Megan: You are looking at nine centers. Nine. And that’s not even counting the wingers who can play center in a pinch. The Sharks have more middle ice than a skating rink.
Steve: It is a logistical nightmare if you look at the cap sheet, but a talent goldmine if you look at the ice time distribution. We’ve got Macklin Celebrini signed for $94 million, making him the highest-paid player in hockey, and we have Collin Graf locked in for three years. But where do they all fit?
Megan: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Megan, and this is the daily show dedicated to the San Jose Sharks. Steve, it’s Monday, September 16th, 2026. Training camps are just days away, and the fan mail is already flooding in. Today, we’re doing a full mailbag episode.
Steve: That’s right. We’ve got questions coming in about the defensive pairings with Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba, whether Eric Comrie actually starts the opener against Anaheim, and how exactly you grade a roster with eleven centers on paper. It’s going to be messy, but it’s going to be fun.
Megan: We’re also talking about the new NHL rule changes and what they mean for our speed. So, here is your roadmap for today: First, we tackle the biggest question from the fans—where does Macklin Celebrini go? Second, we dive into the depth chart battles, specifically the defensemen and the goalies. And third, we finish with a lightning round of hypotheticals and quick takes. Let’s get into it.
Megan: Alright, let’s start with the elephant in the room. Or rather, the nine elephants in the room. @SharkTank88 writes in asking: 'With eleven centers on the roster, how does Coach finally figure out the top line? Is Macklin Celebrini playing left wing now?' This is the number one question we’ve seen all week.
Steve: I think @SharkTank88 is onto something, but maybe not in the way they expect. Look, Macklin Celebrini is the face of the franchise. He just signed that five-year, $94 million extension. That makes him the highest-paid player in the NHL. You don’t move a asset like that to left wing because you’re short on space; you build the system around his two-way dominance at center. He needs to control the neutral zone and dictate the pace.
Megan: Right, and if he’s playing center, who are the other guys battling for those second-line spots? We have Alex Barre-Boulet, Filip Bystedt, Ty Dellandrea, Barclay Goodrow... the list goes on. How do you even evaluate this group?
Steve: It comes down to role definition. Barclay Goodrow is your grinder. He’s there for penalty killing and physical presence. Alex Barre-Boulet brings size and shot volume. Filip Bystedt is the pure skill playmaker. But here’s the hard truth: based on what we discussed yesterday, four or five of these centers are likely starting the year in the AHL. The Sharks cannot carry eleven centers on the active roster and still have room for wingers.
Megan: So, if we lose four or five centers to the affiliate, who stays? It sounds like a brutal camp for players like Michael Misa or Jimmy Huntington. Do they have a chance?
Steve: Jimmy Huntington has the upside, but he needs to prove he can compete physically. Michael Misa is a high-IQ guy, but without the size, he might get pushed to fourth line duty or sent down. The coaches are going to want a mix of veteran stability and young energy. I’d bet on Tyler Toffoli playing center if needed—he’s done it before—but he’s listed as a winger here. This congestion is real, and it’s going to force some tough decisions by opening night.
Megan: Speaking of tough decisions, let’s look at the forward lines themselves. Sarah from San Jose asks: 'Collin Graf re-signed for $12.75 million over three years. With him back, does that push Ethan Cardwell or Adam Gaudette out of the lineup?' She’s worried about the right wing spot.
Steve: Graf had 21 goals and 25 assists last season. That’s production. At $12.75 million, he’s a solid value for a third-line winger. He brings net-front presence. But remember, the Sharks also have Brett Leason, Carson Wetsch, and Quentin Musty. Cardwell is fast, but Graf is more complete. I think Graf wins the spot initially. However, if the team needs more speed to counter the Ducks’ forecheck, Cardwell might get the nod early on.
Megan: And what about Mason Marchment? He’s a big body. Does he fit better with Graf or alongside someone like Kiefer Sherwood?
Steve: Marchment is a power-forward type. He works well in tight spaces. If you put him on a line with Graf, you get a lot of traffic in front. But you sacrifice speed. Against a team like Anaheim, who wants to rush, you might want Sherwood’s mobility. I think Marchment gets time on the fourth line to burn off energy and provide physical relief, while Graf anchors the third line.
Megan: Okay, so we have the forwards sorted out in our heads, mostly. Now, let’s talk defense. Marcus in Oakland sends in a question: 'Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba are both here. Are they really playing together? And where does Dmitry Orlov fit?'
Steve: This is the classic heavy-hitter dilemma. Nurse is a monster on the power play and shuts down elite wingers. Trouba is a leader and a physical disruptor. Playing them together means you have a lot of size, but you might lack mobility. Orlov is the odd man out in that pairing. He’s older, slower. He’s likely paired with someone like Nolan Allan or Sam Dickinson to balance the ice.
Megan: But wait, we also have Leo Sahlin Wallenius and Libor Hajek. Those are younger, puck-moving defenders. If Nurse and Trouba are stuck together, do the younger guys get buried on the third pair?
Steve: Exactly. And that’s risky. If Nurse and Trouba are slow to recover, opposing teams will exploit the perimeter. Sahlin Wallenius is a great defenseman on paper, but if he’s not getting prime minutes, he’s not developing. The coaching staff needs to be creative. Maybe they split the heavy hitters up during regular play and bring them together only for specific matchups.
Megan: That’s a good point. It’s all about situational usage. Alright, let’s pivot to the most controversial topic in the league right now. The NHL superstar poll mentioned rule changes. Lisa from Concord asks: 'How do the new NHL rules favor the Sharks specifically? We’re young and fast.'
Steve: The rule changes are heavily focused on reducing obstruction and speeding up the game. Less holding, less hooking, more emphasis on flow. This is perfect for the Sharks. You have Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Zack Ostapchuk—all elite skaters. In a tighter, faster game, your speed becomes an unfair advantage. Teams that rely on heavy checking and physical grinding will struggle to keep up with our transition game.
Megan: And what about the offensive zone entries? Does this help us break out of our own end more effectively?
Steve: Absolutely. When referees blow the whistle for obstruction more often, you stop losing puck possession in the neutral zone. Our players can carry the puck through the neutral zone without being hooked off the rail. It creates more odd-man rushes. For a team built on youth and speed, that’s the golden ticket.
Megan: Okay, that’s a huge win for the Sharks' identity. Let’s move on. We’re going to take a brief pause here, but stick with us—we’re diving into the goalie controversy next.
Megan: Welcome back. We’ve got a stack of emails about the crease. Kevin from Santa Clara asks: 'Eric Comrie was predicted to start the first few games. But Yaroslav Askarov is the rookie sensation. Why isn’t Askarov starting?' There’s a lot of frustration among the younger fans about this.
Steve: Look, I predicted Comrie would start too, and I stand by that logic for now. Askarov is incredible, but he’s unproven at this level in a pressure situation. Comrie has experience. He knows the system. The Sharks need stability in October. Askarov is the future, but Comrie is the present safety net. They’ll battle throughout the season, but the opener against Anaheim is too high-stakes to hand it to a rookie immediately.
Megan: But Askarov has shown flashes in camp previews. Isn’t it risky to bench him? What if Comrie struggles early?
Steve: It is risky, but it’s calculated risk. If Comrie gives up more than two goals a game in the first three outings, Askarov is in. But remember, we also have Ilya Samsonov and Alex Nedeljkovic on the roster. The Sharks aren’t leaving anything to chance. This is why they have five goalies. It’s insurance policy. Comrie starts, but Askarov is warming up in the tunnel.
Megan: So, if Comrie stumbles, it’s a quick change. Got it. Now, let’s talk about the defense again. David from Milpitas asks: 'Mattias Havelid and Phillip Sinn are both young defensemen. Who has the higher ceiling? Should one of them crack the top six?' Honestly, I feel like we barely know these guys yet.
Steve: Havelid has been a bit more polished defensively. He’s a stay-at-home type who moves the puck well out of his own end. Sinn is more offensive-minded, but he’s rawer. Neither is cracking the top six right now. Nurse, Trouba, Orlov, Allan, Dickinson—that’s six bodies ahead of them. But Havelid is the safest bet to make the final cut because he doesn’t make stupid mistakes. Sinn might need another year in the minors to refine his gap control.
Megan: Fair enough. Safety first. What about Andre Gasseau? He’s listed as a center, but he’s a big guy. Can he play left wing if needed? The roster is so crowded, versatility seems key.
Steve: Gasseau is a project player. He’s tall, he’s skilled, but he’s still learning the game. Versatility helps, but he’s not ready to slot into a top-six role anywhere. He’s probably competing for a bottom-six center spot or a fourth-line winger role. His best path to the NHL is proving he can handle the physicality of the major junior or AHL level first.
Megan: Okay, let’s shift gears slightly. We have a question from @SJS_Fanatic about the upcoming game against the Ducks. 'Anaheim is coming to San Jose on September 20th. Who is the X-factor for the Sharks in that opener? Is it Celebrini, or is it someone unexpected like Tye Felhaber?'
Steve: Felhaber is a dark horse candidate. He’s gritty, he drives the net, and he plays a simple game. Against a team like Anaheim, who might underestimate San Jose, Felhaber could score a crucial goal on a rebound. But the true X-factor is going to be the power play. If the Sharks can capitalize on the power play with Nurse and Celebrini driving the point, that’s where the game is won. Offense wins hockey, especially in preseason-style intensity games.
Megan: Power play efficiency is huge. What about the penalty kill? With Goodrow and Trouba, is the PK secure?
Steve: It’s strong. Goodrow is one of the best shutdown centers in the league. Pairing him with a defensive defenseman like Allan or Trouba creates a wall. The Sharks’ penalty kill should be top-five material this year. That’s a strength, not a weakness.
Megan: Alright, we’re running low on time, but we have one last segment. Let’s do a lightning round. Quick takes. No long answers. First question: 'Is the Sharks' title window open now?' Yes or no, and why.
Steve: No. Not yet. The core is young. Celebrini is great, but the supporting cast needs to gel. Defense is unproven. Goalies are uncertain. It’s a building year, not a winning year.
Megan: Second question: 'Who is the most underrated player on the roster?'
Steve: Barclay Goodrow. Everyone talks about the scorers, but Goodrow wins games by taking away space. He’s essential.
Megan: Third question: 'Will the Sharks make the playoffs this year?'
Steve: They’re currently first in the Pacific Division, but that’s meaningless right now. Realistically? No. They’re too inexperienced. They’ll fight for a wild card spot late, but it’s a long shot.
Megan: Final lightning round question: 'What is the one thing the Sharks must fix in training camp?'
Steve: Neutral zone turnover. They give up too many easy chances. If they can clean up their breakout passes, they become a dangerous team.
Megan: Solid advice. Clean up the breakout, win the neutral zone battle. Okay, Steve, we’re almost out of time. Before we go, I want to remind everyone listening that this show is free because of you. If today’s breakdown helped you understand the roster better, or if you enjoyed hearing us debate the center congestion, please consider chipping in. It keeps the lights on and the analysis daily. Just click the link in the episode description to support us. It means the world.
Steve: Thanks for listening. We appreciate every single one of you tuning in. Keep the faith, Sharks fans.
Megan: We’ll see you tomorrow for more Sharks coverage. Go Sharks!