Mix Of Veterans And Prospects Is Helping Sharks Climb The Ladder

The San Jose Sharks have not been to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2019. They have spent six seasons since compiling one of the strongest prospect pools in hockey, using strategic late-round drafting and trades to stock the cupboards from their top forward position all the way through their starting goaltender. That draft capital has already begun to pay off. Will Smith and William Eklund are established, top forwards for the Sharks – while Macklin Celebrini became a household name and broke the team’s scoring record, all before turning 20. Their success helped San Jose finish outside of the Pacific Division’s bottom-three for the first time since their last playoff appearance – but how long will it take until San Jose takes another step forward and returns to the postseason?

The top six scorers from San Jose’s 2025-26 season feature two players above the age of 30 and four younger than 24. That balance of veteran leadership and inexperienced talent has headlined San Jose’s roster construction in recent years. Winger Tyler Toffoli helped to fill some of the gaps left by Celebrini’s all-over style, while Alexander Wennberg has proven to be an invaluable, two-way center while Smith finds his footing between wing and center roles. Both Toffoli and Wennberg are signed through 2028, which should keep the construction of San Jose’s top-six relatively the same. But much of the same may not be enough for a Sharks club that finished 17th in the league in goals scored this season, even with their electric performances.

It will take another X-factor in the top-six to jump San Jose’s offense to the heights its capable of. That could come through another veteran presence, like winger Kiefer Sherwood who earned an extension with the Sharks before his first complete season in San Jose – thanks to his unique mix of capable goal-scoring and overwhelming hitting. But Sherwood’s role will likely end up depth behind one of San Jose’s emerging youngsters.

Winger Igor Chernyshov vindicated a breakout performance in the OHL last year with 19 points in the first 28 games of his NHL career this year. He played a strong and aggressive style that proved to compliment Celebrini’s tactical playmaking well. The two outscored opponents 20-to-17 in their minutes together – an early mark of gold in Chernyshov’s first season in North American pros.

Still, Chernyshov’s impact stands out as complimentary. To find a true game-breaker, the Sharks will have to turn towards OHL phenom Michael Misa. After setting records with his age-18 season in juniors, Misa posted a lackluster rookie year. He strung together nine goals and 21 points in 45 games and seemed to spend more time adjusting to physicality than he did dominating possession. Those struggles have motivated the junior goal-per-game scorer, who told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now that he is ready to show fans the “real me” next season. For a former OHL exceptional status grantee, that claim could carry a lot of weight. Misa commanded play at the junior level, flaunting a detailed ability to create offense. Misa taking over more play-driving at the NHL level could help to solidify one of Smith or Eklund on Celebrini’s wing next season, after the two rotated roles this year.

Once again, it will be the mix of veteran presence – Sherwood – and emerging talent – Chernyshov and Misa – that solidifies San Jose’s offensive group. But they will bring little without a solid defense to boot. The Sharks were again in the bottom-three of goals allowed this season. Part of that blame – though, certainly, not all of it – can be placed on young defenders like Sam Dickinson and Shakir Mukhamadullin. Neither carved out much of a role this season, with the end-of-year statline reading 14 points and 12 points for the pair respectively. Dickinson was another standout in the OHL but seemed to lack the same confident puck-moving in the NHL.

The Sharks may infuse some more confidence with the addition of Hobey Baker Award finalist Eric Pohlkamp, who has turned pro after winning a National Championship with the University of Denver. Pohlkamp also plays a commanding style, driving the puck on offense and throwing hits on defense. His game is more rooted in aggression than skill, which could help to carve out more space for Dickinson to drive the offense. At the least, it will give the Sharks a puck-moving defenseman on each of their top two pairs, while Mukhamadullin and Luca Cagnoni look to carve out roles behind them.

But while Dickinson and Pohlkamp both have potential to secure long-term roles, the Sharks are still missing a balance on the blue-line. Their veteran support has been led by Mario Ferraro, John Klingberg, Dmitry Orlov, and Nick Leddy. None of the four were at their best in the 2025-26 season. Orlov led the blue-line in scoring with 37 points – enough to guarantee a pillar role next season. No roles will be guaranteed for Ferraro, Leddy, or Klingberg – though. All three are set to become unrestricted free agents and San Jose has acknowledged their need to improve on the back-end. While interdivision rivals, and clear impacts, John Carlson and Jacob Trouba will be hitting the open marke,t the Sharks are more likely to find that impact through trades.

Exploring the trade market could be a wise way for San Jose to spend their eight draft picks this year, including two in the first and fourth round. Seeking out a defenseman like Colton Parayko, Dougie Hamilton, or even a longshot addition like Roman Josi could have the added benefit of pushing San Jose towards the cap floor, while adding a top defender who can take pressure off of the Sharks’ emerging youngsters. With their mix of prospect talent, draft capital, and cap space – the Sharks are uniquely positioned to try and catch big fish all summer long. If they land one or two, it could go far in stabilizing a blue-line in need.

San Jose will hope those additions, and continued breakouts from top prospects, will continue their climb next season. Celebrini has broken the century mark as a teenager – a feat only managed by two other players, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, since 2000. That will give the team a franchise leader but it will take more juice on offense, and a pull out of the depths on defense, for San Jose to turn that into a playoff bid. The difference in postseason versus early summer was just four points for the Sharks this season – an easily surmountable gap if sparks fly next season.

Photos courtesy of Eakin Howard-Imagn Images and David Gonzales-Imagn Images.