San Jose Sharks
Sharks Locker Room: How To Make Last Place Feel Like a Win?

It’s been a tough week for Team Teal.
On Jan. 30, the San Jose Sharks’ last game, they put forth a “downright embarrassing” effort in a 6-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
Two days later, they traded leading scorer Mikael Granlund and their top shutdown defenseman Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars for draft picks.
Tuesday’s effort, even in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, was an encouraging response.
Macklin Celebrini, Collin Graf, and Tyler Toffoli scored. For just the 12th time this season, San Jose outshot their opponent, 30-20.
We know the truth: The last-place Sharks aren’t going to win a lot of games the rest of this season.
Despite what the players say, and they have to say it, the bar isn’t wins and losses here. They need to keep the bar high, I don’t.
Two things stood out to me tonight, if San Jose is consistent in these two areas, the last third of the season will be a victory. And they will run into a few actual wins here and there, and maybe another No. 1 pick too.
First, the Sharks simply need to compete, which they did for most of tonight.
“I liked our effort,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “I thought our guys competed, we skated, did some things that we’ve talked about the last couple days.”
San Jose is going to be outgunned every night the rest of the way, they just need to go down with a fight.
Second, the Sharks’ youth needs to continue to show promise, which they did.
Macklin Celebrini continued to add to his Calder Trophy favorite campaign with a goal and an assist. Collin Graf notched his first NHL goal. Warsofsky also had praise for Will Smith and Shakir Mukhamadullin’s performances.
Do those two things, another last-place finish will truly feel like a step in the right direction.
Ryan Warsofsky
Warsofsky, on if tonight was a good response game from the San Jose Sharks after their disappointing effort in Seattle:
I liked our effort. I thought our guys competed, we skated, did some things that we’ve talked about the last couple days. Just sucks, getting the result.
Warsofsky, on Will Smith’s effort:
Smitty looks really good. He’s playing some really good hockey. He’s helping us create some offense. He looks comfortable. Our power play was good tonight, especially that first unit.
Warsofsky, on Collin Graf’s game:
Smart player. Was skating tonight. Smart guy. Teach him and coach him on things. Picks it up extremely quickly, which is impressive.
Warsofsky, on Shakir Mukhamadullin’s game:
He did some good things. Was trying to be more assertive with his body and his positioning. Gotta simplify his game at times, it’s going to take some time for him to figure that out.
But I’d rather him being ultra-aggressive and have to reel him back a little bit than to have to push him to get him going.
Collin Graf
Graf, on his first NHL goal:
It was really exciting. It’s a dream come true. I was fortunate enough for my parents to be here. My dad actually called me when he landed, and he was like, if I flew all the way out here, you better score. So I made sure that his trip out here was worth the money, so it’s good.
Graf, on his parents happening to be out here:
My mom was actually out here for the last couple AHL games, and then we were planning on doing something during the [AHL All-Star] break. Obviously, got called up, so that’s better. Then my dad just flew out here today, so my little brother’s just left alone at the home right now.
Graf, on San Jose Sharks organization’s message to him when they sent him down recently:
When I got sent down two weeks ago, management wanted me to be more offensive. I made sure that I obviously played responsible defensively but when there’s opportunities in the offensive zone to hold on to the puck, to try to make a creative offensive play, I made sure I did that.”
Graf, on what he saw on his first NHL goal:
I got it, and I was just thinking, I have to shoot this puck. I told [Luke Kunin] sorry after, but he was like, you know what? It’s good.
This was awesome.
Collin Graf gave a touching tribute to his dad Robert, describing all the sacrifices that his dad made for him & his hockey career growing up.
Fantastic that both parents, Robert & Terri, were on hand to see Graf's 1st NHL goal: pic.twitter.com/s1x94cDZXC
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 5, 2025
Graf, on scoring one for his dad Robert and mom Terri:
It’s everything.
Like you look back at it, and all those practices where it’s after work, and you’ve got to work a whole day, and then, obviously my mom helped too, but my mom probably would spend a little bit more time with my brother. My dad was mostly with me, just the way it worked out, in timing and stuff.
He drives me to practice for all those years when I couldn’t drive, he drives me back.
And then, as a young kid, like you guys know, games are not at good times. On the weekend, it’s 8 AM and he’s worked a hard, long week, and he’s waking up at 6 AM, he’s making sure I have breakfast. He’s making sure that everything’s ready for little 10, 12-year-old me, make sure that I can go out there and keep getting better at hockey.
Those are just a couple things I can think about, and then obviously helping me find skills coaches and stuff like that as a kid.
It’s great that I was able to get a goal and give them the puck.
Macklin Celebrini
Celebrini, on his goal:
lt was an amazing five-man goal…I don’t think anyone stickhandled. Like it was Wally bump to Smitty to Eky to Toff back door to me, and I had the whole net. If there were four assists that could be added to the goal, I think that would be a goal you do it for.
Celebrini, on Sam Montembault’s big third period power play glove save on him:
I got [the shot] up. There’s a reason that he’s on the 4 Nations team. A good goalie. He made a great save.
Celebrini, on Smith's recent uptick in play: "There's a reason he went 4th-overall & there's a reason he had 71 points last year and was like one of, if not the best player in college hockey. He's so smart, skilled, his playmaking is off-the-charts. He can also shoot the puck.…
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 5, 2025
Celebrini, on the Sharks’ power play tonight:
I felt like that was probably the best our PP has looked this year, which is encouraging.
Tyler Toffoli
Toffoli, on seeing 31-year-old Andrew Poturalski get a shot in the line-up:
It’s good to see. I think a lot of the guys in the American League are going to get an opportunity. And like I said, it’s one of those things where they get the opportunity, they got to take advantage of it and try and establish themselves as an NHL player.
It already feels like a win this season. For the first time in 5 years, there is hope because the Sharks actually have young talent in their system. Celebrini and Smith are showing they are going to be high end talents for years to come so that’s a good enough start for me.
That Celebrini goal was the best of the year. For a minute there I thought I was watching a real hockey team!
Shame that Smith wasn’t rewarded with a point to continue his streak. He made some killer passes last night and continues to look legit. An example of the stat line not telling the story.
Wow, seeing Will Smith on the first power play unit makes me wish they’d tried that a little earlier. Although I suppose the timing is right, with his game getting on track. That first PP goal was unreal. Maybe the prettiest power play goal I’ve ever seen the Sharks score. Poturalski isn’t an NHL player, but that’s okay. Deserves the $, and Wennberg will be back soon enough. A good reminder for us fans as the youngsters develop that many will end up all stars in other leagues, but may never find a place in the NHL. But Georgiev. My… Read more »
they need to get Vanacek back playing just for morale even if they don’t actually win anymore games.
Odd long shot prediction(?): A Sharks player will win the Calder this season as top rookie. And next season. And the season after that. Yup. 3 Calder winners in a row. Macklin has a good shot this season. Askarov next. And the top pick in the upcoming draft in 2 seasons, as no one in the upcoming draft looks like an NHL “plug and play” 18 year old. So whoever the Sharks pick in his 19 year-old season. As for the Calder this season, I don’t really care if Macklin wins it or not. Though I think he will. He’s… Read more »
Macklin is 46th in PPG among forwards (I used ppg since he missed games).
Hutson is tied for 9th in points and 10th in ppg among d-men. The 9 players in front of him are basically a list of the league’s best d-men: Hughes, Werenski, Theodore, Hedman, Makar, Dahlin, Morrissey, Fox, Bouchard.
That’s insanely good company.
Hutson is very much a PP specialist though. He’s still not projecting as a top 4 all situation D. Can’t see him as a Poker on a competitive team. Cagnoni is light years better defensively.
Hutson is tied for 16th in EVP among d-men with Orlov and Pietrangelo. Still in very good company. 8th in PPP.
What’s his corsi? Fenwick? How many ES goals has he given up compared to been on the ice for? That’s where the rubber meets the raid for me. Can’t really blame goaltending there like you can on the Sharks. They have a 4 nations goaltender. not saying Hutson won’t be a useful player, just think it’s a matter of them having fewer options for their PP. when the team gets competitive again is he in their top 4 or does he get a ton of PP minutes and the least amount of ES minutes? My moneys on the latter. I… Read more »
Celebrini’s ratings against ALL PLAYERS in the entire NHL this year, as of Feb 4 Offense 3rd in scoring chances 5th in controlled zone entries 3rd Cycle chances 15th rush chances 15th completed passes to teammates in the slot. Defense 15th in Blocking passes 2nd in Stick check turnovers 3rd in winning puck battles. Celebrini drives play in EVERY aspect of the game, as he did last night against Montreal. Celebrini has a .91 points per game as an 18 year old rookie, which would place him in the top 10 in the entire history of the NHL, above McKinnon,… Read more »
Each of the 3 players I mention has a really good Calder case to make.
I’m fine with whoever wins it.
I swear this guy works for the sharks. Always telling people they’re wrong unless they’re praising Mike Grier and his decisions. Lane Hutson is not a PP specialist. He’s playing top line minutes. Way more impressive than the first overall pick being good.
The data was laid out pretty clearly in a case for Celebrini. Unless you have actual data to back up your opinion, I’d say you are in fact wrong, and voting with your heart instead of your brain.
You’re an idiot. And there appears to be a lot of agreement on it. Which banned commenter is this back with under a new name talking shit?
If the Sharks can find a taker for either goaltender at the deadline, Askarov might get above that 25 game threshold and lose his Calder eligibility.
lets hope they purposefully keep him below the threshold. Does backing up count? I assume it must.
I believe only starts count but I am not 100% sure about that!
This, and also the big threat to an Askarov eligbility next year is one Ivan Demidov – and I like Demidov’s chances more, given the Calder bias toward skaters.
I think a good goal to set for the group would be just take some pride in being assignment sound and working their way out of the team GAA hole that they’re in. And just being more physical. They should have a kangaroo court for every time someone just flys bye instead of finishing the check.
Special teams,shorty,pp goals killed us tonight.Maybe Georgiev wasn’t sharp,but he still gives us nbad games. Why did we trade Blackwood for him. Blackwood is killing it for the Avs
You can look at Blackwood’s contract extension with Colorado as the main reason. He signed $5.25 mil for 5 years there, and that’s with a winning team in state with a much lower state income tax. The Sharks traded a lot of assets to get Askarov with the idea he would step into the #1 role. That doesn’t make sense if Sharks are also then giving Blackwood a big contract to be the #1. In a salary cap league, you can’t have all the shiny toys. It’s disappointing there has been not been much progress rehabbing Georgiev. But it also… Read more »
Because we have Askarov as our guy next year and instead if letting him go for nothing we got Kovie and a 2nd… If you follow the sharks at all you already knew this, it’s been covered ad nauseum.
Dude…
Just bring us a top 3 pick. We survived last season, this one is a piece of cake. To be frank, I would seriously consider trading the high first for a legit 1RD who’s 19 or 20. Get someone who fits the Celly/Smith window.
I think Schaefer fits the window just fine. He will face the same problem Dickinson has in that the Sharks need to get him out of the OHL sooner than later. I’m thinking sending him to NCAA to a top program is the best move. Then he can play AHL at age 19, and he might be ready come Jan 2027 in an ideal world. That fits the timeline.
the scouting reports on Schaefer don’t leave me convinced he’s the clear cut choice. I actually like Misa quite a bit. If the don’t do as I suggested above (I doubt they will) I could see them trading down from 1OA to grab Misa. Getting another 2nd would be great.
Since trading Blackwood the sharks have 5 wins, Georgiev went over a month between his two wins and both wins he gave up 3 goals. How does this guy have a job? Literally drop his ass to the minors, terminate the contract and pick up the next goalie on waivers, there is no reclamation happening. I’d rather have Aaron Dell get a call up from Wichita over seeing him get another start.
Georgiev had a .918 save percentage 2 seasons ago. I’m not saying he will ever get back there, but why not at least try until the trade deadline? Blackwood and Granlund were both rehab projects that paid off, but both took a couple of seasons.
There’s 10 games left before the deadline, if he gets 5 starts and got 5 wins it would be a miracle, and even at that point I would be surprised if any GM offered a bag of pucks for him. Blackwood thrived under the assault of rubber like Joseph brings up, granny was around .8 pts per game as a shark. Totally different stories for those two.
Totally different stories long after acquiring them. This season is the first one where Blackwood has a above .900 save percentage in 5 years. I also remember that people were pissed that Granlund was coming as part of the package for Norris-winning Erik Karlsson. Everyone believed receiving a 41 point player with a $5 mil AAV was a salary dump for the Penguins. The point is things change, but it takes time. You don’t turn undervalued players into assets overnight. Plus, even if Georgiev really can’t be salvaged at all, what do you gain by rage-dumping him now versus letting… Read more »
Yes, it was the right move to maximize the deal return but not even Speer can rehabilitate this.
Lining up a goalie behind the Sharks defense isn’t exactly the best way to help that guy gain confidence.
That’s true, but Speer’s done good work with a number of guys stuck behind the Sharks defense. And I’m not sure how much of Georgiev’s bad play can be chalked up to confidence.
Georgiev’s issue isn’t confidence. Some goaltenders thrive on seeing a ton of rubber, like Blackwood.