The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

In this episode of the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, Sheng and Zubair connect from London and Minnesota to dive into latest San Jose Sharks news, including a major arena update and Michael Misa contract speculation.

They welcome guest Jesse Cohen (All The Kings Men Podcast) for a deep discussion on how the Sharks can take the next step in the rebuild — six steps back to respectability — drawing lessons from the Los Angeles Kings' rebuild in 2006 and first playoff run in 2010 before they won the Stanley Cup in 2012.

This episode is packed with insights for San Jose Sharks fans eager to see their team rise again.

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⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome & intros (Sheng in London, Zubair in Minnesota)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast dives into everything San Jose Sharks fans are buzzing about — with deep insights, debate, and a little heat.

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is brought to you by Bring Hockey Back!

🦈 Marc-Édouard Vlasic buyout — was the Sharks’ front office disrespectful to Vlasic?

Hosted by Sheng Peng, Keegan McNally & Zubair Jeewanjee.

Intro: Meet the Hosts + Bring Hockey Back Shoutout (00:00)

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The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

In this episode of the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, we break down the San Jose Sharks prospects at the World Junior Summer Showcase (WJSS), examine Macklin Celebrini’s Olympic chances, and host a wide-ranging interview with William Eklund's agent Todd Diamond. From the Eklund extension to CHL vs NCAA development paths, this is must-watch content for die-hard fans and hockey nerds alike.

👇 Full episode breakdown:

(00:00) Intro + Ad Read (Bring Hockey Back)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Two of the OHL’s top analysts, Brock Otten (McKeen’s Hockey) and Will Scouch (Scouching.ca) (1:03:19), break down whether Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson are NHL-ready and if they can crack the San Jose Sharks lineup this season. We also dive into Sharks winger prospects Quentin Musty, Kasper Halttunen, and Igor Chernysov. We also talk Danil Gushchin trade and bold 2025-26 predictions for the prospects.

00:00 Intro & Sponsor

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

What does long-time NHL video coach Steve Peters think of the revamped San Jose Sharks?

Peters breaks down ideal lines, shares his dark horse Shark this coming season, and more. (45:07)

But before we get to Peters, Sheng discusses his thoughts about the Ryan Reaves trade. Why might this deal make sense from the San Jose Sharks’ perspective? (3:37)

Why did the Sharks land on free agent sniper Jeff Skinner? (25:24)

How were these moves part of GM Mike Grier’s possible grand plan for 2027-28? The Sharks are doing something different than the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers’ rebuilds. (34:16)

And now, Steve Peters! (45:07)

How does Peters see the Sharks forward lines? (51:42)

Who is Peters’s sleeper Shark this year? (55:40)

Peters thinks it could still be a challenge to find the winger to play with Smith at center. (1:04:31)

Where does Reaves fit in? (1:10:45)

Speaking up for Collin Graf. (1:13:18)

There are a lot of bottom-six guys! (1:18:04)

What about Michael Misa? Why might Penn State not be the best option for him? (1:19:33)

How would Peters put together the San Jose Sharks’ defense? (1:28:38)

How much game do Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg have left in the tank? (1:32:22)

Can Sam Dickinson stick in the San Jose Sharks’ line-up? (1:40:15)

Let’s talk goaltending! Why does Peters like the addition of Alex Nedeljkovic? (1:45:39)

Will the Sharks’ special teams get better? (1:48:03)

What does Peters think about the different neutral zone forecheck that Ryan Warsofsky instituted late last year? (1:49:54)

Does Peters think this Sharks team is better than last year’s opening night group? (1:55:20)

Finally, I ask Peters about his experience as video coach for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup.

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Are the San Jose Sharks better now than they were last year? (22:10) What’s the trade value of their defensemen? (1:07:16)

But before we talk about the state of the line-up, let’s talk about other big Sharks news. 

William Eklund and the San Jose Sharks agreed to an extension, why do both sides seem content with a shorter deal? (3:11)

Let’s talk about the Thomas Bordeleau trade, a potential Danil Gushchin trade, and fresh starts for both.

Prospects Scrimmage impressions: When will we know if Michael Misa is NHL-ready? How about Sam Dickinson? (15:16)

The San Jose Sharks signed Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg, Philipp Kurashev, and Adam Gaudette. They also traded for Alex Nedeljkovic and claimed Nick Leddy off waivers. Are they a better team now than last year before the Mackenzie Blackwood deal? (22:10)

What’s Sheng’s projected forward group right? (25:06)

GM Mike Grier says the Sharks are still looking for top-nine winger help too.

How about Sheng’s projected defense? (44:01)

So are the Sharks better than last year? (1:00:14)

It looks like the San Jose Sharks are trading a defenseman. Sheng spoke with multiple NHL scouts to get a sense of how they value San Jose’s perhaps more expendable blueliners. (1:07:16)

Mario Ferraro

Timothy Liljegren (1:13:29)

Henry Thrun (1:16:39)

Jack Thompson

Vincent Desharnais

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

How did we grade the San Jose Sharks’ 2025 Draft? (46:54)

Before we get to our thoughts, we break down the latest Sharks’ news.

The San Jose Sharks buy out Marc-Edouard Vlasic…why? (3:18)

Congratulations, Joe Thornton! Jumbo is going to the Hockey Hall of Fame in November. (12:01)

We preview free agency…we each make a Sharks’ free agency prediction. Also, what are some realistic signings that San Jose should make? (15:45)

And now, our thoughts on the San Jose Sharks 2025 Draft! (46:54)

Michael Misa: Sheng describes what it was like in Los Angeles on Thursday, as all the Misa vs. Anton Frondell for No. 2 rumors were swirling. What are Keegan’s thoughts about Misa and Frondell? (53:14)

Josh Ravensbergen: Why does this pick make sense? (1:17:13)

Haoxi (Simon) Wang: Keegan gets why the San Jose Sharks opted for Wang over Blake Fiddler. (1:26:52)

Cole McKinney: Sneaky value pick? (1:40:34)

Teddy Mutryn (1:49:49)

Ilyas Magomedsultanov (1:58:13)

Zack Sharp (2:04:10)

Max Heise (2:08:41)

Richard Gallant (2:13:11)

Our San Jose Sharks’ 2025 Draft grades! Sheng is higher on the Sharks’ work than Keegan. (2:18:30)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Chris Peters shares the latest Draft buzz. Could the San Jose Sharks opt for Anton Frondell over Michael Misa at No. 2? (32:08)

But before Chris jumps on, what’s the latest Sharks’ free agency and Draft buzz?

A note of remembrance about Chris Collins, the founder and GM of the China Sharks. (2:28)

There’s a little Mitch Marner to San Jose smoke? (Sheng still doesn’t think it’s going to happen.) (4:32)

When does Mike Grier feel the heat? (8:15)

What’s going on with the San Jose Sharks’ quest to improve their defense? Is a trade coming? (10:12)

On the increasing Frondell at No. 2 rumors…what’s going on? (21:21)

Sheng still thinks the pick will be Misa.

And now, Chris Peters! (32:08)

Is the Matthew Schaefer to the Sharks’ dream dead?

Peters just had Frondell going to San Jose in his latest mock draft. What’s he been hearing about Frondell over Misa? (34:35)

Is Frondell over Misa just a smokescreen? (38:40)

Who benefits from letting this type of information (or misinformation) slip out? (41:46)

What’s the argument for Frondell over Misa? (43:48)

Discussing the perceived public gap between Frondell and Misa. (47:10)

What does Chris think of a potential trade between the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks for No. 2? (53:26)

What could the Sharks do with their No. 30 and 33 picks? A defenseman and another power winger? (57:18)

Thoughts on Cameron Reid, Benjamin Kindl, Semyon Frolov, William Horcoff, and Kristian Epperson? (1:03:35)

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects joins the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast to talk about the latest Combine gossip and the 2025 Draft! (51:18)

But before we get to Cam, we talk about the latest San Jose Sharks news.

Macklin Celebrini does not win the Calder Trophy. (01:56)

There’s a ton of trade and free agent targets right now: Who’s real, who’s not for the San Jose Sharks? (11:10) Of course, Mitch Marner and Jason Robertson and company would look great in teal, but are they realistic hopes? What are sensible ways for the Sharks to acquire K’Andre Miller or Nicolas Hague?

What does Keegan think of Combine chatter, like the Sharks thinking hard about Caleb Desnoyers at No. 2? (32:40)

And now, Cam! (51:18)

What kind of trade could get the New York Islanders to move off No. 1?

If the San Jose Sharks pick Michael Misa at No. 2, when does he need to make the decision about going the NCAA route?

Does Cam have a No. 2 sleeper, if not Misa? (1:05:18)

How sure is Robinson that the Sharks will make Misa the No. 2 pick?

Who are some good candidates for the No. 30 and 33 picks? (1:07:50)

What does Cam think of Will Smith now? (1:10:15)

Cam reported that K’Andre Miller was available…how can the San Jose Sharks improve themselves if they won’t hand out six-year plus contracts in free agency, won’t offersheet anybody high-end, and only really have futures to trade?

By the way, the Elite Prospects 2025 Draft Guide is out! Check it out here!

The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!

Hello from Buffalo!

Sheng is at the Draft Combine and we talk about what the San Jose Sharks can learn from the Buffalo Sabres’ forever rebuild with Bill Hoppe. Hoppe has covered the Sabres since 2002, check out his work at Buffalo Hockey Beat! (43:38)

But before we chat with Bill, Keegan and Sheng talk about Sam Dickinson and Kasper Halttunen winning the Memorial Cup, and the increased chatter about Dickinson making the San Jose Sharks full-time next year. (05:30)

Why was a one-year contract for Shakir Mukhamadullin ideal for both sides? But could the Sharks regret it? (10:55)

William Eklund and the San Jose Sharks have begun contract extension talks. Why is that a good sign? (15:00)

With the Dallas Stars getting eliminated, we know the Sharks have the No. 30 pick of the 2025 Draft.

What’s the latest Combine gossip? (22:30)

And now, Bill! (43:38)

Looking back at the 14 years out of the playoffs, what can the San Jose Sharks learn about what not to do in a rebuild from the Buffalo Sabres? (50:40)

What went wrong in the Jack Eichel era?

Before Eichel was drafted in 2015, the Sabres had missed the playoffs with more competitive teams…what went wrong there? (59:30)

How did the Sabres lose Sam Reinhart’s loyalty?

Breaking down the Sabres’ 14 years in the wilderness, the first stage out of the playoffs was the last stages of an older, formerly winning team…the second stage was the Eichel era…the third era of the rebuild was post-Eichel and Reinhart, the Kevyn Adams era.

How does Bill see the San Jose Sharks’ rebuild coming along? (1:17:30)

Speaking of the Sabres today, what’s going on with defenseman Bo Byram? Why did Buffalo put him on the trade block? (1:30:10)

Is there a chance that defensemen Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power could be made available? (1:37:10)

What would the Sabres want in a trade for a Byram, are the San Jose Sharks a good trade partner?

What’s the importance of stability in management and behind the bench? Bill thinks Mike Grier is the man for the Sharks’ job…if they stick with him.