- Michael Misa says the Sharks are “building something pretty special”
- Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Mason Marchment headline a busy San Jose offseason
- Read below for Misa’s full comments and what Mike Grier said about the roster
Michael Misa is not hedging about where the San Jose Sharks are headed.
Asked in Toronto about what San Jose can do after last season’s near-miss, the 19-year-old center told NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger that the group is closer than the standings showed.
“I think we’re building something pretty special. I think you saw it a bit last year. We were right there for the playoffs. I think we’re going to take another step this year.”
San Jose finished 39-35-8 and landed fifth in the Pacific Division, which sounds tidier than it felt. The Sharks went 9-10-4 over their final 23 games and pushed their playoff drought to seven seasons.
Mike Grier spent the summer rebuilding the blue line. He acquired Darnell Nurse from Edmonton and handed Jacob Trouba a four-year deal worth $8.25 million per season.
Up front, Mason Marchment signed for five years at $6.75 million annually and goalie Eric Comrie came in on a two-year deal. San Jose also grabbed Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg with the second pick at the 2026 draft.
Grier was asked whether all of that is enough to end the drought.
“I think we’re a better team than we were last year. If that gets us in the playoffs, great. You never know how the season is going to go, but it is a step in the right direction where we were able to address some of the things we wanted to address.”
Macklin Celebrini is the reason anyone expects more. The 20-year-old put up 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists), broke Joe Thornton’s single-season franchise record and finished fourth in the NHL scoring race.
Misa skated with Celebrini in Vancouver for a week this summer and does not see the bar moving.
“Obviously going to expect the same thing from him. I think you know he’s obviously a top player in the League already, and he’s kind of leading our team.”
Drafted second overall in 2025, Misa played 45 games as a rookie and put up 21 points, including an overtime winner against Winnipeg on March 1. Catch the goal that got SAP Center out of its seat:
Will Smith set career highs with 24 goals and 59 points in year two, and defenseman Sam Dickinson averaged 16:45 a night as a 19-year-old. San Jose also owned three first-round picks in June, so Stenberg has company on the way.
That youth is the whole pitch. “We’re young and we’re hungry,” Misa said.
Here’s Misa breaking down his first NHL season back in April:
The Sharks open the 2026-27 season at home against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 1. Grier still has extensions for Celebrini and Smith waiting on the other side of that opener.
