lot better than last year, but I do think they will be better. I do think they’ll win a few more games. Um, but you’re still going to be seeing them near the bottom of the Pacific Division. At least I think so. I mean, you know, should we see a selloff of more veterans uh throughout the second half of the year? I mean, I think that’s absolutely quite possible. A bunch of these guys could get moved and it’ll kind of just open the door to get more rookies playing time down the season. you know, can guys like Grundtorm and Reeves still play? I don’t know. Could they end up on waiverss? I mean, because trading them again is going to be challenging. They just picked up Reeves. So, again, um not sure what the future holds for them. And really, all in all, like to me, the big the biggest question is just how much development are we going to see out of Celibbrini Smith? Like, you know, will Misa get in there to be a regular? He should be like he’s a darn good player. Um, so this team could be very very fun to watch. Um, and it’s also going to change throughout the year, but like I just some of these veterans that they picked up, I just kind of question like I know you need some, but do they have too many? That’s the question for me. And how many of these guys are like how this team could be very very different by the end of the season? But all in all, I expect this team to be more competitive, more fun, but still fairly low in the standings. Let me know your thoughts on the Sharks in the upcoming 2526 season and expectations in the comments. We’ll discuss further. If you’re new to the channel, of course, make sure you subscribe and stick around. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest news, rumors, and analysis of all 32 NHL teams. Thanks for watching, and I’ll catch you next time. [Music]

San Jose Sharks Season Preview 2025-26
NHL Regular Season 2025-26 is almost ready to begin. Today we preview the San Jose Sharks. We discuss the additions, subtractions and Predictions for the upcoming seasons. San Jose Sharks trade Rumours, San Jose Sharks Top prospects and the 2026 NHL Draft.

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