TEAM EDITORIAL

The Sharks enter the 2026 offseason as a team still being shaped around a young core, with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith expected to drive the next phase while Michael Misa adds another high-end prospect to the pipeline. The organization has also leaned hard into veteran stabilization, adding Jacob Trouba, Mason Marchment, Eric Comrie, and others to a roster that now mixes established names with several younger forwards and defensemen.

There is still work to do before training camp. John Klingberg and Nick Leddy remain notable free agents from the blue line group, and the Sharks’ summer activity suggests a deliberate attempt to deepen the defense and give their prospects a more competitive environment. The club also continues to benefit from a strong goalie structure, with Yaroslav Askarov positioned as a major part of the future alongside Alex Nedeljkovic and Comrie.

Off the ice, the Sharks remain active in organization-building, including renewing their ECHL affiliation with the Wichita Thunder for 2026-27. The next checkpoint is preseason play on September 20 against the Anaheim Ducks, which should offer the first real look at how the new pieces fit together. The broader story is one of transition: San Jose is not pretending the rebuild is finished, but the roster is noticeably more experienced, and the ceiling now depends on whether the young talent can take a leap.