Igor Chernyshov entered the offseason looking like a near-lock for the San Jose Sharks’ opening night roster in 2026-27. A strong finish to the 2025-26 campaign made that path look straightforward. Then the Sharks added Ivar Stenberg and Mason Marchment, and suddenly the picture got a lot less certain.
That doesn’t change the bigger idea around Chernyshov: if he does earn a spot, he has a real chance to become one of San Jose’s most productive scorers.
Chernyshov’s 2025-26 season was officially treated as his rookie year because he played more than 25 games, and he made it count. The Russian winger finished with nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 28 games.
That smaller sample still packed a punch, and his points-per-game rate ended up as the fifth-highest on the Sharks last season. He finished ahead of players such as Tyler Toffoli, Collin Graf, and Kiefer Sherwood.
At 20, Chernyshov looks ready for the NHL. The question is where he fits best.
San Jose would probably get the most out of him in a top-six role, where his scoring ability can breathe, instead of asking him to live in a more physical bottom-six job. His 6-foot-2 frame gives him the versatility to handle either assignment, but limiting his offense would be a waste.
The competition for those top-six spots is stiff. Stenberg, Marchment, and Graf are the leading candidates for the remaining openings outside of Chernyshov.
That makes a top-six landing spot hard to secure, but not out of reach. If Chernyshov impresses Ryan Warsofsky enough to win a major role - especially the first-line spot with Smith and Celebrini - the Sharks could be looking at a breakout in his first full season.
The scoring pace from last year points to just how high the ceiling could go. Over an 84-game season, Chernyshov’s goal rate would project to 27 goals. Add in the assists, and he could push into the 60-point range, which would put him among San Jose’s top offensive producers.
None of that is guaranteed over a full season. But Chernyshov has done enough to earn the opportunity, and if he makes the most of it, the Sharks could get a major boost.
In Other News...
Sharks Just Became Part Of The Oilers Offseason Reset
The Oilers spent the summer trying to clean up a roster that had drifted into uncomfortable territory, and one of the more notable moves involved the defense. General manager Stan Bowman moved to address goaltending by bringing in Frederik Andersen and leaning into a three-goalie setup with Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry, while also adding pieces such as Colton Dach, Jason Dickinson, Kasperi Kapanen and Connor Murphy as Edmonton reshaped the depth around the edges.
For San Jose, the ripple effect showed up in a familiar way: the Sharks became part of Edmontons reset when Darnell Nurse was sent west as the Oilers looked to create room and steady the books after a noisy offseason that also featured a coaching change and a public dispute with Vegas over Bruce Cassidy. The trade added another significant name to San Joses blue line picture, and the return gave the Sharks a fresh piece to monitor as Edmonton kept making one move after another to alter the look of its roster. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Suddenly Look Like A Real Western Conference Threat
A year after finishing just short of the postseason at 39-35-8, the Sharks suddenly have the look of a team that expects to matter in the Western Conference again. San Jose has been methodically building around a young core and a deep prospect pipeline, then adding the kind of established pieces that usually signal a front office believes the window is opening rather than closing.
Macklin Celebrini is now locked in long term, giving the franchise a centerpiece to build around, and the roster got another boost with the addition of Mason Marchment for the 2026-27 season. The bigger question is how quickly the rest of the lineup catches up, especially after the club spent the offseason trying to shore up the back end with veteran help and make last years near miss feel more like a preview than an outlier. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks May Have One Rookie Who Changes Their Usual Plan
Ryan Warsofsky has usually taken a careful approach with rookies, easing them in with limited ice time and a slow climb into the lineup rather than throwing them straight into the fire. Its a familiar development path for a Sharks team that has been patient with young players, and it tends to keep expectations in check while a prospect adjusts to the NHL pace.
Ivar Stenberg, though, looks like a different kind of case. He already comes with pro experience in the Swedish Hockey League and has spent plenty of time facing older, more seasoned competition, which is why theres a sense he could be ready for immediate NHL minutes. San Jose may still choose to start him the same way it handles most newcomers, but Stenbergs background gives the organization a real reason to consider breaking from its usual plan. [Read more 🡒]