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  Ryan S. ClarkOct 21, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Everyone has a story about the pingpong table at the San Jose Sharks’ practice facility.

That includes the franchise players, role players and those who just got called up from the minors. Even the coaches and support staff members have stories about the piece of recreational equipment.

This includes second-year Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky. One day, while outside his office, he discovered Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith playing an unconventional style of pingpong.

“They’re playing pingpong with their shirts off, whacking each other with balls, having welts on them,” Warsofsky recalled. “That was kind of my first moment where I’m like, ‘Oh my God, these kids are 18 and 19 years old.’ But then you talk to them about hockey — and you talk to Mack and Will. They’re very mature kids for where they are at and being in the National Hockey League.

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“And so when you see those things like the pingpong balls, as funny as it is, how do you handle that as a coach? Because on one hand, you want players to be who they are. But on the other, you’re also going, ‘I’m sorry, what?'”

Moments like this are reminders that, for all the excitement, expectation and promise of a Sharks rebuild, Celebrini is still 19, and Smith is 20. These two could become the next NHL super-duo, and they’re having fun in the process.

That’s what makes them so endearing to everyone in the Sharks’ organization, because of what it represents: belief.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Those are all duos who won the Stanley Cup. Although their organizations built around them in order to win, the point remains that they were the cornerstones in the first place.

With Celebrini and Smith in place, are the Sharks the next organization to follow that path?

REBUILDS ARE LIKEmachines, in that there must be specific parts in place for everything to work. But even with those parts, there must be cohesion. A rebuild that has the parts and the cohesion could eventually turn into a dynasty — while a rebuild lacking that continuity is likely not headed anywhere close.

This is why the Sharks have brought in veterans like Dmitry Orlov and Tyler Toffoli, because they have played for teams that have developed strong cultures around their young players. It’s why they hired Warsofsky: He knows how to develop players, and has the drive to develop himself as a head coach. This is why everyone around the organization is so cautiously optimistic.

Celebrini, background, and Smith, foreground, have shown off the talent that makes many in the organization believe the rebuild will be coming to a close soon. Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

None of this is lost on Celebrini and Smith. For as grateful as they are to be in the NHL at such a young age, they know that even if they improve on their last-place finish (52 points) in 2024-25, the Sharks will likely be in the draft lottery again.

“We have so much talent and guys that could make this roster and make it better in the future,” Celebrini said. “But at the same time, we can’t just wait around for guys to develop or guys to come in. I think we want to be greedy right now and we want to start changing things right now.”

EVERY DUO HASan origin story. It’s just that San Jose isn’t where it first began for Celebrini and Smith. It actually started in Switzerland at the IIHF U18 World Championships in 2023. Celebrini represented Canada while Smith played for the United States. Smith led the tournament in points, helping the U.S. win the gold medal. A year later, they played against each other at the World Junior Championships; Smith led the tournament in points (again), as the U.S. won gold (again).

College was no different. They played in the same city but were on opposite sides of one of the most storied rivalries in the collegiate game; Celebrini skated for Boston University while Smith played at Boston College. They played against each other four times, with Smith and BC winning three of those meetings; the final one was the Hockey East Championship.

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Smith led the nation with 71 points as a freshman, while Celebrini was third with 64. However, Celebrini won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top collegiate player. They each made it to the Frozen Four — where both lost to national champion Denver.

Drafting Smith with the fourth pick in 2023 was a significant addition for the Sharks. After winning the 2024 draft lottery and landing Celebrini, it led to a conversation about where the Sharks could be heading with their newfound duo.

“We never said a word to one another, and then, we came here for development camp,” Smith said. “And we really haven’t gone many days without each other. We talk about it sometimes that we’re [fighting for] the scoring title together. I’d check the box score and he’d light it up one night or I’d do the same and he’d get pissed off about it.”

Neither Celebrini nor Smith can pinpoint the exact moment that their friendship started. They both just said it happened naturally. They shared common interests like playing golf, playing cards on the team plane and — you guessed it — playing pingpong.

They also watch movies. Like, quite a few movies. On the day Smith spoke to ESPN, he said that he got Celebrini to watch “Horrible Bosses 2.” Just as he said that, Celebrini walked past him and yelled, “Rex! Rex!” in reference to the film’s antagonist, played by Chris Pine.

Another thing they have in common is that last season was the first time either of them played on a team that didn’t have a winning record or reach the postseason. They both admitted it was challenging to make that transition.

Smith and Celebrini have a lot of fun with one another off the ice as well, including Celebrini having to wear a Boston College jersey after Smith’s alma mater won a game against Boston University this past January. Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images

CELEBRINI SHOWED THAThe can handle the demands of being a top-line center last season, leading the Sharks with 63 points in 70 games and finishing second in the voting for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. Smith finished tied for fourth on the team in points, with 45 in 74 games.

Facing the tough grind of a rebuild together allowed Celebrini and Smith to develop their own community, and it expanded beyond the duo. Veterans like Tyler Toffoli and teammates closer in age such as Ty Dellandrea and William Eklund are part of that community. So are all-time Sharks greats such as Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton; Smith lives with Marleau while Celebrini lives with Thornton.

But to believe their first seasons were defined by their point totals or any other metrics tells only part of their story.

What they learned through the losing was more than the need to improve as a team. They learned how to rely on each other, while showing others that they can be relied upon, too. Instead of keeping to themselves with their goofiness, they wanted others to be part of the fun.

This is how Celebrini and Smith are starting to make their mark on the Sharks.

Some of this has made its way to the public. The most prominent example being the sleepover that happened in March. Celebrini and Smith made a bet with Toffoli that if all three scored in the same game, Toffoli would sleep in Celebrini and Smith’s hotel room. They each scored in the Sharks’ 6-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres, which led to the Sharks posting a picture of Celebrini and Smith smiling in their beds while Toffoli was on a cot with his back turned to the camera.

“I think it’s kind of funny but surprising at the same time,” Toffoli said of how people reacted to the sleepover. “We’re in a smallerish market here in San Jose, but the way it kind of blew up — that’s just us, and it wasn’t like it was just us in that room. There were six or seven of us in that room, which is definitely pretty funny.”

Naturally, the Sharks made their home-opening giveaway this season a Celebrini and Smith bobblehead, with the two of them in their beds and an option of purchasing Toffoli in a separate bobblehead to complete the set.

“It’s definitely pretty ridiculous,” Toffoli said.

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Then there are the stories nobody knows about that speak to everything that embodies what it means to be Celebrini and Smith.

With the NHL hosting the 4 Nations Face-Off, it gave those players who weren’t playing a chance to get some rest. Celebrini and Smith were part of a group of Sharks players who organized a five-day golf trip to Arizona.

Everything was planned out, down to the courses they’d play, but there was one detail they overlooked: Celebrini and Smith were too young to rent an Airbnb and needed Dellandrea, who is 25, to book their accommodations.

“You forget how young they are sometimes,” Dellandrea said. “I think we forget that because they’re good people and as good hockey players as they are, they’re still that young.”

FOR ALL THATthey have done to foster a community, the Sharks have also created the sort of community around Celebrini and Smith that could have a long-term impact.

That includes the homegrown talents who are on this year’s roster like Eklund, Sam Dickinson and Michael Misa, along with prospects they’ve acquired in trades, such as Yaroslav Askarov and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

It also includes players such as Dellandrea, Toffoli and Dmitry Orlov, who were brought in from elsewhere and who know what it means to have an organic team culture.

“It’s important because your team is your second family and you spend a lot of time with them and you have to have trust and believe in them in the tough times,” said Orlov, who was part of the core the Washington Capitals built around Backstrom and Ovechkin to win a Stanley Cup in 2018. “But it’s also a lifestyle, too. We have a fun life, and it can be up and down. Everybody can handle that differently, but it’s why you have teammates, you have a family that can support you.”

Orlov and Toffoli said where that support becomes even more crucial for young players in today’s game is when it comes to social media. They shared how both the criticisms and the praise are easily accessible, to the point that it can become too much for one person to handle without the right support system in place.

Toffoli said part of building that support system is to consistently “do the right things,” with the hope that young players feel the traits they are seeing are ones worth replicating.

Veterans like Tyler Toffoli have been critical as the Sharks build up their foundation and culture around Macklin Celebrini and the other young, homegrown players. Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images

Although Dellandrea might not have Orlov and Toffoli’s experience in terms of games played, he does have an experience that lends itself toward helping the Sharks’ young players in a different way. After starting his career with the Dallas Stars, Dellandrea knows what it’s like to be one of the youngest players on the roster, because there is a difference.

“I think no matter who it is, young or old, you want good seeds in your locker room,” Dellandrea said. “I think [Sharks GM Mike Grier] and Warzo have done a good job in that there are good people to be around.”

Making sure that Celebrini, Smith and the rest of the Sharks’ homegrown core are surrounded by strong-minded individuals is an objective that Warsofsky takes personally and seriously.

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Part of the reason Grier hired Warsofsky was his ability to develop, teach and win at the AHL and ECHL levels. The principles that allowed Warsofsky to reach the NHL have also made him want to get better at his craft.

Coaching in the minors has given him the chance to work with young players. But Celebrini and Smith were the first teenagers he ever coached.

“That was a big adjustment,” Warsofsky said. “They’re very mature kids and they’re smart hockey players. But at the end of the day, they’re still 18 and 19 years old. You try to build a relationship, and it takes time. You see certain things that make them kids, and they’re both mature kids. But there’s a little side of them that lets you know they are teenagers.”

Warsofsky said seeing Celebrini and Smith whack each other with pingpong balls, while jarring, reminded him that it was important to let them grow up so they can develop the personalities that will someday be the voices that guide the franchise.

“I’m a big proponent of wanting personalities in our room,” Warsofsky said. “I want energy in the room. I think that’s important and that can be contagious. The more of that we have, the more swagger we’d be having with our hockey team. It translates to the ice.”

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The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their season-opening two-game road trip on Saturday when they traveled to take on the San Jose Sharks after Thursdayâ€s 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Heading into this game, one of the biggest stories was the debut of Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson, long-time friend, teammate, and opponent of Ducks†star rookie Beckett Sennecke.

Lines and pairs for the Ducks remained mostly the same from the game before, with the only change coming in the form of Nikita Nesterenko slotting in for Sam Colangelo on the fourth line.

This was a wild game from start to finish with mental lapses, shoddy defensive habits, electrifying offensive sequences, and questionable goaltending on both ends.

Petr Mrazek got his first start as a member of the Anaheim Ducks and saved 17 of 23 shots.

Mrazek was opposed by Sharks star rookie netminder Yaroslav Askarov, who was making his season debut as well. Askarov stopped 36 of the whopping 43 shots he faced in this one.

Here are my notes from this game:

Beckett Sennecke-Sennecke showed new layers of technical proficiency unseen before at any level from him (at least by me). He was a pest on the forecheck, getting quick sticks on retrieving defenders, and showed a high motor, not giving up on plays that seemingly moved past him.

The stick lift on Gauthierâ€s first goal wonâ€t count on a scoresheet, but it was instrumental to that tally and an example of Senneckeâ€s anticipation and manipulation skills and unexpected involvement in plays in every zone. His net front game was surprisingly proficient for a player who typically operates more on the perimeter before attacking the middle. He was more than willing to mix it up and take a beating to get to the tight areas of the ice.

Sennecke only had one or two “rookie plays†where he was outmuscled or failed to advance a puck on a breakout, but those plays are to be expected. Overall, it was an extremely refined performance for being just his second professional hockey game.

Mikael Granlund and Chris Kreider-These are a pair of players one would expect detail-oriented performances from, and they delivered. Granlundâ€s supportive instincts allow him to gain possession, while his IQ and vision lead to his ability to manipulate the on-puck defender and cleverly find moving teammates throughout his teamâ€s offensive structure.

In a completely different style from Granlundâ€s, Kreider is a small-area master. He instinctively knows when to stop rimming pucks or feint a stop and allow them to pass through him to a teammate. He knows how goalies are trying to see pucks around him when heâ€s screening and when to let plays breathe a bit so he can pounce on a loose puck or broken play in front. “Savvy veteran†is the phrase that came to mind when analyzing these two in this game.

Defensive Details-Itâ€s been made clear by head coach Joel Quenneville and the players from training camp until now that the goal of their defensive systems is to kill plays with quick secondary pressure. Thereâ€s still work to be done when it comes to how that pressure engages, how the tertiary pressure reacts, and how to minimize damage when the first two waves fail, because it will happen every so often.

Those areas are where the Ducks struggled in this game. A strong-side defenseman (Radko Gudas) pinches in the neutral zone, and the supporting forward (Mason McTavish) leaves too big a gap, which led to the Sharks†first goal. Five players are caught on the ice for a minute and a half, and the weak-side winger (Cutter Gauthier) doesnâ€t or canâ€t stay with his activated point man (Mario Ferraro) on the Sharks†third goal. Those small details are, in theory, easy to clean up, but they can lead to quick goals if not refined.

McTavish, Gauthier, and Gudas all played very well aside from those instances.

With the puck, the Ducks did well to maintain possession and create consistent, dangerous chances from all four lines and all three pairs. They were smart on forechecks and communicated well on breakouts and regroups to build plays up ice.

The Ducks will return home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for their home opener on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PST.

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PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers rid themselves of defenseman Ryan Ellis’ contract in a trade with the Sharks, ending his tenure at four games played in four seasons.

Ellis and a conditional sixth-round draft pick were traded to San Jose on Sunday for forward Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Artem Guryev. The condition on the sixth-round pick is that San Jose shall receive the earlier of two picks Philadelphia currently owns in the 2026 sixth round, its own and Columbus’.

The Flyers now have five picks in the 2026 draft. They own one pick in each of the first three rounds, one in the sixth and one in the seventh round.

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Philadelphia thought it acquired one of the NHL’s best defensemen when it landed Ellis from the Nashville Predators ahead of the 2021 season. Ellis was selected by Nashville with the No. 11 pick in the 2009 draft and helped the Predators win the Stanley Cup in 2017. He had 270 points in 562 career games at the time of the trade.

Ellis played four games in 2021 until he suffered a pelvis injury believed to be career-threatening.

The Sharks likely will place Ellis on long-term injured reserve. He has two seasons left on an eight-year, $50 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $6.25 million through 2027.

Grundstrom scored nine points in 56 games with San Jose last season.

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PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers rid themselves of defenceman Ryan Ellis’ contract in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, ending his tenure at just four games played in four seasons.

Ellis and a conditional sixth-round draft pick were traded to San Jose on Sunday for forward Carl Grundstrom and defenceman Artem Guryev. The condition on the sixth-round pick is that San Jose shall receive the earlier of two picks Philadelphia currently owns in the 2026 sixth round, its own and Columbus’.

The Flyers now have five picks in the 2026 draft. They own one pick in each of the first three rounds, one in the sixth and one in the seventh round.

The Flyers thought they acquired one of the NHL’s best defencemen when they landed Ellis from Nashville ahead of the 2021 season. Ellis was selected by Nashville with the No. 11 pick in the 2009 draft and helped the Predators win the Stanley Cup in 2017. He had 270 points in 562 career games at the time of the trade.

Ellis played four games in 2021 until he suffered a pelvis injury believed to be career-threatening. The Sharks likely will place Ellis on long-term injured reserve. He has two seasons left on an eight-year, $50 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $6.25 million through 2027.

Grundstrom scored nine points in 56 games with San Jose last season.

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The San Jose Sharks were back at the SAP Center on Wednesday night as they hosted the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks fell to the Ducks in their first road trip of the preseason earlier this week. The Sharks ran with a fairly light roster during their trip to Southern California, but tonight they brought a lineup that looks more like what weâ€ll see on opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights next week.

The first thing I noticed during the game was Cam Lundâ€s effort level. He lost his stick in the defensive zone, blocked a shot, then had a good attempt at clearing the puck without his stick; however, the Ducks quickly regained possession in their offensive zone. Regardless of the outcome, it was a smart play by the 21-year-old forward.

The Sharks tested Anaheim goaltender Calle Clang early in the game; however, he made an incredible split-save to deny the Sharks†scoring opportunity. He also got some help from the post, as at one point, Tyler Toffoli got a breakaway opportunity that hit the inside of the post before launching into the corner.

Both teams took a penalty in the first period, but neither power play was either to take advantage, and it remained 0-0 heading into the first intermission.

Yaroslav Askarov would be forced to make a save quickly to start the second period; however, he wouldnâ€t be able to deny Beckett Sennecke just over a minute into the period, as the 19-year-old forward would make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Alex Wennberg was called for slashing a couple of minutes later. The Sharks would kill off the penalty, but moments later, Drew Helleson would find Sam Colangelo behind the Sharks†defense, and the Massachusetts native would make it 2-0 for the Ducks.

Things continued to spiral as Cutter Gauthier scored 7:55 into the period, scoring his second of the preseason and making it 3-0 for the visitors. In less than eight minutes, the Sharks went from a tied hockey game to a three-goal deficit. Even though itâ€s a preseason matchup, head coach Ryan Warsofsky certainly wasnâ€t going to be happy with his team slipping up in such a major fashion.

Dmitri Orlov was stripped of the puck on an offensive zone entry, allowing the Ducks to rush the other way for a 2-on-1. Luckily for the team in teal, Askarov was able to deny the attack and keep the Sharks†deficit at three goals.

The Ducks†Frank Vatrano was called for hooking at 13:46 in the period, but Anaheim maintained a perfect penalty kill by shutting the Sharks down for two minutes. The Sharks†power play got another opportunity with just over a minute left in the period as Stian Solberg was called for a puck-over-glass delay of game penalty. After a couple of close calls for Clang, the Sharks were unable to find the net before the end of the second period.

It didnâ€t take long for the Sharks to get on the board in the third period,as a Will Smith slap shot deflected off of Clang into the crease, where William Eklund put it away after it touched Tyler Toffoli, making it a 3-1 Ducks lead. After the goal, things started to get a bit chippy as a scrum broke out in the corner, which saw Vincent Desharnais go after Pavel Mintyukov after he exchanged cross-checks with Eklund. Desharnais and Mintyukov got coincidental minor penalties, while Eklund was also penalized for cross-checking, giving the Ducks a power play. It would be cut short, though, as Olen Zellweger was called for a penalty 30 seconds later.

Philipp Kurashev nearly scored, causing the goal horn to go off and play to stop for a moment, as the goal appeared to go into the net; however, it was waved off and ruled to be off the post and out. Moments later, Kurashev would get his point as heâ€d find Jeff Skinner, who fired off a wide-open one-timer to reduce the Ducks†lead to a single goal. Sennecke had a breakaway opportunity just under eight minutes into the period, but a decent defensive play by a trailing Shakir Mukhamadullin helped Askarov turn the shot aside.

The Sharks†power play got another opportunity with 8:53 remaining in regulation, as Ross Johnston was penalized for interference. Toffoli hit the post again early in the power play, but the Sharks would fail to get another quality scoring opportunity during the two minutes.

The Sharks maintained solid offensive pressure shortly after pulling their goaltender, but eventually Egor Sidorov would put away the empty-net goal and put the game out of reach.  Vatrano then scored a second empty-netter. The Sharks played well, outside of an eight-minute stretch in the second period, but that short amount of time created too big a deficit for them to overcome, as they fell 5-2.

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On Monday night at Honda Center, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the San Jose Sharks for the first time this exhibition season and in their fifth of seven overall preseason games.

The Ducks iced a squad nearly full of NHL-caliber players that will likely closely resemble their opening night roster.

The Sharks, on the other hand, sent a team mostly consisting of AHL players, not one of which was over 30 years old. It was a tale of two rosters, and the Ducks were expected to control play from puck drop.

Ville Husso got the start for the Ducks and stopped 22 of 24 shots, not allowing many second-chance opportunities and working to find pucks through traffic.

Opposite Husso, Jakub Skarek got the start for the Sharks and stopped 13 of 16 shots before he was pulled in a scheduled goalie switch halfway through the second period. Gabriel Carriere entered the game in relief and saved all 14 shots he saw off Ducks sticks.

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Once again, it is preseason, but for this game especially, any statement surrounding it should be taken with a grain of salt.

That said, here are my takeaways from this game:

Chris Kreider-The Ducks have been starved for a true netfront difference-maker, especially on the power play, and thatâ€s where Kreider earns his money. He instinctively knows how goalies move when tracking pucks throughout the offensive zone and reacts accordingly to always remain in their field of vision.

His battling ability was on display in this game, as he consistently won pucks back that were shot and deflected below the goal line to extend zone time substantially, an underrated but impactful quality.

Cycle-Since the start of camp, coaches have implemented a cycle system in the offensive zone built on constant player and puck movement from all five skaters on the ice. Rather than continuous efforts to move pucks from low to high, followed by a shot, and an attempt to win an ensuing board battle, forwards run give-and-gos up the wall to defensemen, who jump to the middle or switch with their d-partner to create one-timer looks.

There are elongated sequences where forwards remain high at the blueline, weaving while defenseman remain low after shifting in efforts to draw defenders well out of position.

“Just kept it simple,†Nikita Nesterenko said after the game. “Got the puck in, trying to create energy for the other lines, tie their D up. I think every like was rolling. Leoâ€s line played incredible. Itâ€s fun to watch those guys.â€

Leo Carlsson-This was a game that Carlsson was expected to dominate while implementing some of the aspects of his game that needed refining in the past. He didnâ€t disappoint. He displayed vision, patience, and anticipation skills with the puck on his stick heâ€d only shown flashes of to this point in his career. This game may have solidified Kreider a spot on his left wing for the foreseeable future with the way they consistently found each other in dangerous areas of the ice.

Beckett Sennecke-Sennecke was one of the few players for the Ducks in this game who could stand to gain a lot. This was the most dynamic heâ€d been all preseason and displayed true game-breaking potential with the kind of quick strike offense that teams crave. Whether itâ€s a pure strength factor or if he needs to tweak his approach, the next step in his progression will be to enter battles more efficiently and come away from them with the puck with greater frequency.

“I thought he didn’t play a lot, but every time he was out there, he was a threat & he was dangerous,†Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “He was fun to watch, and on every given night, it could be a different situation. He gives you a lot of versatility as a wild card player.â€

The Ducks will head to San Jose to take on the Sharks again on Wednesday night for their sixth of seven preseason games.

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Rebuilds arenâ€t supposed to be fun. But even by incredibly low standards, the last few years in San Jose have been tougher than most. After falling just shy of a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, the club bottomed out before leaning all the way into an extensive tear-down that has required plenty of patience.

Last year showed signs of life — okay, maybe not in the standings, where the Sharks†painful 20-50-12 record earned them just 52 points and the second overall selection one year after picking first. But it was there. Rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith took their first strides, second-year pro William Eklund found his footing, and while Yaroslav Askarov stumbled in his first year in teal, his presence gives the young club a netminder to build around.

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The building continues in 2025-26, with more fresh faces looking for roster spots — top prospects Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson among them — and brighter days (read: more wins!) on the horizon. How many more wins is the big question here. Because while the club is expected to progress in the standings, success in the upcoming campaign likely wonâ€t be measured in the win column alone. Meaningful hockey in March would be a great place to start.

The year ahead should see plenty of new faces get their first starts with the club as the team looks to continue its youth movement, but the veteran additions can be just as important to help the vision come to life. While there is understandably a lot of focus up front this year as the Sharks look to up their offensive game and turn things over to the kids, the 2025-26 season will be a year of much change on the blue line, too. The signing of Orlov to a two-year, $13-million pact this summer instantly made the 34-year-old not only the highest paid rearguard on the roster but the owner of the longest current contract at the position. The lone defenceman signed beyond this season, Orlov brings valuable experience — 10 straight years of playoff hockey, including a Stanley Cup ring in Washington — and a stable presence to San Joseâ€s blue line in a year of change. With top defensive prospect Sam Dickinson looking to break into the lineup, and second-year NHLer Shakir Mukhamadullin hoping to build on last seasonâ€s promising start, the Sharks should be able to rely on Orlov to help set the tone while also providing a little offence from the back end after bouncing back in the stats department the last two years in Carolina.Â

Under-the-radar player to watch: Shakir Mukhamadullin

Speaking of the blue line, all that opportunity bodes well for 23-year-old Mukhamadullin to make the most of his one-year, $1-million bridge deal and prove to Sharks brass heâ€s a piece the club can build around. The 2020 first rounder (Devils) started last season with the AHL Barracuda and once he got the call from the big club last December was able to stick with the Sharks. Nine points in 30 games with San Jose show glimpses of his offensive upside. Where he fits in depends at least in part on whether top D prospect Dickinson can solidify his spot on the roster out of camp. Dickinson has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone in teal. If Mukhamadullin can find his footing as a top-four guy, the Sharks will have the beginnings of a strong young unit.Â

Top prospect: Michael Misa

Misaâ€s arrival couldnâ€t have come at a better time for the Sharks, whose offence struggled mightily last season as the club turned over its top six to the youth movement. Misa is as creative as they come, a masterful playmaker and setup man but also a dangerous scoring threat no matter the play. A something-from-nothing scorer, Misaâ€s spectacular showing in Saginaw last season — 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games and the leagueâ€s most outstanding player title — shows a player whoâ€s ready for his next challenge. The Sharks†second overall selection in June signed his entry-level deal in time to attend training camp, and while he has yet to actually make the opening-night roster itâ€s hard not to imagine the magic Misa can bring to a top six that includes Celebrini, Smith, and Eklund. Speed bumps abound, sure, but this could be fun.

1. Can Celebrini lead Sharks†offence out of the basement?

The Sharks ranked dead last in goal-scoring per game (2.54) in 2024-25, despite the addition of first-overall pick Celebrini and 2023 first-rounder Will Smith taking the reins. Celebriniâ€s 25 goals and team-leading 63 points was a great start for the top talent of the Class of 2024, and all signs point to both numbers rising in Year 2. Tyler Toffoliâ€s 30 markers on the season set the pace, with only he and Celebrini scoring more than 20 goals on the season. A full NHL off-season for Celebrini and Smith, plus another year for Eklund to build on, should see this group grow together, and the aforementioned Misa getting a good, long NHL look could yield some strong chemistry, too.

2. How many rookies will make the jump?

The youth surge is in full swing, and whether top prospects like Misa and Dickinson can make their mark will tell us a lot about what to expect from the Sharks†rebuild timeline. But while Misa and Dickinson are the biggest names on the brink of making their NHL debuts, they arenâ€t the only ones pressing. Winger Quentin Musty, San Joseâ€s 26th overall pick from 2023, turned pro last spring when he joined the AHL Barracuda for a short stint. He brings size and speed off the rush and a little sandpaper to board battles in his quest to make the Sharks roster. Igor Chernyshov, too, is a big body with speed who will likely warrant some attention should he get an opportunity.Â

3. Can Yaroslav Askarov prove heâ€s the guy?

When the Sharks traded for top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov last August, the team appeared confident theyâ€d found their long-term franchise netminder. A lacklustre start to his Sharks tenure shouldnâ€t deter that feeling, but thereâ€s no denying this season holds a little extra pressure for the 23-year-old to regain his footing. Askarov started just 13 games for San Jose last season as he dealt with injury issues, posting an uncharacteristic 3.10 goals-against average and equally uninspiring .896 save percentage. He looked better during his stint with the Barracuda — especially in the playoffs — and is poised to reclaim his crease with the Sharks and make good on his second chance at a first impression. While the top job is his, San Joseâ€s signing of backup Alex Nedeljkovic this summer helps solidify things should the injury bug strike, and will be worth watching if San Jose opts to deploy the duo as a tandem to help both thrive.Â

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  Greg WyshynskiSep 22, 2025, 02:34 PM ET

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  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

The San Jose Sharks are correcting a banner recently raised inside SAP Center that celebrates an honor the team didn’t actually attain.

The Sharks refreshed the banners in their rafters for the upcoming NHL season. The new ones that have a smaller team logo and a larger font, while the team’s six division titles were condensed onto one banner from six individual ones.

But one new banner caught the attention of fans online and at Sunday’s preseason win against the Vegas Golden Knights. The banner celebrated the Sharks winning the 2015-16 Presidents’ Trophy, which is handed out to the team with the NHL’s best regular-season record.

Not sure how long it’s been like this, but the Sharks replaced some of their division championship banners with one that lists all of them. The 19 and 12 banners are also on that end of the rink. pic.twitter.com/BKiM5WaraO

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) September 21, 2025

One problem: The Sharks finished 11th in the league that season and were 22 points in back of the Washington Capitals, who actually won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2015-16.

The Sharks did make the Final in 2015-16, losing to the Penguins in six games.

The likely culprit for the error: The Sharks did win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2008-09, the only time the franchise finished first overall in the NHL regular season. That achievement did not have a banner in its honor up in the rafters on Sunday night.

Sharks president Jonathan Becher said on Sunday that it was a “printing error” of which the team was already made aware. Becher said the Sharks “have already ordered a replacement” banner.

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The San Jose Sharks hosted the Vegas Golden Knights in their first preseason action of the 2025-26 season on Sunday night.

In the first period, we got our first look at head coach Ryan Warsofskyâ€s special teams units. Egor Afanasyev was sent to the penalty box for tripping at 5:20, and the penalty kill held strong. There were a few interesting names getting time as well. Sam Dickinson got a shot on the blue line, while Michael Misa and Will Smith were paired together on the penalty kill as well.

Alex Nedeljkovic made a phenomenal save while shorthanded as well, denying Raphael Lavoie on a cross-crease attempt. Misa was tripped up by Cole Schwindt at 8:14 in the first period, making a nice falling pass and drawing a penalty. Quentin Musty had a great chance off a pass from Dickinson as the penalty expired, but was denied by the Golden Knights†22-year-old goalie, Carl Lindbom.

One play that stood out to me early was off of an offensive zone turnover by the Sharks. Vegas attempted to break out of their defensive zone, and Pavol Regenda pulled off a perfectly timed stick lift to dispossess the Golden Knights and regain the puck in a dangerous area.

Warsofsky specifically said he was interested in seeing what Anthony Vincent brought to the table after the non-game groupâ€s morning skate, and it was clear why. He was making smart plays and creating some chances off the rush early on. With that being said, he did make a major error in the second period and was less noticeable as the game went on.

After the first period, it was still a 0-0 deadlock, but the Golden Knights led 9-4 in shots.

Early in the second period, there were a couple of defensive plays that certainly stood out. Nick Leddyâ€s speed is still dangerous, as he rushed back and closed out a Golden Knights zone entry attempt, allowing the Sharks to regain possession. Dickinson also had a great poke-check denying a rush attempt by Vegas forward Brett Howden.

Afanasyev drew a penalty just over seven minutes into the second period, and it didnâ€t take long for the Sharks power play to take advantage. Michael Misa won the faceoff to Tyler Toffoli, who found John Klingberg on the point. Klingberg fired it and found the back of the net through a screen, breaking the deadlock and giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Vegas made a goaltending change shortly after the first goal in an attempt to split time between Lindbom and Jesper Vikman. Lindbom played a total of 31:29 before Vikman took over in the crease.

Jeff Skinner was a major standout in the second period. He created space for himself early in the period and was denied on a rush opportunity. He then scored right before the end of the period, when Will Smith made a great backhand pass to the slot. It landed on Dickinsonâ€s stick, who found Skinner in front of the net, making it 2-0 for the Sharks. Itâ€s important to note that right before getting the secondary assist, Smith was hauled down in the defensive zone and drew a penalty.

Misa took a tripping penalty 11:52 into the second period. Near the end of the penalty, the Sharks were called for too many men, giving the Golden Knights a short 5-on-3 opportunity. The San Jose penalty kill would prevail, and Vegas remained without a goal through two periods.

Toffoli toe-dragged around the Vegas defense early in the third, but after walking in, he was denied by Vikman on the backhand attempt.

Zack Ostapchuk was called for interference with 7:31 remaining in regulation, giving Vegas a golden opportunity to get back in the game. That opportunity would be wasted though, as the Sharks’ penalty kill improved to 4-for-4 on the night.

Despite a late push by the Golden Knights, the Sharks were able to maintain the shutout and, after an empty net goal by Toffoli, they walked away with a 3-0 victory to kick off the preseason.

Nedeljkovic was tested quite a bit early on, but that faded away in the latter half of the game. He made quite a few key saves including a late-game breakaway by Alexander Holtz. So far, he has looked like a solid addition for the Sharks. Considering thereâ€s still uncertainty about how well Yaroslav Askarov will play this season, Nedeljkovic seems like heâ€ll certainly add some stability in the crease.

Philipp Kurashev also looked very solid, making smart plays throughout the night, and overall being in the right spot at the right time.

Quentin Musty was noticeably faster, and his offseason work was paying dividends. Misa was another prospect who definitely didn’t look out of place, he’s adapting to the professional game very quickly and seems primed to have a strong rookie season if what we’ve seen so far continues into the regular season. Dickinson is in a similar situation, as he looked very good as well.

The Sharks will have their second preseason game of the season on Friday, as they once again face the Golden Knights.

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Ahead of tonightâ€s preseason matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, Macklin Celebrini and Cam Lund both returned to the ice this morning at Sharks Ice.

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On Saturday morning the San Jose Sharks announced their broadcast schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

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