The San Jose Sharks are heading into a crucial phase of their rebuild, making the 2025-26 NHL season a "prove-it" year for the team. After several seasons of patience and accumulating young talent, General Manager Mike Grier has publicly stated that it's time to start pushing the rebuild forward and transition into a winning team.

Roster Expectations and Key Players

The Sharks' prospect pool is now considered one of the best in the league, with several highly touted young players expected to make an impact. Forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, who debuted last fall, are anticipated to build upon their initial success and become key contributors. The Sharks also drafted Michael Misa with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and there's a possibility he could join the team's opening night roster. Sam Dickinson, a defenseman drafted 11th overall in 2024, is also expected to compete for a spot on the team. Other prospects to watch include Yaroslav Askarov, Quentin Musty, and Luca Cagnoni.

One of the biggest strengths of the Sharks' prospect pool is their center depth. Beyond Celebrini and Smith, the team has Misa, Filip Bystedt, and others who could contribute down the middle. Goaltending also looks promising with Yaroslav Askarov and Joshua Ravensbergen.

Areas for Improvement

While the Sharks have a solid group of prospects, they need to address certain weaknesses. One area of concern is the lack of depth on the right side of the blue line. The team also needs to improve its special teams, including both the power play and penalty kill.

Leadership and Coaching

With the retirement of Logan Couture, the Sharks may start the season without a captain. The team will be closely watching to see who emerges as a leader, with Macklin Celebrini being a potential candidate for the future.

Ryan Warsofsky will be entering his second season as head coach. The team hopes to see fewer "rookie mistakes" from him and better in-game adjustments. The Sharks have also added Joe Thornton to their coaching staff as a Player Development Coach and Hockey Operations Advisor. Thomas Vanek will also serve as a Hockey Operations Advisor.

Salary Cap and Roster Moves

The Sharks have a significant amount of cap space, but they also need to reach the cap floor. General Manager Mike Grier has stated that he's likely done making major roster moves, but he's open to potential trade scenarios. The Sharks have added veterans like John Klingberg, Jeff Skinner, Nick Leddy, and Dmitry Orlov, who bring Stanley Cup pedigree to the team.

Season Expectations

While the Sharks aren't expected to be a playoff team in 2025-26, there's an internal expectation to play meaningful games late in the regular season. Improving the team's win-loss record is crucial, even if a playoff berth remains out of reach. A successful season would involve the team playing close to .500 hockey. Key areas for growth include Macklin Celebrini establishing himself as a top NHL center and Yaroslav Askarov securing the starting goaltender position. The team also needs its young players to lead the way and for the Sharks to win more games.