San Jose Gets Heavy National Broadcast Attention Heading Into 2026-27

The NHL released its national broadcasting schedule this week, and the Sharks earned considerable placement on it — an external signal that the league sees San Jose as a team worth putting in front of wide audiences next season.

It is a notable shift in visibility for a franchise that finished 39-43 in 2026 and missed the playoffs. The offseason has given broadcasters something to sell: a defensive overhaul that brought in Jacob Trouba on a four-year deal, Michael Kesselring on a three-year contract, and Darnell Nurse via trade from Edmonton, layered on top of a Macklin Celebrini extension worth $94 million over five years. That combination of star power and structural renovation makes for a watchable story.

Broadcast schedules are built around narratives, and San Jose's is straightforward enough to schedule around: a young franchise center, a rebuilt blue line, and a front office that spent aggressively to fix the specific thing that broke them. Whether the defensive additions hold up is a question for October. The league, at least, has decided the answer is worth watching.