Now that the San Jose Sharks’ roster for the 2026-27 season has been determined, it’s time to examine the positioning of the players on opening night.
Anticipated Forward Lines:
Mason Marchment, Macklin Celebrini, and Will Smith line up as the first trio. The second line features Ivar Stenberg, Alex Wennberg, and Collin Graf. The third unit includes Igor Chernyshov, Michael Misa, and Tyler Toffoli. The fourth line is composed of Barclay Goodrow, Zack Ostapchuk, and Kiefer Sherwood. As for scratches, Brett Leason and Ty Dellandrea will be out of the lineup initially. The forward combinations are expected to stay largely consistent with those used in the final preseason match against Vegas, although some speculate about swapping Sherwood and Toffoli. Coach Ryan Warsofsky seemed to favor the initial pairings, making significant changes unlikely. Leason remains on the roster until Adam Gaudette recovers, at which point Leason might be waived to make room for a minor league re-assignment to the Barracuda. Dellandrea will be rotated into the lineup as needed over the season.
Projected Defensive Pairings:
Darnell Nurse and Michael Kesselring will form one duo. Luca Cagnoni pairs with Jacob Trouba, while Sam Dickinson lines up with Dmitry Orlov. Nolan Allan is expected to be scratched initially. The defense alignment was complicated during preseason; Trouba predominantly played alongside Nolan Allan, which might suggest they stay together. However, since Dickinson is on the roster instead of being assigned to the AHL, it seems likely he will see game action rather than sit out. Throughout preseason, Orlov split time between Dickinson and Cagnoni, who are both comfortable playing on their off-side, adding strategic flexibility. The front-runner is to bench Dickinson initially, keeping Allan with Trouba and Cagnoni with Orlov, but there’s a strong case for giving Dickinson more ice time given his age and potential, as sitting for development isn’t always the best path.
Goaltending Situation:
Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic will share net duties. My initial expectation was that Nedeljkovic might start the season as the primary, with Askarov serving as backup. However, Askarov’s impressive summer effort and visible confidence boost in preseason suggest he has earned the starting role for now. While consistency remains a challenge for him, his performance has been enough to secure the number one spot at least for the opening games.
Fan Take:
This lineup reveals the Sharks are focusing on blending experienced talent with promising young prospects, signaling a potential rebuilding phase that excites fans eager to see fresh talent on the ice. The decision to favor Askarov in net could energize the team if he maintains his form, making for an intriguing season ahead in the reshaped NHL landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
