It should be obvious as to who will wear the “C.” What about the A’s, though?
Last season, the San Jose Sharks went with a rotational leadership group. Five players wore letters, all of whom were alternates. Tyler Toffoli was a permanent alternate. Macklin Celebrini and Barclay Goodrow were alternates at home. Alexander Wennberg and Mario Ferraro wore A’s on the road. Ferraro is now in Winnipeg. That potentially opens up a leadership role.
The Sharks have added leaders in free agency. Jacob Trouba was captain of the New York Rangers before he was traded to Anaheim. Darnell Nurse was an alternate for the Edmonton Oilers. GM Mike Grier has done a tremendous job bringing in leaders to help mentor the young Sharks.
So who could be wearing a letter next season? The Sharks could stick with the five-player leadership group.
So let’s make our predictions now.
Captain
Credit: San Jose Sharks-Twitter/XThere is no doubt here. Celebrini just signed a five-year extension, reserving his time in San Jose for six more years.
He is the franchise. The time is now. Give him the “C.”
Home Alternates
Toffoli retains his A, albeit at home only. He was the unofficial captain last season, wearing an A in all 82 games. However, with Celebrini being named captain, that permanent letter goes to him. Toffoli is still a leader, though, and will keep his A.
Kiefer Sherwood gets the other A at home. Sherwood was acquired last season from Vancouver. Just before the deadline, he signed a five-year extension. Sherwood is here for the long haul. He also brought a physical toughness to this team, beginning a “no backing down” attitude.
Road Alternates
Wennberg retains his A. He also signed an extension back in January. Wennberg has been a leader to the core since the beginning. He was also the Sharks nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy last year. It also looks like he could take Ivar Stenberg under his wing, err fin.
This one will be between Trouba and Nurse. Both have on-ice leadership experience. Both were loved and respected in previous locker rooms. It will most likely be a toss-up. But I believe Nurse gets the final A.
Expect younger guys to start developing a leadership role as well. Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson come to mind. For the upcoming season, though, the Sharks will have plenty of leaders in the locker room and on the ice.
This will be a young, yet very mature team.
