Take a breath, San Jose Sharks fans. Macklin Celebrini’s lower-body injury doesn’t appear to be serious, and he is considered day-to-day.

Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky told Sheng Peng of SJHN that the captain is considered day-to-day. Celebrini did not participate in practice today.

“It didn’t happen in warm-ups. This has been something we’ve been trying to manage here a little bit,” Warsofsky told SJHN.

#SJSharks HC Warsofsky says it’s a day-to-day thing for Celebrini. However he’s still being evaluated.

“It didn’t happen in warm-ups. This has been something we’ve been trying to manage here a little bit.” https://t.co/IM4HKo2g09

— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) October 6, 2026

While the forward might not play Thursday against the St. Louis Blues, the Sharks appear to have dodged a bullet.

SHD criticized Warsofsky’s lines during the 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday, but the head coach made some adjustments during Tuesday’s practice.

Lines per SJHN:

Marchment-Smith-Chernyshov
Stenberg-Wennberg-Sherwood
Graf-Misa-Toffoli
Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Dellandrea

Ty Dellandrea was thrust into a tough spot in his first game of the season, and these lines put him in a much better position to succeed.

Smith is more than ready to get back to center

But the key in these lines is San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith sliding to his natural center position. Smith, who has played center his entire life before the NHL, could get a chance to be the unquestioned No. 1 center for the first time in the NHL.

While the Sharks forward has shown he’s a more-than-capable winger in the NHL, the much-improved Smith has a chance to show he can still be an NHL center. One thing has been clear for Smith this year: he’s quicker, stronger, and much more capable of being an effective center.

“Will has been a center his entire life, so if they throw him at center he’ll be great,” Dan Holland, Smith’s summer skills coach, told SHD exclusively. “He sees the ice so well, and he’s solid in the D zone. Everyone sees him as an offensive player, but he makes great reads defensively as well. He has great puck support as a center.”

Smith will win more physical battles and get the puck going north faster than he could’ve during his rookie season at C.

Playing down the middle won’t be new for Smith, which helps. But his entire game will change. Instead of being on the boards for the breakout, Smith can now generate speed through the middle of the ice. His creativity can come out more often, since he will have the puck more.

Obviously, the part Smith will need to be pinpoint is the defensive zone. He’s made big improvements on the wing defensively, and those skills should help translate down the middle. Smith has gotten very good at creating turnovers, which is also why he’s seen some PK time. Now, as a center, Smith will have more chances to generate high-powered transition offense at even strength.

“For summertime, we spent most of our time working on wall play and passing. Will has always had the best IQ, but we really focused on tightening up his passes and getting him stronger on the wall. In game one this year, he was so strong on the wall and was not only winning 50/50s, but making great plays directly off the wall,” Holland said. “And his overtime pass was perfect; low and tight pass. Aside from the work we did on the ice, I know Will spent a lot of time in the gym getting bigger and stronger. He definitely put on some muscle and weight. I’m really excited to watch him play this year.”

Those skills will translate better to offense for Smith. Now with Igor Chernyshov on his wing, he has a chance to send the power forward on stretch passes all the time. Chernyshov’s first goal of the season was off a stretch pass from Tyler Toffoli.

The San Jose Sharks are expected to practice again on Wednesday. If Celebrini misses again, look for Smith to stay down the middle.