The San Jose Sharks’ training camp is generating buzz with unexpected lineup changes. Will Smith’s move to wing and Michael Misa’s potential 2C role are challenging offseason predictions.
JD Young analyzes these surprising shifts, exploring their impact on team dynamics and future plans. He examines intriguing line combinations, including the Skinner-Celebrini-Smith trio, offering insights into the coaching staff’s strategy.
Veterans are praising Macklin Celebrini, with Ryan Reaves claiming he’s “up there with some of the guys, if not better.” Young discusses what this early acclaim means for the young prospect’s future with the Sharks.
The host also addresses Mario Ferraro’s contract situation and examines GM Mike Grier’s recent comments on Marc-Édouard Vlasic and Sam Dickinson. These discussions illuminate the organization’s direction and its approach to balancing veteran presence with emerging talent.
This episode provides an in-depth look at the Sharks’ preseason moves and what they reveal about the team’s strategy for the upcoming NHL season.
Timestamps:
0:00 Will Smith moves to wing, Misa at 2C
5:06 Flexibility in lineup if Misa struggles
11:43 Training camp lineup decisions and pairings
21:30 Leddy and Reaves on Celebrini
25:03 Mario Ferraro contract and Cam Lund injury
28:07 Mike Grier on Vlasic comments and Dickinson’s future
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21 Comments
Misa will be there 2C nodoubt
SHOCKINGLY? He played better at the wing last year obviously.
JD what does that mean for the first line? Does Toff move down for more veteran presence for Misa? Or Eklund?
Smith would be a great center, but the sum of all the parts is obviously best if he is turned loose on the wing. My suspicion is Smith will be a hundred-point scorer someday from the wing. Just hopefully not until his next contract.
It’s useful to have a right-handed faceoff guy on the wing. In a lot of situations where the right-handed draw is a plus, the lefty center can try to cheat the first drop and probably get kicked out and then the righty can take the next drop. Thornton and Pavelski used to run that crap all day.
It's not a shocker to me. I think wing is where he's better suited.
Powerforward/celebrini/smith line is what’s needed in the future.
He’ll get more opportunities later in the season I’m sure to play center for experimentation purposes but for line chemistry wise this might be the way to go. He’s gained weight this offseason to play bigger & maybe be more of a defensive prowess. Smitty is a great passer with good vision & puck control, but a little stiff. At the wing, he’ll produce a lot better and I see the vision since Misa will be on the main roster day 1 to be center on that 2nd line.
I knew this was the case on draft day. Misa was never going back to chl, nor was he ever gonna be a winger. Lfg sharks.
Its great to have Smith on the wing. When Misa is waived out of the faceoff circle, Smith can take the draw. There are advantages. Smith could drop to 3rd Center during games. Can you imagine 3 top skilled lines? That will be hard to defend, even for Florida. The Sharks can roll all four lines if their prospects pan out.
Why is this shocking did we really think that smith would be the 2C over Misa for years to come?
Cross train him in both. Injuries happen. He needs to be reliable at center in cases misa or celibrini are out extended time
So Misa gets 2C to start. Great! Where the hell are all these towards gonna go?
Smith-Mack-Skinner
Eklund-Misa-Toff
Kirashev-Wennberg-Graf
Guadette-Dellandra-Grundstrom
Reeves scratch
I think that’s the best combination with who we have contracted. So where do the young Fs slot in?
Relax
Nice little episode JD! I like many others is glad Smith will stay on Celebrini's wing. However, I will not yet name Misa the 2C. It is far too early for me. Most likely Misa starts at 3C and as long as he can handle that he will stay at 3C.
If he excels, then he may move to 2C. I might be wrong but that is my thoughts.
As to the lines so far? None of it makes a difference right now. As you said it is nothing but testing how players react with each other when playing on the same line and giving prospects a chance to see what it is like to play alongside and against NHL players.
Love what I have heard so far and was glad GMMG pretty much confirmed what I have been harping on since his locker room clean out. There will be no fire sale or tanking for McKenna.
He wants to win as much as he can. He may move a couple players, but not much more than that. If a player like Klingberg plays well he will try and retain them with the only caveat being that if an offer comes along that is too good to refuse, he will make the move.
I support this. The 2026 draft is deep in the one area the Sharks pool needs depth, RD. If he can get another first or second round pick, GMMG may have enough ammo to snag two of those top 5 RDs in the 2026 draft.
Let the build begin!!!!! Woot woot!
Putting Smith on wing makes him a stronger wing potentially creating a sharks PP with Celebrini/Smith deadly
Yes they want him at wing but also a training camp at wing gives him time to develop those skills he has never developed since he has always played center. Very important for growth.
Winnberg 2C
Makes sense. If and when Misa moves up to the second line you’re going to want to be able to surround him with guys who are able to support him defensively. Pairing him with guys like Eklund and Toffoli can cover any mistakes but also benefit as finishers from his creativity. It was talked about a lot before the draft, but adding Misa just gives so much flexibility in the top six.
Stop it with the all caps. It looks corny and click baity.
Top Six Celebrini, Smith, Skinner, Eklund, Misa and who? Initially a veteran but leave room for Musky or Chernykov eventually
All the younger players know there are opportunities to be NHL players here.