The future clearly is bright for the Sharks after their promising 2025-26 NHL season.<\/p>\n
Despite missing the playoffs only by a margin of four points, San Jose quickly turned from rebuilding its franchise to contending in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
The main reason for the team\u2019s success is the immediate rise of its No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini<\/a>, who expressed his appreciation for Sharks fans and the city of San Jose.<\/p>\n \u201cDear Sharks fans,\u201d Celebrini wrote on The Players\u2019 Tribune<\/a>. \u201cFirst of all, I just want to say thank you. Not just for the way that you supported us this season, but also for the way that everyone had my back after the Olympics.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s not easy losing the way we did in Italy, and it\u2019s not easy missing out on the playoffs after being so close, but all the love and support I felt from Sharks fans all over the world has meant so much to me the past few months. You guys are the best. Before we head into the offseason, I just wanted to say a few things about this group, and about San Jose. And about the whole Bay Area, really.\u201d<\/p>\n In his letter, Celebrini credited Sharks legend Joe Thornton for taking him under his wing and providing him with a place to stay.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old star also shared stories about moving to the Bay Area after his father, Rick, started working for the Warriors as their director of sports medicine and performance.<\/p>\n Celebrini mentioned seeing Golden State stars Kevin Durant, Steph Curry<\/a>, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson in their prime helped him understand and appreciate what it takes to be a world-class athlete.<\/p>\n