The San Jose Sharks are back, and this time, they’re starting to show signs of life. After a brutal 2024-25 campaign that ended with them buried 25 points below even the modest expectations of a rebuilding team, the early returns on the 2025-26 season are, well, surprisingly respectable.
In a league where mediocrity is currently the median-most teams hovering around the .500 mark-the Sharks are right in the thick of it. And for a franchise that’s been in the depths for a while, that’s progress.
The energy around this team feels different. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, the cornerstone prospects fans were told to be patient for, are delivering on the hype.
They’re not just surviving NHL minutes-they’re driving play, making the team competitive, and giving Sharks fans a reason to tune in. There’s a young core forming here, and it’s making Tuesday nights at the Tank a lot more entertaining than they’ve been in recent years.
The fact that the arena is now half to three-quarters full on a weekday? That’s a sign of a fanbase starting to believe again.
Now, it’s worth remembering that last season also teased promise in November before it all fell apart in December. One of the turning points came when GM Mike Grier dealt goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to the Avalanche in exchange for Alexandar Georgiev-and, let’s be honest, a better shot at a top draft pick.
It was a tough call, but not one without logic. And with a prospect like Michael Misa now in the system, the long-term thinking might just pay off.
Grier’s biggest win, though, wasn’t just clearing out bad contracts from the previous regime-it was getting ownership, specifically Hasso Plattner, to buy into a full-scale rebuild. That’s no small feat.
Plenty of teams try to rebuild on the fly, refusing to tear it down completely (looking at you, Kings), but that half-in, half-out strategy rarely works. The Sharks are doing it the hard way, and that’s usually the right way.
Right now, they’re leaning heavily on the brilliance of their rookies and some stellar goaltending performances to stay competitive. That’s not a sustainable formula over 82 games, but it’s a start.
More importantly, the roster no longer feels like a placeholder unit full of fringe NHLers. This isn’t a team icing AHL tweeners just to fill out the lineup.
No offense to anyone who bought a Henry Thrun jersey, but this group has a higher ceiling.
Most of the offseason moves came on the blue line, where the Sharks added veterans Dmitry Orlov, Nick Leddy, and John Klingberg. Sure, it would’ve been great to have these guys back in 2016 when they were in their prime, but even now, their experience brings value.
They’re here to stabilize the defense, soak up minutes, and help mentor the next wave. Philipp Kurashev, meanwhile, is the kind of low-risk, high-upside forward pickup that’s already showing promise.
Then there’s Jeff Skinner, the veteran winger trying to reboot his career when healthy. In net, Alex Nedeljkovic is sharing duties with Yaroslav Askarov, who’s been called up from the Barracuda and is getting his first real taste of NHL action.
One of the more under-the-radar moves was sending Thrun to Toronto in exchange for Ryan Reaves. Say what you want about his on-ice production, but Reaves brings a physical edge and a strong locker room presence that young teams often need.
With age comes injury risk, and that’s a reality the Sharks are already dealing with. Veterans like Orlov, Leddy, and Klingberg won’t be able to shoulder the load all season, and that’s where the young guns come in.
Shakir Mukhamadullin and Sam Dickinson are expected to see more ice time as the year progresses. Mukhamadullin, in particular, looked dominant at times in the AHL last season-he’s ready for the next step, assuming he can stay healthy.
Injuries are hitting blue lines all over the league, and the Sharks are no exception. The difference this year?
They’ve got young defensemen who might actually improve with the opportunity rather than get overwhelmed. And come trade deadline season, you can expect any healthy veteran defensemen to be dangled for mid-round picks.
That’s just smart asset management for a team in transition.
Off the ice, the vibe around the Tank is changing too. The crowd is younger, louder, and fully committed to teal.
Gone are the days when the stands were filled with out-of-town jerseys and corporate season ticket holders. Today’s fans grew up on Sharks hockey, and they’re showing up with energy.
The team’s front office is leaning into that, offering ticket deals and giveaways to keep the momentum going. Even owner Hasso Plattner has been spotted at games-with rumors that his dog’s barking can be heard from the suite.
Just outside the arena, the landscape is shifting too. The big Google development south of SAP Center?
That’s on indefinite pause. But the area has found new life as the Creekside Art Corridor, stretching from Barack Obama Blvd to Montgomery St.
Some old favorites like the Poor House Bistro and Patty’s Inn are gone, but Hapa’s Brewing Company, just a short walk north, is becoming a pregame hangout spot-complete with food trucks and a welcoming vibe, even on chilly, stormy nights.
So yes, the Sharks are still in the early stages of a rebuild. But for the first time in a while, the vision is clear, the direction is solid, and the product on the ice is giving fans a reason to believe.
It’s not perfect, and it won’t be easy-but it’s real. And that’s more than could be said in recent years.