Megan: Eleven centers. Eight defensemen. One roster spot for each. The San Jose Sharks didn’t just build a team this offseason; they built a maze.
Steve: And Macklin Celebrini is sitting on top of it all, earning $18.8 million a year. That is the highest-paid player in hockey history. So where does he play? And who gets cut?
Megan: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Megan, and alongside me as always is Steve. We are live on September 8th, 2026. This is your daily Sharks show, and today we are diving headfirst into the most chaotic position group in professional sports.
Steve: It’s not chaos, Megan. It’s surplus. There is a difference. But yes, if you look at the center ice situation, you have to ask: who is the third line? Who is the fourth line? And who is going home?
Megan: Here is what we’ve got for you today. First, we break down the absolute war for the middle six spots with Graf, Toffoli, and Kurashev. Second, we look at the defensive corps overload—Klingberg, Orlov, Nurse—and who might be moving. And finally, our official roster cut predictions heading into that October 2nd opener against Florida.
Steve: We also touch on Will Smith. If he doesn't win the job, he goes to the AHL. That was our prediction yesterday, and it still stands unless something wild happens in camp.
Megan: Let’s get right into it. Segment One: The Center Ice Congestion. We have eleven names listed as centers. Let’s start with the guy wearing the crown.
Steve: Macklin Celebrini. Twenty years old. Cover athlete for NHL 27. Highest paid player in the league. He is playing center. Full stop. The question isn't if he plays center, it's how much ice he gets. With twenty-one goals and twenty-five assists last year, he’s ready for thirty-five minutes a night if needed.
Megan: He would take less money to help the team, remember? But the deal is done. Now, below him, we have Tyler Toffoli. He’s a veteran presence, but he’s listed as a center here too. Does he drop down? Or do we see Philipp Kurashev pushing for that second-line role?
Steve: Toffoli is likely a top-six winger who gets pulled in to play center when Barclay Goodrow or Alexander Wennberg need rest. But Kurashev? Kurashev is the wildcard. He’s young, he’s fast. If he can win the puck along the boards, he pushes for that second-line center spot over someone like Ty Dellandrea.
Megan: And then there’s Collin Graf. He just re-signed for three years, twelve point seven five million dollars. Twenty-one goals, twenty-five assists in eighty-one games. He’s a proven scorer. Where does he fit in this crowded room?
Steve: Graf is an RW by trade, but he’s on the C list because he can play both wings and slide up to center in a pinch. I think Graf wins a top-nine forward spot. He’s too good a shooter to bury on the fourth line. He’s battling Mason Marchment and Kiefer Sherwood for that third-line wing slot, or maybe even sliding up to center if Celebrini gets injured.
Megan: So, Graf is safe. What about the guys at the bottom of the pile? Alex Barre-Boulet, Andre Gasseau, Zack Ostapchuk. These are depth pieces. Is there really room for all of them?
Steve: Barre-Boulet has experience. Gasseau is a project. Ostapchuk is a rookie prospect. My bet? Ostapchuk starts in the AHL. Barre-Boulet fights for that twelfth forward spot. Gasseau... he’s on the bubble. If the Sharks want to clear cap space, Gasseau is the first name off the list because he’s not bringing the same offensive punch as Graf or Kurashev.
Megan: Ouch. Gasseau gets sent down. Okay, let’s pivot to the blue line. This is where it gets really messy. Eight defensemen. Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba, John Klingberg, Dmitry Orlov, Nick Leddy, Michael Kesselring, Sam Dickinson, Nolan Allan.
Steve: Eight defensemen. You can only dress seven. So one guy is sitting every night, and two guys are probably going home before the season truly starts. Let’s look at the top end. Nurse and Trouba. They are your heavy hitters. Big bodies, big minutes. They are your top pair or top-two pairing.
Megan: But then you have John Klingberg. We talked about this yesterday and the day before. His contract is huge, his game is declining. Do the Sharks keep him as the third defenseman? Or do they move him?
Steve: I’m sticking to my prediction from last episode. Klingberg is being traded. He’s not fitting the timeline. You have young guys like Kesselring and Dickinson pushing hard. Klingberg brings leadership, sure, but he’s a liability in the neutral zone against speed. You don’t pay him eight million to sit on the bench.
Megan: What about Dmitry Orlov? He’s another veteran. He played with Klingberg in Washington. Does he stick around longer than Klingberg?
Steve: Orlov is cheaper than Klingberg and still plays a responsible defensive game. He’s more likely to survive the cuts. He pairs well with Leddy. Leddy is steady. Orlov brings size. Together, they form a reliable third pair. But watch out for Nick Leddy. If he struggles in camp, he’s next after Klingberg.
Megan: Okay, so Klingberg is gone. Orlov stays. Leddy stays. That leaves Nurse, Trouba, Kesselring, Dickinson, Allan. That’s five. Who makes the final two spots?
Steve: Kesselring and Dickinson. They are young, cheap, and hungry. Allan is the long shot. He’s a depth call-up type. Unless there’s an injury, Nolan Allan is starting the year in San Jose or perhaps moved back to the minors depending on how Kesselring looks. But Kesselring has been solid in limited action.
Megan: This roster construction is insane. You have so much talent but nowhere to put it. Before we go to the break, let’s talk goalies. Yaroslav Askarov, Eric Comrie, Kyle Keyser, Alex Nedeljkovic. Four goalies.
Steve: Four goalies is standard for training camp, but only two make the roster. Askarov is the franchise goalie. He’s the starter. The battle is for the backup. Comrie vs. Nedeljkovic. Comrie has more NHL experience. Nedeljkovic is younger. I think Comrie takes the job for the opener against Florida, just like we predicted yesterday.
Megan: Comrie starts. Askarov is the man. Keyser and Nedeljkovic fight for the third spot or AHL time. Kyle Keyser is a prospect, so he’s likely the odd man out unless he stuns everyone. Okay, we’re going to take a quick breather. Stick with us, because Segment Two is where we dig into the specific line combinations that might actually work.
Megan: Welcome back. We are deep in the weeds of the Sharks' roster battles. In Segment One, we looked at the centers and the defensemen. Now in Segment Two, let’s talk about the actual lines. Who is playing with whom?
Steve: Let’s build the top line. Macklin Celebrini needs speed. Who gives him speed? Will Smith. Smith is a phenomenal passer, a high-IQ player. If Smith makes the team, he is on Celebrini’s wing. It creates a dynamic duo that can score at will.
Megan: Smith on the wing. That’s a bold move. Most people expect him to center the third line. But if he plays wing, does that mean we lose a center?
Steve: Exactly. That’s the risk. If Smith is on the wing, you have ten centers left. You have to cut one. And who is the most expendable center? Probably Ty Dellandrea. He’s a grinder. Great defensively, but he doesn’t offer the offensive upside of Smith. So Smith wins the top-six spot.
Megan: Okay, so Smith is up. That means Dellandrea is in danger. What about the second line? Philipp Kurashev, Tyler Toffoli, and maybe Mason Marchment? That sounds like a heavy scoring line.
Steve: Kurashev at center. Toffoli on one wing. Marchment on the other. Marchment is the 'Big Unit,' big frame, net-front presence. Toffoli shoots. Kurashev passes. It’s a balanced attack. But can Kurashev handle the minutes? He’s young. He might struggle against elite shutdown lines.
Megan: That’s where Barclay Goodrow comes in. Goodrow is the ultimate checker. He’s your fourth-line center. He shuts down the other team’s best players. He’s not going to score many goals, but he’s essential for structure.
Steve: Goodrow is non-negotiable. You need that physicality. He plays with Ryan Reaves? No, Reaves is a winger. Goodrow plays with Ethan Cardwell or Adam Gaudette. Those are gritty forwards who can forecheck. It’s not pretty, but it works.
Megan: Reaves is on the fourth line with Goodrow? That’s a scary combination for opponents. But what about the power play? Who runs the show?
Steve: Celebrini at the point. Toffoli in the slot. Kurashev in the circle. Graf on the half-wall. That’s a lethal setup. Graf has twenty-one goals. He knows where the net is. If the Sharks want to win, they need that power play to convert.
Megan: Graf on the PP. Love it. Now, let’s talk defense again. We said Klingberg might go. If he’s traded, who takes his spot on the second pair? John Klingberg was used to logging minutes. Who fills that void?
Steve: Michael Kesselring steps up. He’s the natural fit. He’s mobile, he’s smart. He pairs with Nick Leddy. Leddy is the veteran anchor, Kesselring is the mover. It’s a classic combo. Then you have Orlov and Dickinson as the third pair. Orlov provides size, Dickinson provides energy.
Megan: And the top pair? Nurse and Trouba. They are going to log forty minutes a night combined. Can they handle that workload early in the season?
Steve: They have to. The Sharks aren’t going to outscore teams with their third line every night. They need Nurse and Trouba to suppress shots. If they can limit the Panthers to twenty shots a game, the Sharks win. If they leak goals, the whole system collapses.
Megan: High stakes. We’re approaching the final segment. This is where we make our hard predictions. Who is getting cut? Who is trending up? And who is trending down? Steve, give me your final roster cuts.
Steve: Alright, here is my final nine forwards and seven defensemen. Forwards: Celebrini, Smith, Toffoli, Kurashev, Graf, Marchment, Sherwood, Goodrow, Reaves. Defense: Nurse, Trouba, Kesselring, Leddy, Orlov, Dickinson, Allan.
Megan: Wait. Allan makes the team? Over Sam Dickinson? I thought Dickinson was the lock.
Steve: Dickinson is the lock for the seventh spot. But I have Allan as the eighth defenseman in camp who gets called up immediately if needed. No, wait. I’m changing it. Dickinson makes the team. Allan is the odd man out. Sorry, Nolan.
Megan: Okay, so Dickinson is in. Who is the last forward? I had Will Smith on the wing. So the last forward is... Adam Gaudette?
Steve: Gaudette is the twelfth forward. He’s a journeyman. He can fill in anywhere. But I think Barre-Boulet beats him for that spot due to his two-way game. So Gaudette is sent down. And for goalies? Askarov and Comrie. Nedeljkovic and Keyser are cut.
Megan: Askarov and Comrie. Got it. Now, let’s talk trends. Who is trending UP? Collin Graf. He signed a nice deal, he’s coming off a great season. He’s locked in. And who is trending DOWN?
Steve: John Klingberg. Trending down hard. His stock is plummeting. Every day that goes by without a trade, the pressure mounts. If he doesn’t play well in the preseason, he’s gone. And for rookies? Will Smith is trending up. If he steals the show in camp, he’s a top-six staple.
Megan: Before we wrap up, I want to take a quick moment. We produce this show every single day, bringing you fresh analysis, deep dives, and real talk about the Sharks. It takes a lot of work, late nights, and coffee. But it’s worth it when we hear from you. If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us. A small contribution helps keep us free and daily. Just check the link in the episode description. Thank you for keeping the beat alive.
Steve: Thanks for listening. We’ll see you tomorrow.
Megan: Remember, subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Sharks!