The San Jose Sharks enter the 2026–27 season as one of the NHL’s more intriguing long shots. They missed the 2026 playoffs by four points, but the club made a major leap under head coach Ryan Warsofsky and now carries real momentum into a tougher Western Conference race.
San Jose finished 39–35–8 last season, a 19-win improvement from 2024–25. The Sharks also added 34 points in the standings, one of the NHL’s biggest year-over-year jumps. They stayed in the wild-card hunt into April and gave their rebuild a faster timeline.
Early futures markets at top bitcoin casinos and sportsbooks list San Jose among the longer shots to win the Western Conference, generally around +5000. Those odds place the Sharks behind established contenders such as the Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars. Still, a bitcoin sportsbook or other futures market will reflect one key truth: the Sharks no longer profile as a team built only for the future.
Macklin Celebrini gives San Jose a franchise player who can change the equation.
Celebrini Leads A Different Sharks Team
Celebrini took a massive step in 2025–26. The 20-year-old center posted 45 goals and 70 assists for 115 points in all 82 games. He finished fourth in NHL scoring, tied for fourth in goals, and broke Joe Thornton’s Sharks record for points in a season.
That production changed expectations around the franchise.
Celebrini drove the offense in every situation. He led San Jose in goals, assists, points, shots, game-winning goals, even-strength scoring, and power-play production. He also logged more than 21 minutes per game and finished plus-8 on a team that still allowed 3.54 goals per game.
The Sharks locked him up on a five-year, $94 million extension in July. It was a loud statement from general manager Mike Grier. San Jose has its star, and the organization plans to build aggressively around him.
Will Smith gives the Sharks another high-end young forward. Smith scored 24 goals and recorded 59 points in 69 games last season. His skill and puck poise fit naturally alongside Celebrini, even if the Sharks do not need to force the two centers into the same role every night.
Tyler Toffoli brings scoring experience and a steady veteran presence. Kiefer Sherwood adds pace, physicality, and a 23-goal season to the forward mix. Collin Graf remains another young player capable of taking on a larger offensive role.
San Jose also owns a deep prospect base. Michael Misa, Ivar Stenberg, Quentin Musty, Igor Chernyshov, and Filip Bystedt give the organization more offensive upside. Not all of them will arrive at once, but the Sharks have built a pipeline that should keep pushing for NHL jobs.
Grier Addresses The Blue Line
San Jose’s biggest issue last season sat on defense. The Sharks ranked near the bottom of the NHL in goals allowed and penalty killing. Celebrini could carry the offense only so far when opponents found too much room in transition and around the net.
Grier attacked that weakness during the offseason.
The Sharks added Jacob Trouba in free agency on a four-year deal. Trouba brings edge, experience, and a willingness to handle difficult defensive assignments. He may not need to drive the offense, but he can help stabilize a blue line that lacked structure and bite.
San Jose also acquired Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers. Nurse has faced uneven results in recent years, but he arrives with size, speed, and postseason experience. If he finds a cleaner fit in San Jose, he can take pressure off the club’s younger defenders.
Michael Kesselring joined the Sharks after a trade with Buffalo. The 26-year-old defender gives San Jose another mobile option and should compete for meaningful minutes. Those additions signal a clear change in approach. The Sharks did not simply add depth. They added NHL-tested players with size and edge.
Mason Marchment also strengthens the forward group. The 31-year-old winger signed a five-year contract after producing effective, physical hockey in Dallas. Marchment can score, get under opponents’ skin, and make life easier for San Jose’s young skill players.
The Sharks still need more from their goaltending. Yaroslav Askarov remains a major variable. He has the talent to become a difference-maker, but San Jose needs more consistency after posting bottom-tier team save numbers last season. Eric Comrie gives the club another experienced option, though Askarov’s growth may determine the ceiling.
Why The West Is Still Difficult
The Sharks deserve more respect than they received a year ago. Winning the Western Conference remains a demanding ask.
Colorado has elite talent led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Edmonton still has Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Vegas knows how to navigate a long season and playoff series. Dallas remains deep, structured, and difficult to play against. Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Winnipeg also expect to contend for postseason spots.
That creates a narrow path for San Jose.
The Sharks do not need to win the Pacific Division to make noise. They need to get into the playoffs, improve their defensive results, and trust Celebrini to create problems in a seven-game series. The 2019 St. Louis Blues remain the modern reminder that teams can miss the playoffs one year and reach the Stanley Cup Final the next. San Jose’s path would require a similar surge in team defense, goaltending, and late-season confidence.
The Sharks also need their young players to avoid the normal dips that come with a long NHL season. Celebrini produced at a superstar level in 2025–26, but opponents will build their game plans around him. Smith needs to keep developing. The veterans must support the top players without blocking the next wave of talent.
If those pieces connect, San Jose can challenge for a playoff spot and become a dangerous matchup. Winning the West would still qualify as a major surprise. The odds reflect that.
San Jose Is A Worthwhile Long Shot
The Sharks’ Western Conference odds offer value because the market still prices in the memory of recent losing seasons. That is understandable. San Jose finished last in the NHL in 2023–24 and again struggled badly in 2024–25.
But this roster has changed quickly.
Celebrini has already become one of hockey’s best players. Smith is emerging as a legitimate top-six center. The Sharks upgraded their size and experience on defense, added Marchment’s physical scoring, and now enter the season with a stronger competitive foundation.
San Jose does not need a miracle to take another step. It needs its stars to repeat, its defense to improve, and its goaltending to settle. Those are difficult tasks, but they are realistic ones.
The Sharks may not be ready to surpass the West’s established powers over an 82-game season. They have enough talent, however, to make their +5000 Western Conference price worth watching as training camp approaches.
