Sharks season preview: Celebrini, young core seek to end playoff drought

The 2026-27 NHL season starts Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the San Jose Sharks.

Last season: 39-35-8, fifth in Pacific Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Coach: Ryan Warsofsky (third season)

Biggest challenge

More production from those not named Macklin Celebrini, whose 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) were more than the Sharks' next two top scorers combined, forwards Will Smith (59 points) and Alexander Wennberg (55). Celebrini's 45 goals also dwarfed those of the next two behind him, Smith (24) and Collin Graf (21). San Jose was 25th in save percentage (.881), 30th in goals-against average (3.49) and one of four teams without a shutout (Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets), so it needs more from 24-year-old starter Yaroslav Askarov (21-20-4, 3.63 goals-against average, .884 save percentage) and 30-year-old Alex Nedeljkovic (18-14-4, 2.87 GAA, .896 save percentage). Eric Comrie signed a two-year contract on July 1 and the 31-year-old likely will compete for the backup job. He was 12-11-1 with a 3.13 GAA and .890 save percentage in 25 games for the Winnipeg Jets last season. The Sharks also signed Ilya Samsonov, who played 14 games for HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League last season, to a one-year, two-way contract on Sept. 8.

How they make the playoffs

San Jose hasn't qualified since the 2018-19 season, but it could if Celebrini replicates or exceeds what he did last season. The 20-year-old signed a five-year, $94 million contract ($18.8 million average annual value), which begins next season. Askarov, a first-round pick (No. 11) by the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft, needs to show he's the goalie the Sharks thought they were acquiring in a trade on Aug. 23, 2024. Defensemen Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse must help a team that ranked 30th in goals-against per game (3.54); Trouba, 32, signed a four-year, $33 million contract ($8.25 million AAV) on July 1, and Nurse, 31, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on July 1.

Most intriguing addition

Count Ivar Stenberg as another major building block the Sharks hope with Celebrini, Smith, Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson can keep them in Stanley Cup contention for years. The No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft played for his native Sweden at the 2026 World Juniors and IIHF World Championship and signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 2. He might get a chance to play left wing next to Celebrini after he had 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League, the fifth-most ever by an 18-year-old SHL player.

Biggest potential surprise

Luca Cagnoni (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) was a fourth-round pick (No. 123) in the 2023 NHL Draft and is projected to play on the third defense pair to the left of newcomer Michael Kesselring and could elevate a power play that was 16th (21.2 percent). The 21-year-old's 43 points ranked fifth for San Jose in the American Hockey League last season and his 35 assists were second. He has two assists in nine NHL games, one coming on the man-advantage.

Ready to contribute

Igor Chernyshov made his NHL debut Dec. 16 and had 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 28 games for the Sharks and 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 41 AHL games. The forward sustained a concussion in a collision with Mike Matheson 28 seconds into his first shift of a 4-2 win at the Montreal Canadiens on March 14 but returned 10 days later and had eight points (six goals, two assists) to help the Sharks finish 6-4-2. The second-round pick (No. 33) in the 2024 NHL Draft had 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 23 games for Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25.

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Askarov, G: Coming off an up-and-down season, in which he set NHL career highs in games played (47) and shots faced (1,341), Askarov was 12-9-1 with a .902 save percentage in 22 games through Dec. 20 before finishing the season with a 9-11-3 record and an .865 save percentage over his next 25 games. Askarov was in a timeshare with Nedeljkovic, but could emerge as the No. 1 option for the Sharks as early as this season. San Jose enters in the midst of a seven-season playoff drought but has a promising young core considering the team led the NHL in percentage of goals scored by 23-and-younger players (52.6) last season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Askarov ranked third among rookie goalies in quality starts (19; starts with greater than .900 save percentage) behind Jakub Dobes (25) and Jesper Wallstedt (23). Askarov is a high-upside target as a third or fourth fantasy goalie option in later rounds (average draft position: 134.4). -- Troy Perlowitz

Projected lineup

Collin Graf -- Macklin Celebrini -- Will Smith

Igor Chernyshov -- Michael Misa -- Mason Marchment

Ivar Stenberg -- Alexander Wennberg -- Kiefer Sherwood

Tyler Toffoli -- Zack Ostapchuk -- Ty Dellandrea

Sam Dickinson -- Jacob Trouba

Darnell Nurse -- Dmitry Orlov

Luca Cagnoni -- Michael Kesselring

Yaroslav Askarov

Alex Nedeljkovic