Sharks
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the San Jose Sharks, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Phillip Kurashev, Adam Gaudette, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Nedeljkovic, Ryan Reaves
Key Departures: Alexander Georgiev, Luke Kunin, Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Overview
The numbers were grotesque. San Jose finished dead last for the second consecutive season and their goal differential over that period is -255. Last year, they had four losing streaks of eight games or more (8,8,9,11) and finished last in both goals scored and surrendered. Their special teams were also putrid, finishing 26th on the power play and 27th on the penalty kill. One encouraging sign was their ability to keep games close. They lost by one goal 27 times and eight of their 14 losses by two goals involved an empty netter, so in essence they had 35 losses where they were within a goal of tying the game.
Offense
For the second consecutive season, the Sharks scored the fewest goals in the league. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith had solid rookie seasons. Celebrini was a finalist for Rookie of the Year as he led San Jose in points, power play goals, shots on goal, and finished second on the team in goals and assists even with missing 12 games due to injury. Smith finished the season strong with eight goals and 18 points in his final 22 games. Veteran Tyler Toffoli led the Sharks with 30 goals, giving him his third consecutive 30-goal season. Michael Misa, the second overall pick in the 2025 Draft, will be given every opportunity to make the roster out of training camp.
Defense
San Jose not only finished dead last in goals against for the second consecutive season, they also are the only team that has surrendered over 300 goals in each of the last two seasons. GM Mike Grier bolstered his blue line with the additions of veterans Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg and Nick Leddy. The trio has 326 playoff games combined on their resume. Orlov should help in reducing the “hard” minutes on Mario Ferraro and Klingberg gives the Sharks a player who can anchor the powerplay. San Jose fans would love to see 19-year-old Sam Dickinson crack the opening night roster. The Ontario Hockey League Defenseman of the Year last season had 91 points in 55 games with the London Knights.
Goaltending
The Sharks believe they have their goaltender of the future in Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators. The 11th overall pick in 2020 started 12 games for the Sharks last season, giving up two goals or less six times. Alex Nedeljkovic comes over via trade from Pittsburgh and the two will likely split the 82-game schedule. Since being a finalist for Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 with the Hurricanes, Nedeljkovic has struggled playing behind some weak defensive teams in Detroit and, most recently, in Pittsburgh.
Player to Watch
Celebrini and Smith will once again garner most of the attention in San Jose but don’t sleep on William Eklund. The seventh overall pick in 2021 enters his third full season with the Sharks. He was second on the team in scoring with 58 points, a 13-point increase from 2023-24. I expect Eklund to have his first 20-goal season after scoring 16 and 17 goals in the last two campaigns.
Outlook
Sportsbooks view San Jose as a team on the rise. Their projected point total of 70.5 would be a 19-point increase from last season. I do think the Sharks will be better, but I will pass on the total. Look for the Sharks to be active at the trade deadline. Of their eight defensemen on the roster, only Dmitry Orlov is under contract for next season. When it comes to the forward group, seven of the 13 are on expiring contracts.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 70.5
To Make the Playoffs: +1200
To Miss the Playoffs: -3000
To Win the Pacific Division: +30000
To Win the Western Conference: +25000
To Win the Stanley Cup: +50000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 20-50-12, 52 points (8th Pacific)
Over/Under: 37-39-6
Home Favorite: 1-0 // Home Dog: 10-30
Road Favorite: 0-0 // Road Dog: 7-34
Win Score 4 or more: 11 of 20 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 40 of 62
Puck Line Wins: 8 of 20 // Puck Line Losses: 35 of 62
Front End Back-to-Back: 3-9 // Back End Back-to-Back: 3-9
Points Leader: Macklin Celebrini – 63
Goal Leader: Tyler Toffoli – 30
Assist Leader: William Eklund – 41
Shots on Goal Leaders: Macklin Celebrini – 236, Tyler Toffoli – 233
Blocked Shots Leader: Mario Ferraro – 125
Depth Chart
Forwards
William Eklund / Macklin Celebrini / Tyler Toffoli
Jeff Skinner / Micahel Misa / Will Smith
Phillip Kurashev / Alex Wennberg / Collin Graf
Barclay Goodrow / Ty Dellandrea / Adam Gaudette
Defense
Mario Ferraro / Timoth Liljegren
Dmitry Orlov / John Klingberg
Shakir Mukhamadullin / Nick Leddy
Goalies
Yaroslav Askarov / Alex Nedeljkovic
Power Play Unit 1
William Eklund, Will Smith, Tyler Toffoli, John Klingberg, Macklin Celebrini
