What Could the Sharks’ Leadership Group Look Like Next Season?
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, the San Jose Sharks played without a captain. Instead, the Sharks opted to have five alternate captains: Mario Ferraro, Tyler Toffoli, Barclay Goodrow, Alex Wennberg, and Macklin Celebrini. Toffoli served as an alternate for every game, while Celebrini and Goodrow served as alternates for all home games and Ferraro and Wennberg for all away games.
According to an article from ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, Celebrini being named the team’s next captain is “all but guaranteed.” Given Celebrini's historic sophomore season and his dominant performance at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, where he finished with 14 points in 10 games as Team Canada’s captain, it is more likely than not that Macklin Celebrini will be the team’s 13th captain in franchise history.
But every captain needs their supporting cast. Since the 2019-20 season, the Sharks have had at least four alternate captains. If the Sharks continue with this structure, Tyler Toffoli, Barclay Goodrow, and Alex Wennberg are most likely to continue wearing the “A”. But with Mario Ferraro looking to test free agency come July 1, the Sharks will need to find his replacement. Here are some players that I think could be given a look to wear the “A” next season.
Dmitry Orlov
Dmitry Orlov was brought in last offseason by Mike Grier to help bring stability to the back end. He would essentially replace Mario Ferraro as the only alternate captain on the blue line and could continue to provide invaluable experience and advice for the Sharks’ young defensemen. The former second-round pick played in all 82 games last season and led all Sharks defensemen in ice time. The 34-year-old veteran displayed that he can continue to play heavy minutes on a nightly basis.
Across 15 seasons, Orlov has played 949 games and would bring a wealth of veteran experience to the Sharks’ leadership room. He also wore the “A” briefly during his final season in Washington. He is also a Stanley Cup champion, he knows what it takes to not only make the playoffs, but win it all. If the Sharks want to fill an alternate captain vacancy, I think Orlov would be a frontrunner.
William Eklund
If the Sharks decide to go in another, younger direction, William Eklund could be an interesting choice. Despite being only 23 years old, Eklund is the longest-tenured Shark on the roster, serving as a bridge between the dark days of the Sharks' rebuild and their emerging competitive young core. Having already experienced some of the most difficult seasons in recent franchise history, Eklund is someone his younger teammates may look up to as an example of perseverance and the value of paying your dues.
Naming Eklund as an alternate captain would also reward his loyalty and commitment to the franchise. Eklund, in his relatively short time in San Jose, has already experienced a lot, especially with close friends and mentors such as Fabian Zetterlund and Mikael Granlund being traded away. Eklund’s new three-year contract kicks in next season, and I don’t think many people would be upset if he has an “A” on his sweater come opening night.
Kiefer Sherwood
At first glance, Kiefer Sherwood may seem like a strange option for being an alternate captain. He only arrived in San Jose this past trade deadline, and he hasn’t been a full-time NHL player for very long either.
But Kiefer Sherwood perfectly embodies the level of compete and competitive drive that management and the coaching staff want their young players to adopt. Sherwood is a high-energy, high-motor player who leaves it all out on the ice. He hits everything that moves and isn’t afraid to mix it up with opposing players.
Sherwood’s path to the NHL was not easy. He went undrafted and spent years going between the NHL and AHL, bouncing from organization to organization. The definition of a late bloomer, he didn’t become a full-time NHL player until the 2023-24 season in Nashville. And this past March, Mike Grier signed him to a life-changing five-year, $28.75 million contract.
Sherwood proves that resilience, patience, consistency, and an unwillingness to give up can lead to success in the NHL. I'm hard-pressed to find a player who better understands how hard you have to grind, how much you have to sacrifice, and how much effort it requires not only to make the NHL, but to stay there. Sherwood’s story is nothing short of inspirational and his experience would be invaluable to the Sharks’ young core.
If the Sharks decide to keep their four-alternate-captain structure, I think any one of these players would be a great choice. Orlov would be a safe veteran option, Eklund would help represent the team’s transition out of the rebuild into a new era, and Sherwood would be a perfect example of perseverance and relentless drive. Any of these options would strengthen the leadership group in different ways.
The Sharks could also choose to go in another direction, either acquiring a player through trade or free agency or simply keeping the three alternates they already have. At the end of the day, the Sharks will want their leadership core to be as strong as possible. Still, you don’t need to wear a letter to be a leader.
