Safe to say Hasso Plattner is done with losing, even if it means missing out on hockey’s highest-rated prospect.

Speaking with media members for the first time in years, the San Jose Sharks owner poured out all his feelings from the past few seasons, sharing his biggest regrets and his opinions on the direction of the team.

But one thing was made clear: Plattner hates losing and has no intentions of tanking in order to assure the Sharks of the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, which is expected to be the highly touted Gavin McKenna.

The past six seasons have been a major change of pace from what the Sharks had been from 1997-2019, when the team missed the playoffs twice.

This led to a regime change in 2022, when Mike Grier was hired as the general manager to replace Doug Wilson. Although the team hasn’t been successful in recent years, Plattner is excited about the team’s young homegrown talent — especially 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini.

“I’m so happy about Celebrini,” he said. “How he can do everything, but he does everything possible for the other players, for his partners on the ice. I think you (media) see this and report this, and he is a leader.”

Celebrini is joined by fellow youngsters Will Smith and William Eklund to have donned the teal sweater, while top prospects Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson have yet to crack the lineup.

Plattner has high hopes for the young core, specifically Dickinson, as he follows the owner’s “main focus” of adding star defencemen.

“Dickinson, he was so good that I actually was upset he wasn’t listed (to play),” Plattner added. “But there’s a reason for that, and I accept that.”

Although disappointed, the owner isn’t overly concerned with Dickinson sitting to begin the year. He noted the drastic improvements in Eklund and Smith’s games while acknowledging the focus is mainly on next season and beyond.

“No,” Plattner said when asked if he expects to make the playoffs this season. “Next year, we should be close. With Dickinson fully engaged, Misa being close to the same level as Celebrini. We should not push them too hard this year.”

Plattner is encouraged by the process. But he knows that only time will tell if the Sharks rebuild was a success.

“We are on the right track, whether we achieve what I wish, we have to see.”