Playoffs ‘bare minimum’ for Sharks this season, Marchment says

TORONTO -- Mason Marchment's return to San Jose is as much about family legacy as it is about a homecoming.

It's been about two months since the 31-year-old forward signed a five-year, $33.75 million contract ($6.75 million average annual value) with the San Jose Sharks, the organization his late father Bryan played with from 1998-2003. Bryan Marchment died in 2022 at the age of 53 while working as a scout for the Sharks.

Four years after his dad’s passing, Mason will wear Bryan’s No. 27 as a tribute to the hard-hitting defenseman, a fan favorite who had 66 points (13 goals, 53 assists) and 706 penalty minutes in 334 games.

“It’s still kind of crazy for me to think about, even now, that I’m a Shark,” Marchment said. “Like I said when I signed, it’s kind of come full circle, right?

“I grew up there from age 4 through 10 and have a lot of great memories from there. Being at (SAP Center) and the practice rink, those are things you don’t forget.”

Including the interactions with then-Sharks player (Jumbo) Joe Thornton, his favorite player at the time.

“And then I got the chance to play with him in Florida with the Panthers in (2021-22), which was cool. Now we can catch up again.”

On the ice, it’s Thornton’s famous billet who Marchment is looking forward to play with. That would be 20-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini, who has lived with Jumbo’s family the past two seasons and broke his landlord’s single-season franchise points record with 115 (45 goals, 70 assists) in 2025-26.

San Jose rewarded Celebrini with a five-year, $94 million contract on July 29. The average annual value of $18.8 million makes him the NHL's highest-paid player per season, surpassing Leo Carlsson, a 21-year-old forward averaging $18 million for each of the next five seasons after the Anaheim Ducks on July 9 matched an offer sheet that had been tendered by the Philadelphia Flyers.

But Celebrini isn’t the only skilled player on the Sharks that has Marchment excited for what lies ahead for the franchise.

Forwards Will Smith (21), defenseman Sam Dickinson (20) and 2026 first-round draft picks Ivar Stenberg, a forward (No. 2 overall), and defensemen Keaton Verhoeff (No. 9) and Ryan Lin (No. 21), all still just 18 years old, are part of one of the top young cores in the NHL. The additions of veterans such as Marchment and defensemen Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba have the Sharks talking about the Stanley Cup Playoffs this upcoming season after a late-season skid had them finishing fifth (39-35-8) in the Pacific Division in 2025-26.

“For me, reaching the postseason is the bare minimum for us,” Marchment said. “If we’re not thinking in those terms, then we’re not thinking the right way. I mean, when you look at all these talented kids on this team, it’s an exciting time to be a Shark.

“With (Celebrini), I think if you just watch a game or two that he plays, you can just see that he's got the drive, he's got the compete, he wants it. He's done a great job of being a leader as such a young kid, being a leader just in the way where he works so hard. Guys just want to follow that.

“Hopefully (Trouba, Nurse) and I can help the team get to the next level, both on the ice and offering advice off it.”

Marchment, who had 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 68 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Seattle Kraken last season, was helping another group of youngsters recently. Only these kids were first-timers learning to play hockey and were thrilled to have an NHL player give them guidance, if not pick them up off the ice now and then after an unavoidable spill.

It was part of the Circle of Champions at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto, an event spearheaded by Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston in which the public -- including those new to the game -- had a chance to skate, mingle with and get autographs from various NHL and PWHL players. Proceeds went to support New Circles, Toronto's largest free clothing bank.

“It’s great giving back to the community,” said Marchment, a native of Uxbridge, Ontario, 40 miles northeast of Toronto. “You can see how much of a blast these kids are having.”