The San Jose Sharks are optimistic about their revamped roster as they prepare for the upcoming NHL season. Significant changes have been made to both their forward and defense groups, and they believe these adjustments will enhance their competitiveness. A particular focus has been placed on goaltending, with the addition of Yaroslav Askarov in a full-time NHL role and Alex Nedeljkovic joining the team to create a competitive atmosphere for the starting position.
Last season, the Sharks faced challenges in goal, finishing with the third-worst team save percentage at .881 and the highest goals against average at 3.74. The five goalies used throughout the season struggled, prompting the team to seek improvements. Coach Ryan Warsofsky emphasized the need for a solidified goaltending position, stating, “We needed to solidify our goaltending position, and I thought we did a good job getting a guy like (Nedeljkovic) to complement (Askarov) as a young pro.”
Despite the optimistic outlook, questions linger about the goaltending situation. The Sharks are particularly interested in how many games Askarov, at just 23 years old, can handle as he transitions to a full-time NHL player. Additionally, will Nedeljkovic, 29, be able to bounce back after a challenging final year with the Pittsburgh Penguins?
Askarov showcased his potential as the No. 1 goalie for the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate, playing 60 games in the 2022-23 season and 51 games the following year. After being acquired by the Sharks in August 2024, he faced a setback due to a lower-body injury that limited him to 41 games last season across both the Sharks and their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.
On the other hand, Nedeljkovic recorded a career-low save percentage of .894 in 38 games with the Penguins, a team that struggled and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive year. Over the past five seasons, he has maintained a save percentage of .903 in 179 career games.
Warsofsky noted, “(Askarov’s) got to stay healthy, we’ve got to manage him and there’s a lot of data that goes with that. Ned’s obviously been around the league for a few years now, and I know he’s not going to hand (the No. 1 job) over. He’s a competitive guy, as is Askarov. So, we’ll see how it plays out.”
As the Sharks embark on their season, both goalies are expected to see action early on. They face a demanding schedule, with 16 games slated in the first 31 days, including four back-to-back matchups. Throughout the season, the Sharks will participate in 16 back-to-back games.
Injury Updates on Key Players
In other team news, rookie center Macklin Celebrini returned to practice following a brief illness that kept him out of training camp activities. While he has participated in shooting drills, Celebrini has yet to engage in contact drills. The Sharks are proceeding cautiously with his recovery, as Warsofsky explained, “We’ve got a pretty good plan on how we want to approach this. So each day he does a little bit more, and then we’ll let him go.”
Additionally, defenseman John Klingberg is recovering from an upper-body injury sustained during a recent game against the Golden Knights. Although he skated separately from the main group on Wednesday, his availability for Friday’s preseason game remains uncertain. Klingberg had a strong performance in the previous game, logging over 21 minutes and scoring a power-play goal.
Another player, Haoxi (Simon) Wang, who was drafted 33rd overall by the Sharks in June, is also dealing with a lower-body issue but is expected to return soon. Warsofsky indicated that Wang’s situation is not serious and described it as a maintenance day.
As the Sharks gear up for the season, the team hopes that their strategic changes will yield a more competitive squad and improved performances in net. The upcoming games will be crucial as they look to establish their identity and build momentum in the weeks ahead.
