As one part of a promising young core, Michael Misa believes the future is bright for the San Jose Sharks.
Selected second overall in the 2025 draft, Misa posted nine goals and 21 points in 45 games as a rookie last season, helping the Sharks improve by 34 points in the standings to fall just short their first playoff berth since 2019.
With their window seemingly opening, general manager Mike Grier overhauled the team’s blueline this off-season, adding defencemen Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Michael Kesslring. He also signed forward Mason Marchment on July 1 to provide veteran presence.
The Sharks also found more luck in the draft lottery, winning the second-overall pick and selecting forward Ivar Stenberg.
“I think we’re building something pretty special,” Misa told NHL.com. “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.”
Marchment, Nurse and Trouba have suddenly joined Kiefer Sherwood as the players locked up the longest by the Sharks, who have plenty of important contract negotiations to come.
Marchment inked a five-year, $33.75 million contract, keeping him in San Jose through 2030-31 at a cap hit of $6.75million. Sherwood is also signed until the summer of 2031 at a cap hit of $5.75 million.
Nurse, at an average annual value of $9.25 million, and Trouba, at $8.25 million, are both signed through 2029-30.
San Jose still has $7.6 million available this off-season, per PuckPedia, though the team may be focused on keeping that space for flexibility this season and beyond. Star centre Macklin Celebrini and promising forward Will Smith are both scheduled to hit restricted free agency next summer, with Celebrini potentially in contention for a record contract.
The Sharks are currently projected to have $53.5 million in space next summer with 15 players already under contract.
What’s next for Celebrini?
San Jose’s leap forward last season was spearheaded by the rise of Celebrini, who broke out with 45 goals and 115 points.
Selected first overall in 2024, the 20-year-oldcentrefinished fourth in Hart Trophy voting and was also named the IIHF Male Player of the Year after posting 10 points in six games at Milano Cortina 2026 and captaining Team Canada at the men’s worlds after the NHL season.
“Obviously going to expect the same thing from him,” Misa said of what’s next for Celebrini. “I think you know he’s obviously a top player in the League already, and he’s kind of leading our team.
“I was training with him for the last week or so in Vancouver, and it was good to spend some time with him. Hopefully (I’ll) see him soon again. … He’s a leader. I think everyone on our team kind of looks up to him in a way. It’s been pretty incredible to watch what he’s been doing.”
Celebriniposted 25 goalsand 63 points in 70 games as a rookie in 2024-25, and the Sharks will hope Misa can take a similar step forward in his second year.
