Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson have had their good and bad moments during their rookie season, but have loved playing in front of San Jose Sharks fans.
Both Sharks rookies made their NHL Debut at the SAP Center. First Dickinson during the second game of the season, then Misa the next game.
Oct 11, 2025; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson (6) takes his rookie lap during San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean Tait
Oct 11, 2025; San Jose, CA, USA; during San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean Tait
Oct 11, 2025; San Jose, CA, USA; during San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean Tait
Oct 14, 2025; San Jose, CA, USA; during San Jose Sharks vs Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean Tait
Oct 14, 2025; San Jose, CA, USA; during San Jose Sharks vs Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean Tait
Oct 14, 2025; San Jose, CA, USA; during San Jose Sharks vs Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean Tait
“I remember it felt really long, thought the guys left me out there a little too long,” Dickinson told SHD exclusively. “I don’t really remember looking into the crowd. Was pretty focused on not falling over [or] whiffing on a shot. It was just soaking it in. The one thing I think I did was I looked up and tried to find my parents.”
San Jose Sharks fans gave the 2024 NHL Draft pick a nice hand as he entered the ice. He’s responded this season with some highlight moments and some struggles that any rookie defenseman would go through.
When asked about his favorite moments from the 25-26 season at the SAP Center, Dickinson couldn’t pick just one. He also didn’t pick his first NHL goal, which was a clutch finish in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings.
“A couple of the OT winners were pretty cool. Just guys scoring and everybody hopping over the bench, rushing on the ice, and the fans getting into it. ” Those are pretty cool,” Dickinson said. “For now, we’ll go with that, and hopefully there’s a couple more bigger OT winners that we see here.”
SHD asked the 19-year-old what he would say to the Sharks fans if he were addressing them directly.
“I probably would just thank them and that sort of thing. There’s not really much else to say, other than we definitely appreciate them,” Dickinson said. “It makes playing here a lot more fun. Makes the home games pretty exciting. It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the Sharks and just to be part of the organization as well.”
Michael Misa says it’s been a pleasure, Sharks fans
For Michael Misa, playing his rookie season with the San Jose Sharks has been bumpy. He’s shown flashes of the brilliance that made him the No. 2 overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, along with expected growing pains.
Misa had to wait for his NHL debut, but when he finally got it, the fans showed their excitement for his rookie year during his solo lap.
“I definitely remember. I was just trying not to fall out there. That was the biggest thing for that lap,” Misa told SHD. “They’ve been there throughout the year, and can’t thank them enough.”
Misa’s overtime goal against the Winnipeg Jets is one of his favorite memories at the SAP Center this season, but the Sharks rookie took a broader look at the fans when asked about his favorite memories.
“Just probably how loud they are and how much they support our team, and what we got going on here,” Misa said. “Obviously, [we’re] still trying to make the playoffs, and we’re not out of it yet.”
The Sharks centerman turned 19 during the Olympic break, but when asked what he would say to fans, Misa had a question for them.
“I would ask them [what] the fan experience is on a Saturday night at the SAP Center,” Misa said. ” Ask them what it’s like from their audience’s view.”
Well, with one Saturday night home game left in the regular season, Misa can try to find his answer.
Misa & Dickinson feel the support from Sharks fans is the beginning of something greater
Neither Sharks rookie had to go through the agonizing pain of 114 wins out of 384 games from 2021 to 2024, but they’ve heard the stories.
Along with Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund, and more, Misa and Dickinson are the future of Team Teal. They believe that the growth they saw in the fan base this season will only get better as they reward them with Stanley Cup-contending teams in the near future.
“Everybody’s heard about what the Shark Tank was like. That finals run, and when they had that string of really good years and really good teams. A lot of guys have talked about what it’s been like,” Dickinson said. “Even guys on other teams have talked about the difficulty it was playing here because of them. It’s exciting.”
“You can feel through the season, it’s ramped up. The seats are getting more full and it’s getting louder. It feels like it’s peaked recently. I’m sure tonight will be no different. It’s pretty exciting to know that that’s been building, and I’m sure it’s gonna continue to build.”
“They feed off us the better we’re doing. They’re gonna keep showing up for us,” Misa said. “It encourages them if we win. They’re going to be with us and keep cheering hard. We gotta find a way to win these last couple games we got and try to get in the playoffs for them.”