Megan: Imagine signing a five-year contract worth ninety-four million dollars, making you the highest-paid player in the entire National Hockey League, and your immediate response is that you’d take less money to help your team. That is not just loyalty; that is a generational statement.
Steve: It’s Macklin Celebrini. At twenty years old, he’s already the face of this franchise, the cover athlete for NHL 27, and now the financial anchor of the San Jose Sharks’ future.
Megan: Welcome to today’s Beatline Podcast Network mailbag edition! I’m Megan, alongside Steve, and we are diving headfirst into your questions about the Sharks’ current roster picture, the Pacific Division standings, and those massive offseason moves. If you’re new here, hit subscribe right now.
Steve: That’s right. We’ve got a packed show today. We’re talking about Collin Graf sticking around on a three-year deal, the sheer depth of the forward group, and whether that veteran defenseman trade rumor from last week is actually going to happen before the deadline.
Megan: Here is what we are covering: First, we answer your questions about Macklin Celebrini’s historic contract and his willingness to discount his salary. Second, we break down the crowded forward logjam and where Collin Graf fits in. And third, we tackle the defense corps logjam and give you our final verdict on who stays and who goes. Let’s get into it.
Megan: Our first question comes from Sarah in San Jose, and she asks: 'Steve, everyone is losing their minds over the $94 million extension for Macklin Celebrini. Is this really fair value for a twenty-year-old, or is this an emotional investment by the front office?'
Steve: Sarah raises a great point. When you look at the numbers, eighteen-point-eight million average annual value is huge. But you have to look at the production. He was eligible for an extension this offseason, and frankly, the Sharks needed to lock him up long-term to avoid arbitration battles later.
Megan: But remember, Steve, we talked about this last week. Celebrini literally said he would one hundred percent consider taking less than market value to help the team cap-wise. Did they listen to him?
Steve: They didn't, and honestly, from a business standpoint, they shouldn't have. You don't let a twenty-year-old superstar become a restricted free agent next summer with no leverage. This secures his prime years. Plus, look at the marketing impact. He’s on the cover of EA Sports' NHL 27. That is global exposure.
Megan: Right. And being the youngest ever cover athlete for the series adds another layer to his brand. So, is this a gamble? Maybe. But if he plays like a top-six center every night, that cap hit becomes very manageable for a team trying to build a contender.
Steve: Exactly. It’s about flexibility elsewhere. If Celebrini is producing at a thirty-goal pace, which he has shown flashes of, that number looks cheap. The real question is how the rest of the roster fits around that core.
Megan: Let’s move to another big one. @SharksFan88 asks: 'With Collin Graf re-signed on a three-year, twelve-point-seven-five million deal, does he start as a top-six winger or is he buried in the bottom six?'
Steve: Graf had twenty-one goals and twenty-five assists in eighty-one games last season. That is solid two-way production. The Sharks signed him because they believe he can contribute offensively while killing penalties and playing heavy minutes.
Megan: But look at the depth chart. You have Tyler Toffoli, Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Ryan Reaves... that is a lot of bodies on the wing. Where does Graf fit?
Steve: He likely starts on the second or third line. The Sharks have a deep but crowded roster, as we noted in yesterday’s breakdown. Graf brings size and scoring touch. If the coaching staff wants to keep the lineup balanced, Graf is a key piece of the middle six.
Megan: And let’s not forget, the Sharks are currently fifth in the Pacific Division. They need consistent scoring from everywhere. Graf provides that stability. Stick with us after this break; we’re going to dive deeper into the forward logjam and the goaltending competition.
Megan: We are back. Our next question is from Marcus in Chicago, and he asks: 'The Sharks have so many centers—Celebrini, Will Smith, Alex Barre-Boulet, Ty Dellandrea, Philipp Kurashev, Barclay Goodrow, Alexander Wennberg. How do you even arrange these lines?'
Steve: Marcus, you nailed the problem. It’s a logjam. You have Celebrini at the top, obviously. Then you have Will Smith, who we’ve been tracking for breakout potential all offseason. He’s a dynamic playmaker.
Megan: And then you throw in veterans like Goodrow and Wennberg for defensive structure. It’s a mix of youth and experience. Who do you see getting the most ice time in the middle?
Steve: I think Celebrini and Smith are the anchors. Barre-Boulet and Dellandrea will fight for the remaining spots. Goodrow and Wennberg provide leadership and penalty kill expertise. The coach will have to rotate heavily.
Megan: So, does this mean someone gets traded? We predicted last week that a veteran defenseman would be moved. Are we seeing a similar move at center?
Steve: Possible. If the front office wants to clear space for younger talent like Zack Ostapchuk or Andre Gasseau, they might move a veteran. But for now, the depth is there. It’s about finding the right chemistry.
Megan: Another question, this time from @HockeyDad26: 'What about the goalies? Yaroslav Askarov, Eric Comrie, Kyle Keyser, Alex Nedeljkovic. That’s four netminders. Who is the starter?'
Steve: This is a classic competition. Askarov has the upside, but Comrie offers reliability. Keyser and Nedeljkovic are there for depth. The Sharks need stability behind the bench.
Megan: We discussed this in detail yesterday. The coaching staff will likely split time early on until one clearly stands out. It’s a tough spot for the other three, but it shows the organization is investing in the position.
Steve: Agreed. Goaltending can make or break a playoff run. If Askarov develops into a star, that changes everything for the Sharks’ ceiling.
Megan: Let’s keep this conversation going. We’ve got one more segment coming up where we’ll answer your lightning round questions and give you our final predictions for the season opener against Florida. Don’t go anywhere.
Megan: Welcome back to the third segment. Our first question is from Jenny in Boston, and she asks: 'If the Sharks could only keep one defenseman besides Darnell Nurse, who would it be? John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Dmitry Orlov, or Jacob Trouba?'
Steve: Ouch. That’s a brutal hypothetical. You have a lot of high-priced veterans there. Trouba brings physicality and leadership. Klingberg brings offense. Leddy is steady. Orlov is versatile.
Megan: Given the prediction we made last week about a veteran trade, who do you think is most likely to be the odd man out?
Steve: I think Klingberg’s age and injury history make him the most vulnerable. The Sharks might prefer the younger, cheaper options like Nolan Allan or Sam Dickinson in the long run.
Megan: Interesting. So, if Klingberg goes, who steps up? Allan and Dickinson seem to have the inside track based on recent development.
Steve: Exactly. They offer speed and skating, which fits the modern game better. But Trouba and Orlov provide the grit the Sharks sometimes lack.
Megan: Alright, lightning round. Michael in Dallas asks: 'Who is the surprise player to watch this season?'
Steve: Will Smith. He has the skill set to dominate if given the right linemates.
Megan: Next one from @SharksGirl99: 'What is the biggest weakness on this roster?'
Steve: Depth beyond the top six forwards. If the stars get tired, who picks up the slack?
Megan: Final question from Tom in Seattle: 'Do you still believe the Sharks will make the playoffs with 98 points?'
Steve: Yes. With Celebrini leading the charge and Graf providing secondary scoring, the offense should be potent enough to secure that spot.
Megan: There you have it. From Celebrini’s historic deal to Graf’s re-signing, the Sharks are building a serious contender in the Pacific Division.
Steve: We stand by our 98-point prediction. It’s going to be an exciting season for Shark fans.
Megan: Thanks for listening to today’s mailbag. Please rate, review, and share the show. Go Sharks!