After a disappointing 2023-24 season, General Manager Mike Grier made moves to bring some buzz back. Here we take a look at the five best players to watching in the 2024-25 campaign for the San Jose Sharks franchise. Back to 2023-24, the Sharks had an ugly year. The team experienced one of the worst records in franchise history and low attendance numbers. On the bright side, the Sharks move into this year with things to look forward to, including offseason acquisitions.
Honourable Mentions for 2024-25 San Jose Sharks Five Best Players
Will Smith (C)
Smith signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks after spending this past season at Boston College, where he had 71 points in 41 games. The dynamic playmaking forward will certainly crack San Jose’s opening night roster and slot in on the second line, forming a formidable one-two punch with Macklin Celebrini down the middle. Smith was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and his skills should have no issue translating to the professional game.
Tyler Toffoli (RW)
The biggest offseason addition by Grier in both contract and name value, Toffoli brings experience and scoring ability to the Bay. He signed a four-year, $24 million contract to play on the top line and provide some experience to Celebrini as he settles into life in the NHL.
Toffoli is coming to San Jose! 🦈
The #SJSharks sign forward Tyler Toffoli to a four-year deal.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 1, 2024
Onto the San Jose Sharks Best Five Players Starting with Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood
It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve seen Blackwood at an elite level. In his first full season as the Devils’ starter, he posted a .915 save percentage (SV%), earning him some votes for the all-star team and the Calder Trophy. After that point, Blackwood struggled to regain form, eventually leading to his trade to San Jose. However, this past season indicates some improvement in his game. The Sharks struggled defensively by surrendering 240 high-danger scoring chances, the most that Blackwood had seen in a season. On those chances, he had a .854 SV%, the highest of his career. With the addition of Vitek Vanecek to take some of the load off of Blackwood, he could find himself amid a bounce-back year.
William Eklund (LW)
Eklund has one full year of NHL experience under his belt after playing nine games in 2021-22 and eight games in 2022-23. This past season, he played 80 games and finished the year with 45 points, second on the Sharks. Despite playing over 18 minutes per game, he struggled to find consistent linemates, making his production all the more impressive. Moreover, many of the people he played with, including Tomáš Hertl, Alexander Barabanov, and Filip Zadina, are no longer with the team. Expect Eklund to find more consistency in the top-six and power play this year and make a jump in both on-ice play and production.
Klim Kostin (LW)
Acquired in March 2023 from the Detroit Red Wings, Kostin was impressed by the small sample size that he played with the Sharks. He appeared in 19 games and finished with five goals and five assists. He is a former first-round pick who, when given the chance, is an effective player. In 2022-23, he played in 57 games with the Edmonton Oilers and produced 11 goals in a sheltered, bottom-six role. Furthermore, if he can find consistent ice time with San Jose, his physical attributes and skillset make him an intriguing candidate to have a breakout campaign, similar to Dakota Joshua.
Fabian Zetterlund (RW)
As one of the pieces of the Timo Meier trade, Zetterlund was allowed to showcase himself, and he took advantage. He played all 82 games and netted 24 goals, six coming on the power play. San Jose struggled to generate offence, which makes his goal-scoring output all the more impressive. That can be highlighted by Zetterlund’s CF% Rel of 6.7 on the season. If he can link up with some offensively-minded dynamos, he does have a high ceiling. In addition, Zetterlund has exceptional speed. He is in the 90th percentile in top skating speed and the 95th percentile in 18-20 mph bursts. He will likely spend time with Celebrini or Smith this season. Therefore, he will have a chance to build chemistry and establish himself as a core piece to San Jose’s puzzle.
The Final of the San Jose Sharks Five Best Players, First Overall Pick Centre Macklin Celebrini
The lone number-one pick in Sharks’ history, Celebrini is a dynamic player who will have an impact on the Sharks. His elite skating and high IQ, in combination with his offensive creativity and skills, form the foundation of a toolkit that will work in the NHL. His regular season debut against the St. Louis Blues will be the most anticipated in Sharks history. Furthermore, he will get heavy minutes in his rookie campaign and look to bring excitement back to the Bay.
Main Photo Credit: John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORK
