playing with joy

Assuming the Sharks don’t trade the pick, it will be their fourth straight selection within the draft’s first five picks. A new core is being put together with Will Smith (No. 4 in 2023), Macklin Celebrini (No. 1 in 2024) and Michael Misa (No. 2 in 2025). Top-10 selections William Eklund and Sam Dickinson are also part of their foundation. Now it’s about putting the right pieces around that group to construct a winner that brings playoff hockey back to San Jose.

That is Mike Grier’s job. Next season will be Grier’s fifth as the Sharks’ general manager and it could be pivotal. There will be changes, as in every offseason. Before moves are made that will reshape the roster, let’s look at who might return and who is likely to move on.

The untouchables

Macklin Celebrini

At this point, there is nothing left to say. Celebrini, who turns 20 on June 13, is the franchise, the player the Sharks orbit around. Should he just be referred to as Macklin? Mack? MC71? The only pertinent question: Sure, he’s still one year out, but how much will they sign him for?

Will Smith

Now that it’s established that Celebrini is the Sharks’ superstar for a new age, it’s time to see where the ceiling is for the 21-year-old Smith, a gifted offensive talent. There is no doubt that he improved on his rookie season. Smith played at a 70-point pace, considering he missed 13 games. But it feels like he has a lot more in store for Year 3.

Not going anywhere

Yaroslav Askarov

Askarov’s fabulous November — an 8-2-0 record with a .944 save percentage — felt like a launching point for the 23-year-old goalie. Instead, it was the high point in an erratic, frustrating year. A leaky defense did him no favors. Alex Nedeljkovic also dealt with that, but he outplayed Askarov, San Jose’s anticipated No. 1 in net. Askarov needs to take a real step forward.

Ty Dellandrea

A two-year extension signed in March landed Dellandrea here. Grier lauded Dellandrea’s locker-room presence and said he is part of the culture he wants to create in San Jose. The 25-year-old plays to his role as a physical player who can line up in the middle and win faceoffs if needed. A knee injury disrupted the makings of an effective season.

Sam Dickinson

Dickinson got a bit overlooked when other Sharks youngsters took off, but he progressed on the Sharks’ blue line. He often was sheltered when it came to matchups but he steadily gained more responsibility. With a defense corps that figures to be reworked this offseason, will the Sharks put the 19-year-old in more offensive situations in 2026-27?

Michael Misa

With their high draft picks in recent years, the Sharks have taken the strategy of having them develop at the NHL level instead of having an apprenticeship in the minors first. Misa was the latest example, and he finished his rookie season with a four-game point streak. Some ups and downs were to be expected from a 19-year-old, but his 21 points in 45 games is a nice start to build upon.

Alex Nedeljkovic

The Sharks need better goaltending in 2026-27 but they’re primed to run it back with Askarov and Nedeljkovic, whom they signed in March to a two-year, $3 million AAV extension. The new deal makes sense. Nedeljkovic, 30, was slightly below average in terms of expected saves but he won 18 games, which is what a team wants from an often-used backup.

Kiefer Sherwood

Sherwood worked hard toward a big payday, and it came in March when he re-upped for five years with a $5.75 million AAV. That came after a stunning January trade by Grier. Now it’s time for the 31-year-old winger to make sure the new contract ages well. The late-bloomer has 42 goals over the last two seasons. His grit and antagonistic play gave San Jose a different element.

Alexander Wennberg

Wennberg’s season, his best offensive effort since his early days in Columbus, earned him a three-year, $18 million extension. He’s been a smart, versatile player for the Sharks. An underrated trait is how effective he was as a net-front presence on the power play. It wasn’t just about distracting goalies; eight of his career-high 18 goals came with the man advantage.

Staying put, almost certainly

Collin Graf

Though the Sharks could re-sign Celebrini (and even Smith) well before their entry-level contracts expire, Graf is their top RFA that needs a new deal now. So far, the 23-year-old is showing why most of the league wanted to sign him coming out of college. He was terrific with 21 goals, 46 points while emerging as a strong two-way forward and penalty killer.

Tyler Toffoli

Toffoli, 34, will be entering the third of his four-year contract with San Jose after he played on six teams in a five-year span. It was a down year for the veteran, with just 19 goals after three straight 30-goal campaigns. It’s likely that the Sharks will want to squeeze at least one rebound season out of him, even though he could be pushed down the lineup.

Dmitry Orlov

Orlov, 34, had been a plus player throughout his NHL career, but his first year in San Jose cast him in a much different situation. He put up 17 power-play assists, by far the most he’s ever had, but his bigger role left him more exposed in five-on-five play in the defensive zone. However, he’s the only veteran blueliner under contract.

Staying put, for another look

Luca Cagnoni

Cagnoni, 21, has been the top-scoring defenseman for the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda in his two pro seasons. He has gotten nine looks with the Sharks during that time. While it looks like the left side of the Sharks’ defense could still be filled, Cagnoni brings puck movement and power-play instincts to the table — things San Jose will need on its blue line.

Igor Chernyshov

Might Chernyshov be the long-term fit with Celebrini and Smith on the Sharks’ top line? A right-shooting left wing, the 20-year-old brought a package of size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and skill, while also having enough speed to play at the tempo their young stars operate at. He has know-how in the offensive zone. His total of 19 points in his first 28 games is impressive.

Zach Ostapchuk

Ostapchuk, 23, is a hard-working type, and Grier is a firm believer given he traded a productive forward in Fabian Zetterlund for him. There isn’t a lot of natural skill but the RFA center’s size, compete and skating ability — for his 6-4 frame — brings other elements the Sharks want in their forward group.

Staying put … we think

William Eklund

Eklund’s three-year, $5.6 million AAV extension is set to kick in, so it is easy to picture the second-line left wing coming back. His offensive impact can be found wanting at times. He’s also often tasked with their tougher defensive assignments. But if the Sharks draft a forward at No. 2, could the 23-year-old be a trade piece that brings in a quality defenseman?

Barclay Goodrow

Any sting from the 2024 waiver claim that brought Goodrow back to San Jose figures to have subsided, especially given the Sharks’ upward trend. The 33-year-old is a major presence in the locker room, and he was better than in his awful 2024-25 season. The cap hit ($3.6 million for one more year) is still a lot for what he brings.

Shakir Mukhamadullin

Injuries and the blue line logjam contributed to Mukhamadullin expressing some frustration last season. While the Sharks still had veterans to move in and out of the lineup, the 24-year-old did dress in 24 of their final 26 contests. It feels like a bridge contract for the restricted free agent is the play — at long as he and the team are on the same page.

The toughest decisions

Mario Ferraro

Ferraro wanted to be part of the Sharks’ rise from their depths. He wants to be part of their ascent into a playoff participant. But the 27-year-old who logged a ton of hard minutes in bad times is now a UFA with a wish for a long-term contract. It feels like there’s a gap to be bridged — but also a gap wide enough to leave San Jose with another hole to fill on defense.

Adam Gaudette

At this stage of his career, Gaudette, 29, has enough finishing ability to inject some secondary offense into a team. Is that enough to make him an everyday presence in the Sharks’ lineup? He has another year on his contract and if he isn’t blocking a better, long-term option, his upbeat personality wears well on the team.

Ryan Reaves

The 39-year-old Reaves is only 38 games away from 1,000 and that’s quite a feat for someone who willingly has taken on the tough guy/protector/fighter role since his NHL debut in 2010-11. It’s not a primary reason to re-sign him but Reaves can still be that guy for the Sharks while continuing to be a good influence on their young stars.

Vincent Desharnais

While it’s obvious the Sharks need to address their defense, they could look to keep Desharnais at an affordable rate. It helps that he’s a right-hand shot and stands 6-7, but the 30-year-old was effective as he was an even or plus player in 42 of his 53 games. Desharnais is finishing a two-year, $4 million contract. It seems like an extension is possible.

Tough to see them returning

Philipp Kurashev

Kurashev, 26, rebounded from a terrible 2024-25 season with Chicago and produced at a 38-point pace. Alas, the Swiss forward only played in 43 contests. An upper-body injury knocked him out for a significant period but there were also healthy scratches mixed in. The Sharks could move on from the RFA and free up a spot.

Pavol Regenda

Regenda, 26, didn’t join the Sharks until the beginning of December and then ripped off six goals in his first five games. Three came in a game against Tampa Bay, when he scored all of San Jose’s goals in a Lightning rout. It wasn’t enough to secure a regular spot in the lineup, and since he is a Group 6 UFA with other forwards pushing up in the system, it might be best for the two to part ways.

Definitely not back

John Klingberg

For one year and $4 million, Klingberg was a sign-and-flip candidate who didn’t get traded because the volatility in his defensive play outweighed the positives (a defense-leading 10 goals). A sheltered five-on-five, secondary power-play role is probably best for the 33-year-old at this stage.

Nick Leddy