With defense being a major point of focus heading into the next season, many Sharks fans have been looking towards the young defensive talent already within
In the final instalment of this summer mini-series, we finish off with the biggest off-season winners from the Western Conference. Who made the cut? Let’s jump right into it.
The San Jose Sharks appear ready to hand their captaincy to one of the league’s brightest young stars. According to multiple reports, including San Jose Hockey Now and insider Sheng Peng, the decision is “all but certain,” with an official announcement expected before the regular season begins.
The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.
The San Jose Sharks have a true one-of-one franchise player and leader in superstar center Macklin Celebrini, but at least for right now, they do not have a captain.
The San Jose Sharks have played without a captain for more than two years. The “C” has been sitting in a drawer since Logan Couture’s final game in March 2024, symbolizing a franchise in transition that had no obvious leader ready to wear it.
Goaltender Yaroslav Korostelyov has terminated his contract with the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg and will come to North America next season to join the San Jose Sharks, according to Hockey News Hub’s Jeremy Garrett and SJ Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng.
A recent San Jose Sharks draft pick will join the organization much sooner than expected. First reported by Jeremy Garrett of Hockey News Hub and later confirmed by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, netminder Yaroslav Korostelyov has terminated his contract with SKA St.
For Atlanta Gladiators fans, Thursday’s news may be one of the more surprising moves of the offseason. After leading Atlanta in both goals and points during the 2025-26 season, Alex Young is headed to the Rapid City Rush.
Every contender needs more than skill. The San Jose Sharks learned that the hard way last season, when a roster brimming with young offensive talent finished four points short of the playoffs, undone by a defense that was too easy to play through and a group that was too often bullied.
People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.
The San Jose Sharks will have some renewed continuity with their ECHL affiliation for the 2026-27 season. According to a team announcement, the Sharks have signed a one-year affiliate extension with the Wichita Thunder.
Cole Moberg’s connection to the Florida Everblades continues. Florida announced Monday that the 25-year-old defenseman has agreed to terms for the 2026-27 season, bringing back one of the most experienced postseason players on its blue line.
The San Jose Sharks look for a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2027, with young star Macklin Celebrini leading the way. Sharks fans have something to be excited about.
Jeff Skinner’s NHL chapter looks like it’s officially closed. The 34-year-old, a former 40-goal scorer and 1,110-game veteran, just signed a one-year deal with EHC Biel-Bienne in Switzerland’s National League that runs through April 2027.
Jeff Skinner has signed with Swiss Club EHCB through the 2026-27 season, according to a team announcement. The 16-year NHL veteran was most recently with the San Jose Sharks after they mutually terminated his contract, a one-year, $3MM contract where he played 32 games, scoring six goals for 13 points in 2025-26.
After seven years of sinking toward the bottom of the league standings, competitive hockey is back in San Jose. Thanks to their blossoming core of young talent, the Sharks were the league’s most improved team last season — jumping up 34 points and nearly doubling their win total from 2024-25.
NHL legend Claude Lemieux relapsed into sex addiction prior to his suicide, according to statements his son gave to police officers following his death.