How the Young Guns Can End the San Jose Sharks Playoff Drought

The San Jose Sharks turned a corner in their rebuild shocking the hockey world going from the worst team in the NHL the last two seasons to a team still in the mix for playoffs at game 80 of 82.

The Sharks massive turnaround can be attributed in large part to phenom Macklin Celebrini who established himself as the brightest young superstar in the NHL by breaking the Sharks single-season points record and leading the Olympics in goals as Canada's youngest ever Olympic hockey player at 19-years-old.

While Celebrini's individual play was indeed incredible, hockey is the ultimate team game. If the Sharks want to make the playoffs, the plucky young team needs their other exciting prospects to take a step forward. Here is what each Sharks youngster needs to do for San Jose to break their eight-year drought.

Macklin Celebrini

For Celebrini, all he has to do is what he is already doing. Drive play, be an incredible 200-foot player and set up teammates with easy scoring chances. After getting injured early in his rookie season, Celebrini played all 82 games in 2025-26, showing the NHL truly how impactful a full season for hockey's newest superstar can be and how bright the future is for San Jose.

In his age 20 season, all Celebrini needs to do is stay healthy and adjust to being named the franchise's 11th permanent captain. His captaincy is not official as of now, but it is all but guaranteed that 71 will be wearing the C on his chest the next time he takes the ice for San Jose.

Will Smith

Will Smith struggled early in his rookie year but found solid footing in the second half as a nearly point-per-game, scoring 30 points in his final 34 games. In his sophomore season, Smith kept a nearly identical pace scoring 59 points in 69 games, showing a boost in confidence in the offensive zone and competence in the defensive end. While Smith has room to grow especially regarding turnovers, his offensive playmaking and passing took a step forward.

Going into 2026-27, the Sharks are going to have a bigger target on their back. They are no longer the pitied bottom dweller. The Sharks have real expectations especially with Celebrini driving the bus, so 71's number two needs to up his scoring pace to at least a point-per-game if San Jose wants to make the playoffs. With teams game planning around stopping Celebrini, his supporting cast will have to contribute more on the score sheet for the Sharks to win games. As Macklin's wingman, Smith is ready for the challenge. Expect Smith to really come into his own this season cutting his turnovers and burying more chances as the NHL's newest on ice power couple boosts their already budding chemistry.

William Eklund

The 7th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has had a slower progression, but Sharks fans should be pleased with the Swedish winger. In a snake-bit season on the score sheet, Eklund just did not have the puck luck on his side. On paper, he had 15 goals and 53 total points which was good for fourth on the Sharks which makes me believe he is the biggest breakout candidate for San Jose.

Eklund has shown flashes of dominance but has just not been able to finish at the rate you want to see, but his improved puck possession and playmaking gives a glimpse to what he can be in the future as a play driving wing that makes things happen when Celebrini isn't on the ice. In the last three years, Eklund has scored 16, 17, and 15 goals, but in 2026-27 expect Eklund to crack 20 for the first time in his career. Hell, he might even flirt with 30 if the goal of the year is any indication on his scoring moving forward.

Sam Dickinson

The rookie defenseman's first look at NHL action was one for growth, which there was a lot of over the course of the season. There were flashes of competent defensive play with rookie mistakes littered throughout, but Dickinson's overall attitude and ability to learn from his errors with a cool head is incredibly encouraging that he will grow even more next season.

A lot of the hype surrounding Dickinson in his draft year had to do with his wizard-like offensive production as a member of the London Knights, but his rookie season was more about learning the ropes for playing actual defense in the NHL rather than showing his playmaking ability. As one of only two NHL defensemen on the Sharks roster before the draft, Dickinson is being set up to handle a lot more responsibility next season, particularly on the power play. While San Jose will likely sign or acquire a quarterback for their first power play, Dickinson should get minutes on the second unit that will help blossom his offensive skillset as he rounds out his game. If Dickinson can contribute at all offensively in year two with added power play reps and another year of reps defending at the pro level, his overall athleticism should give the Sharks enough of a boost to make playoffs.

Collin Graf

Collin Graf is looking like a steal after finishing his first full season with San Jose. Already the team's best penalty killer, he is proving to be mature beyond his years, even resembling former captain Logan Couture at times with a right shot.

Graf hovered around the third line for a large chunk of the season but found some chemistry with Celebrini later on, demonstrating he has the mind to supplement Celebrini's motor and elite skill set. What makes Graf such a solid piece to the Sharks puzzle is his brain. He is always in right the spot, is the best defending forward on the roster and knows the optimal spot to be supporting Celebrini's playmaking which helped him pot 21 goals this season. If Graf can put on some weight, look for him to get some Selke buzz with another full season under his belt, although he still may be a couple years away and a Sharks playoff birth from true national attention for the award. San Jose's playoff hopes are reliant on Graf who has established himself as a pillar to this new era of Sharks hockey.

Michael Misa

Misa recorded a 21 points in 45 games, but the 2025 second over pick really found his game after the Olympic break showcasing his offensive upside that got him drafted so high. Like Smith, Misa had an adjustment period early on to figure out how to play the NHL style and adapt to the skill and speed required. The flashes of offensive brilliance should get Sharks fans excited because if Misa can take a leap and build off his rookie year, San Jose will have another playmaking center that really drive scoring and create chances out of thin air.

Expectations shouldn't be as high as for Smith for example, considering they had similar starts to their careers and Misa is less experienced, so look to Misa getting closer to a point-per-game being a successful season which is dependent on taking offseason workouts seriously. If he boosts his conditioning and puts on some weight, Misa should be primed to create more goals like this one against the Jets and have a fun season with roughly 50-60 points.

Igor Chernyshov

Chernyshov is a first round talent that fell to the second round because of... sunburn? No, seriously. The Sharks may have stolen a first line scoring winger because of a serendipitous sunburn. The 20-year-old got off to a hot start with eight points in his first seven games but injuries slowed him down before finding his scoring touch again at the end of the season. He finished with 19 points in 28 games, but the points he scored showed tremendous skill as he is a forward who hunts for scoring opportunities and has some polish to his ability to finish.

Hopefully Chernyshov can play a full season in 2026-27, because his 6'2" 200 LB frame and his torpedo style of attack can make him a useful power forward that will be a headache for opposing defenses especially when having to deal with Celebrini on the same line. Winning teams need dogs on both sides of the ice, and Chernyshov is looking like he has the potential to be a pit bull the Sharks can sick on defenses for the future. Homework for Chernyshov? Keep his head up and wear sunscreen.

Yaroslav Askarov

Finally, we end between the pipes. As it is with most young prospects, there will be flashes of brilliance and periods of growing pains. Askarov proved to have the most mouth watering highlights and the most groan inducing learning moments. To start with the positive, Askarov had a historically spectacular November. He was 8-2 with a goal against average of 1.88 and a sparkling .944 save percentage. For the year he was 21-20-4 with a 3.63 goal against average and a save percentage of .883.

Askarov showed he can lock in and be a wall behind some truly incredible athleticism with pad saves and sprawling desperation, but far too many soft goals were let in especially against the glove. If Askarov can clean up the softies, tighten up his positioning and chill out when he plays the puck, he ahs the potentiall to be a pill for opposing offenses. For San Jose to make the playoffs, Askarov will likely need to crack a .905 save percentage and a 3.15 goals agaisnt average. He is still a young goalie figuring it out, so meeting league average numbers behind an improved defense (in theory) and an offense that is poised to breakout and improve from last year should be enough for playoffs.