There has been a lot of speculation about who the San Jose Sharks are considering as the franchise’s 13th captain.
It is assumed that Macklin Celebrini will eventually be given the ‘C’, and he is still a possibility this season. Sharks GM Mike Grier has remained coy about what the team is thinking, saying the decision won’t be rushed.
“I don’t have any updates on any of that stuff. Someone in May said I made a decision on it, so you know I’ll keep that internal,” Grier said on Thursday. “It’s conversations I’ll have with the staff here and the coaches, and if it’s something we decide to do, then you guys will know.”
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported at the end of May that Celebrini would be the Sharks’ next captain.
That last sentence stands out. Since Logan Couture retired due to injury, the team has run with multiple alternate captains. Tyler Toffoli was the only player with an ‘A’ in every game last season. Celerbrini and Barclay Goodrow joined him at home. Alexander Wennberg and Mario Ferraro were the road alternates.
Grier preached patience on this decision. As a former player in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks GM knows the value of a good captain.
“I think I’ve said before that the captaincy in this league is a very sacred thing to me. It’s very important. It’s not something I’m going to rush to hand out to anyone,” Grier explained. “When we do decide to name a captain, it’s hopefully someone who’s going to be captain for a long time.”
“I don’t really believe in moving the ‘C’ around every year or every couple of years, whatever it may be. We’ll take our time and make the best decision for the organization and for the players and the group.”
Grier says no rush on naming a captain. Says he says the “C” is sacred in his eyes. He wants whoever wears it for the #SJSharks to wear it for a long time.
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) September 17, 2026
In recent years, the San Jose Sharks haven’t named their leadership group until after training camp ends. Last season, they announced the captains on Oct. 8, just one day before their opening game. Expect something similar this season just before Oct. 1.