Megan: Imagine walking into a locker room where there are eleven centers, nine defensemen, and four goalies all fighting for eight roster spots. That is not a drill. That is the San Jose Sharks heading into the 2026-27 season.
Steve: It’s absolute chaos on the depth chart. We have Macklin Celebrini signed to a historic $94 million extension, Collin Graf locked in for three years, and yet the front office has brought in veterans like Tyler Toffoli, Barclay Goodrow, and John Klingberg. The competition is fiercer than ever.
Steve: Hey everyone. It’s going to be a wild ride trying to figure out who makes the cut from Florida to San Jose for that opener on October 2nd.
Megan: Today we are tackling the biggest question in San Jose right now: Where does the puck actually go? We’ve got three things coming up. First, the brutal battle for the top six center spots with Celebrini, Smith, and the veterans. Second, the defensive corps crunch involving Klingberg, Nurse, and Trouba. And third, our roster cut predictions—who is trending up and who might find themselves in the AHL by November?
Steve: And remember, last time we predicted 98 points and a playoff berth. With this much talent, if they can sort out the lineup, that number feels very achievable. But first, let’s look at the ice.
Megan: Okay, Steve, let’s start with the most glaring issue. You have eleven centers on the roster. Let’s list them because it’s insane: Alex Barre-Boulet, Macklin Celebrini, Ty Dellandrea, Andre Gasseau, Barclay Goodrow, Philipp Kurashev, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Will Smith, Tyler Toffoli, and Alexander Wennberg. Eleven centers. How do you even begin to manage this?
Steve: It’s a surplus problem, but it’s also a strategic one. You have your franchise cornerstone in Macklin Celebrini. He’s twenty years old, he’s on a five-year, ninety-four million dollar deal making him the highest-paid player in the NHL, and he’s going to be on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 27. He’s playing center. He’s not moving.
Megan: Right. So Celebrini is locked at one. Then you have Will Smith, who had a breakout last year, and Collin Graf, who just re-signed for twelve point seven five million after scoring twenty-one goals and twenty-five assists in eighty-one games. They’re both wingers by trade, but they play center when needed. So that’s three more.
Steve: Exactly. So you’ve got Celebrini, Smith, and Graf occupying significant ice time. That leaves eight centers fighting for three or maybe four spots. And then you bring in veterans like Tyler Toffoli and Barclay Goodrow. Toffoli is a sniper. Goodrow is a two-way grinder. They aren’t bringing these guys to sit on the bench. They want specific skills.
Megan: So where does Philipp Kurashev fit in? He’s a talented offensive center, but he’s competing against Ty Dellandrea, who is more of a defensive specialist, and Alexander Wennberg, who is another veteran presence. If I’m head coach David Quinn, who am I starting on the second line behind Celebrini?
Steve: This is where it gets tricky. Kurashev has the skill set to complement Celebrini’s pace, but Dellandrea provides stability in the neutral zone. If the Sharks want to forecheck hard, Dellandrea fits that system better. But if they want to generate offense through the middle, Kurashev or even Will Smith sliding over from wing could be the move.
Megan: And what about Michael Misa? He’s young, he’s got upside, but he’s battling established NHLers like Zack Ostapchuk. Ostapchuk has shown he can score in the AHL and has some NHL experience. Is Misa safe?
Steve: I think Misa is the dark horse here. If he shows during preseason that he can handle the speed of the NHL game, he might stick. But historically, teams with this many centers tend to carry fewer. I’d expect at least one of the younger guys—maybe Ostapchuk or Misa—to start the year in San Jose or get assigned to the AHL immediately.
Megan: So, my take is that Celebrini, Smith, and Graf are the core three. Toffoli and Goodrow are the veteran fourth and fifth lines. That leaves Kurashev, Dellandrea, and Wennberg fighting for the final spot. Who wins that fight?
Steve: I’ll give it to Kurashev. His offensive upside is too high to bury in the minors, especially with Celebrini needing support. Wennberg might be traded, given his contract and age, leaving Dellandrea as the defensive anchor.
Megan: Interesting. Okay, let’s pivot. Because if you think the center situation is crowded, wait until you hear about the blue line. Nine defensemen. Nine. Let’s talk about that mess.
Steve: The defense corps is even more complicated. You have Darnell Nurse, who is a massive, physical presence. You have Jacob Trouba, another heavy hitter. You have John Klingberg, who brings offensive flair but defensive questions. And you have Nick Leddy, Dmitry Orlov, Sam Dickinson, Nolan Allan, Michael Kesselring, and Ryan Reaves... wait, Reaves is listed as RW, but he plays defense? No, Reaves is RW. Okay, so it’s eight defensemen plus Reaves on wing.
Megan: Sorry, I misread the list. Let’s correct that. The defensemen are: Nolan Allan, Sam Dickinson, Michael Kesselring, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Darnell Nurse, Dmitry Orlov, and Jacob Trouba. That’s eight defensemen. Plus Ryan Reaves is on the wing. So eight blue-liners fighting for six spots. That’s still a lot.
Steve: Eight defensemen is manageable if you have two clear starters and four reliable轮换 players. But looking at this group, who are the clear starters? Nurse and Trouba are both power forwards on skates. They’re physical, they block shots, but do they provide enough offensive push from the back end?
Megan: That’s the concern. If Nurse and Trouba are logging heavy minutes, you need someone to jump up the ice. That’s where John Klingberg comes in. He’s an offensive defenseman. But can he stay on the ice against top lines defensively? And then you have Nick Leddy, who is a steady, defensive-minded guy. He’s reliable, but he’s not exciting.
Steve: Leddy is your glue guy. He won’t make mistakes. But Dmitry Orlov? He’s a former All-Star. He’s skilled. He can play alongside Nurse or Trouba to balance the pairings. I think Orlov is the key here. If he stays healthy, he elevates the entire unit.
Megan: So, pairing ideas: Nurse-Orlov and Trouba-Leddy? That sounds solid. But what about Klingberg? Does he play with Orlov? Or does he slide down to the third pair to protect the top two?
Steve: I’d put Klingberg on the third pair with Leddy. That gives you two offensive pairs and one defensive pair. But then you have Sam Dickinson, Nolan Allan, and Michael Kesselring left. These are younger, developing guys. One of them has to break camp with the team.
Megan: Sam Dickinson was a high draft pick. He has size and skill. I think he’s the favorite to make the team out of those three. Allan and Kesselring are likely depth options or ETOAs (Exempt Treaty Athletes) who can be called up.
Steve: Agreed. Dickinson has the best chance. But here’s the twist: remember our prediction from last week? We said a veteran defenseman would be traded before the deadline. With this many bodies, I wouldn’t be surprised if Klingberg or even Leddy moves mid-season if the Sharks decide to go younger.
Megan: That’s a bold call. Klingberg is expensive. If he doesn’t produce, he’s a cap casualty. Okay, let’s move to the final segment. We need to talk about the goalie situation and the bottom-six forwards. Four goalies: Yaroslav Askarov, Eric Comrie, Kyle Keyser, and Alex Nedeljkovic. Who starts?
Steve: Askarov is the future. He’s young, he’s got the frame, and he’s been highly touted. Comrie is the experienced backup. He knows the system. Keyser and Nedeljkovic are depth. Unless Askarov struggles early, he’s the starter. Comrie is the safety valve.
Megan: So Askarov and Comrie are the tandem. What about the bottom six forwards? We have Mason Marchment, Pavol Regenda, Kiefer Sherwood, Ethan Cardwell, Adam Gaudette, Brett Leason, and Ryan Reaves. That’s seven wingers. Plus Graf and Smith can slide in. Who is the odd man out?
Steve: Ryan Reaves is the enforcer. He’s not scoring goals, but he’s providing toughness. Kiefer Sherwood is gritty. Mason Marchment is big and fast. I think the battle is between Gaudette, Cardwell, and Leason. Gaudette has proven he can contribute offensively. Cardwell is speedy. Leason is raw.
Megan: So, if I had to cut one winger to make the roster, who goes? I’m leaning towards Brett Leason. He hasn’t shown consistent production at this level. Gaudette and Cardwell offer more immediate value.
Steve: I agree. Leason is the most likely candidate to start in the AHL. But keep an eye on Pavol Regenda. He’s a rookie with high potential. If he impresses in camp, he could steal a spot from one of the veterans.
Megan: Okay, let’s wrap this up with our roster cut predictions. Here is my final projected opening night lineup based on today’s battles. Centers: Celebrini, Smith, Kurashev, Goodrow, Dellandrea. Wings: Graf, Toffoli, Marchment, Sherwood, Reaves. Defense: Nurse, Orlov, Trouba, Leddy, Klingberg, Dickinson. Goalies: Askarov, Comrie.
Steve: That’s a strong top nine. I’d swap Kurashev for Wennberg on the fourth line for experience, but otherwise, it’s a competitive group. My biggest worry is the defensive pairing of Trouba and Leddy. They might struggle to generate offense against elite teams.
Megan: But with Celebrini and Graf leading the charge, I think the offense will carry them. We’re sticking with our 98-point prediction. This team has the talent to surprise people.
Megan: Well, folks, that’s the state of the Sharks. A crowded center ice, a defensive corps full of questions, and a goalie tandem that could define their season. Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network.
Steve: If you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share this episode with a fellow Shark fan.
Megan: We’ll see you tomorrow for more Sharks coverage. Go Sharks!