The Hockey News Sees a Playoff Team in San Jose Next Season

The Hockey News projected the Sharks as a playoff contender for 2026-27 in its annual Yearbook, an external endorsement that lands at an interesting moment for a franchise that finished 39-43 last season and missed the postseason by a meaningful margin.

The projection aligns with the logic of San Jose's offseason, which was built almost entirely around defensive reinforcement. The Sharks added Jacob Trouba on a four-year deal at $8.25 million annually, signed Michael Kesselring to a three-year, $13.5 million contract, and acquired Darnell Nurse from Edmonton — three blue-line additions in rapid succession. That spending was paired with the trade of William Eklund to Ottawa, exchanging a winger who posted a minus-25 rating last season for the ninth overall pick and draft flexibility. The front office made a clear bet that the back end, not the forward group, was the primary obstacle.

The offensive anchor remains Macklin Celebrini, who put up 73 points in 48 games last season before signing a five-year, $94 million extension in late July. Collin Graf was re-signed shortly after. Logan Couture remains on injured reserve heading into camp, which leaves some uncertainty in the forward group, but the core structure is in place. Whether three new defensemen can close a minus-41 goal differential is the question The Hockey News is betting yes on.