Megan: Wait, hold on. Did you see the number? Ninety-four million dollars for five years. That isn't just a contract; that is a statement etched in ice. Macklin Celebrini isn't just the face of the franchise anymore; he is officially the highest-paid player in the entire NHL. And yet, look at the roster sheet next to his name. We have eleven centers. Eleven. Who makes the cut? Who goes to the AHL? It is chaos in San Jose, but it is beautiful chaos. Welcome to today’s Beatline Podcast Network episode.
Steve: It is absolute bedlam behind the bench, Megan. But let’s be clear: this isn’t a crisis of talent. It’s a crisis of logistics. You have a generational core player sitting atop the salary cap world, and then you have a defensive corps that looks like it was assembled by a committee of generals who couldn’t agree on a battle plan. We are talking about Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba, Nick Leddy, Dmitry Orlov... and more. Plus the goalie shuffle between Eric Comrie and Yaroslav Askarov. It is a lot to unpack before the opener against Florida.
Megan: So here is what we are tackling today. First, we rank the Sharks in the Pacific Division. Yes, they are currently first, but with a 0-0-0 record. Is that real? Second, we break down the massive strengths and the glaring question marks, specifically that center ice congestion we’ve been previewing all week. And third, we give you our realistic season outlook and win projection as we head into that October 2nd matchup with the Panthers. Let’s get into the rankings.
Megan: Okay, Steve. Let’s start with the elephant in the room. The standings. Right now, the San Jose Sharks are listed as first in the Pacific Division. But their record is zero wins, zero losses, zero overtime losses. Does that ranking mean anything right now, or is it just a placeholder?
Steve: It means nothing statistically, but everything symbolically. In power rankings, especially this early, you are ranking potential, not production. And if we are ranking potential based on the assets San Jose has accumulated, they absolutely belong at the top of the Pacific. You have the best young player in hockey in Macklin Celebrini. You have Collin Graf re-signed on a three-year, twelve-point-seven-five million dollar deal after putting up twenty-one goals last year. You have veteran grit from Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Toffoli. The ceiling is incredibly high.
Megan: But here is the thing, though. When I look at the other teams in the Pacific—Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary—they have established identities. They know who their top line is. They know their defensive pairings. San Jose feels like they are still trying to figure out who is playing where. If you put them first in the division right now, aren’t you ignoring the fact that they haven’t actually played a game?
Steve: I’m not ignoring it. I’m weighing the upside against the risk. The risk is the congestion. We talked about this yesterday and the day before. Eleven centers. Alex Barre-Boulet, Ty Dellandrea, Philipp Kurashev, Will Smith... plus Celebrini and Graf. How many of those guys can actually play together? You can’t fit eleven centers on one team. Four or five of them are going to the AHL affiliate to start the year. That is a huge chunk of your roster missing from Day One. But if the coaching staff can solve that puzzle, the talent gap between San Jose and the rest of the Pacific is massive.
Megan: So you’re saying the talent is there, but the structure might collapse under its own weight. What about the defense? You mentioned Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba earlier. Those are two massive contracts. Are they stabilizing the blue line, or are they creating a bottleneck?
Steve: They are creating a identity crisis. Look, Darnell Nurse brings size and shot-blocking. Jacob Trouba brings leadership and physicality. But when you layer Nick Leddy’s puck-moving skills and Dmitry Orlov’s experience on top of that, you have eight defensemen fighting for six spots. Sam Dickinson and Nolan Allan are young. Michael Kesselring is solid. But who is playing the minutes? If Nurse and Trouba are on the ice too much because the younger guys can’t handle the pressure, you get fatigued late in games. That’s how you give up odd-man rushes. That’s how you lose games you should win.
Megan: Right. So the defense is deep, but maybe too deep. It’s hard to find chemistry when everyone is looking over their shoulder. And then you have the goaltending. We predicted yesterday that Eric Comrie would start the first few games against Florida. Do you still stand by that, or does the competition change the dynamic?
Steve: I do. Eric Comrie has the edge. He’s consistent. He’s proven. Yaroslav Askarov is talented, sure, but rookies need time. And with all the turnover on the blue line and the uncertainty in the forward group, you want a goalie who isn’t going to panic. Comrie is the safe bet. But if he struggles in the first month, Askarov is ready. That’s actually a strength. Having two capable starters is rare. Most teams have one starter and a handcuff. San Jose has two keys to the ignition.
Megan: Okay, so I’ll concede the point. Talent-wise, they are top-tier. Structure-wise, they are a work in progress. But for power rankings, we have to look at the immediate hurdle. Their first game is October 2nd against the Florida Panthers. Florida is a tough road test. Do you think San Jose is ready for that level of intensity right out of the gate?
Steve: Ready? No. Prepared? Maybe. The Sharks need to use the preseason to iron out the kinks. If they go into that Florida game with half their centers still figuring out their lines, they will get exposed. Florida’s forecheck is relentless. If San Jose can’t get out of their own zone cleanly, Celebrini won’t see the puck enough to dictate the pace. That’s the key. Can they establish neutral-zone play before the regular season starts? If yes, they are a top-three Pacific team. If no, they are fighting for a wildcard spot all year.
Megan: That is a fair assessment. So, sticking with you on the Pacific Division ranking. I’m putting them second, behind Edmonton, purely because Edmonton has a settled system. San Jose is too volatile. But I agree, they are in the conversation. Let’s move to Segment Two. We’ve talked about the roster construction. Now let’s talk about the actual gameplay. What are the biggest strengths of this team, and what are the biggest question marks?
Steve: Strength number one: The top-end talent around Macklin Celebrini. You have Collin Graf coming off a forty-six-point season. You have Tyler Toffoli bringing that veteran scoring touch. You have Mason Marchment for net-front presence. If these guys can link up with Celebrini, the offensive output could be scary. Strength number two: The defensive size. Nurse, Trouba, Goodrow. This is not a team that gets bullied. They will win the physical battles along the boards.
Megan: I love the physicality argument. But here is my concern. When you have so many centers, you end up with a lot of players who are waiting for their shift. Is there enough continuity? I’m worried about the second and third lines. Who is driving possession there? If Celebrini and Graf are carrying the load, and the supporting cast turns the puck over, the penalty kill is going to be buried.
Steve: That is exactly why I’m worried about the penalty kill. With all the shuffling, communication breaks down. You need guys who know each other’s tendencies. If Barclay Goodrow is playing with Philipp Kurashev one night and Adam Gaudette the next, the special teams units will struggle. Special teams win games, Megan. If the Sharks are down on the PK, they are going to find themselves in tight spots. That’s the biggest question mark. Not the offense, but the discipline and consistency on the back end.
Megan: Discipline. That’s a good word. Because another issue is the sheer volume of names. We have Ryan Reaves on the roster. We have Brett Leason. We have Ethan Cardwell. It’s a crowded house. How do you keep guys motivated when they know their job is on the line every single practice? Does that create a toxic environment, or does it push everyone to play harder?
Steve: It depends entirely on the locker room leaders. If Macklin Celebrini sets the tone—if he shows up early, stays late, and supports his teammates—it works. If he floats, the guys fighting for jobs will feel neglected. But Celebrini is only twenty years old. He’s young. He needs guidance. That’s where veterans like Trouba and Leddy come in. They have to mentor him while also competing for their own spots. It’s a delicate balance. If the culture is right, this depth becomes an advantage. If the culture is wrong, it becomes a distraction.
Megan: So it all comes down to leadership. And speaking of leadership, let’s talk about the goalie again. Eric Comrie vs. Yaroslav Askarov. We’ve discussed this for days. But if Comrie starts hot, does Askarov lose confidence? Or does having that internal competition make both of them better?
Steve: Internal competition is healthy, but only if the coach manages it well. If Askarov sees Comrie getting starts and thinks he’s being passed over, he might get frustrated. Goalies are fragile creatures psychologically. If Askarov gets anxious, his performance drops. Then you have a problem. But if the coaching staff frames it as ‘Comrie is the starter, but Askarov is ready to take over if needed,’ it keeps both of them sharp. I think Askarov is confident enough to handle it. He’s a high-level prospect. He knows his value.
Megan: Okay, so we’ve got the strengths: elite top-end talent, physical defense. Question marks: special teams consistency, locker room dynamics with so many centers, and goalie psychology. Before we wrap this segment, I have to ask about the NHL 27 cover. Macklin Celebrini is the youngest ever cover athlete. Does that hype distract him, or does it fuel him?
Steve: Fuel. Pure fuel. He’s twenty. He’s living the dream. But it also adds pressure. Every time he steps on the ice, people are watching him like he’s already a superstar. He has to ignore the noise. He has to focus on his shift-to-shift execution. If he lets the fame get to his head, he’ll slump. If he uses it to elevate his game, he’ll be unstoppable. I think he’s mature enough to handle it. That’s why the Sharks gave him that nine-four-million-dollar extension. They believe in his mindset.
Megan: Alright, I think we’ve covered the bases. The talent is undeniable, but the execution is unproven. Let’s move to Segment Three. We need to look at the bigger picture. What is a realistic season outlook for the Sharks? And give us your win projection. Don’t hold back.
Steve: Realistic outlook? They finish third in the Pacific. They make the playoffs, but they struggle in the first round. Here is why: the early-season growing pains. With all the roster changes, they will drop some close games in October and November. They will lose ones they should win because of defensive breakdowns. But once December hits, the chemistry settles. Celebrini and Graf click. The defense finds its rhythm. They wind up with eighty-eight points. Play-in series, maybe a wild card spot. But they won’t dominate the conference.
Megan: Eighty-eight points. That sounds optimistic to me. I think they start slower. I’m projecting seventy-six wins. Wait, seventy-six games? No, seventy-six points. Yeah, seventy-six points. They fumble the preseason. They lose the opener to Florida. They spend January trying to figure out who is playing left wing. By February, they are .500. They scrape into the playoffs as a low seed. It’s not a Cup run. It’s a rebuilding year with a shiny new centerpiece.
Steve: Seventy-six points is too low. I think you’re undervaluing the impact of Macklin Celebrini. When he is healthy and dialed in, he changes every game. He draws defenders. He creates space for Graf. He drives the play. You cannot replicate that production anywhere else on the roster. I’ll stick with eighty-two points. Eighty-two. It’s a step forward, but not a leap. They are bridging the gap between rebuild and contender. That takes time.
Megan: Eighty-two points. Okay. I’ll give you that. But I still think the defensive inconsistencies will haunt them. Every time they get a lead, they’ll give it up. That’s the pattern. Unless the coaching staff makes a major adjustment mid-season, they will be a team that plays hard but loses close ones. Which leads me to my prediction. I think John Klingberg gets traded before the deadline. We said this weeks ago. The Sharks need cap space. They need to shed that contract to make room for the future.
Steve: I agree. Klingberg is on the block. The Sharks cannot afford to carry dead money if they are trying to build around Celebrini. Expect a trade for a draft pick or a prospect by February. It’s inevitable. The front office has to make the hard choices. You can’t have both the past and the future on the payroll. They are choosing the future.
Megan: So, final thoughts. Macklin Celebrini is the king. The roster is crowded. The defense is big but confused. They will make the playoffs, but it won’t be easy. And John Klingberg is gone. Steve, what’s the one thing you want fans to watch for in that opener against Florida?
Steve: Watch the neutral zone. Watch how quickly San Jose can transition from defense to offense. If Celebrini can escape the forecheck and get the puck to Graf in space, that is the key. If they get trapped in their own zone, they are in trouble. Speed and precision. That’s the formula. Everything else is just noise.