MINNEAPOLIS — Dmitry Orlov was brought in to be a veteran leader, and he’s doing it for the San Jose Sharks.

The UFA signing, inked to a two-year, $13 million contract over the summer, leads the Sharks with 23:10 played a night and has been an all-situations staple. He leads San Jose defensemen with seven points, all assists, in just eight games (four Sharks D are tied for second with two points). He’s regularly kills plays in the defensive zone with his physicality, leading the blueline with 16 hits. He’s also filled in ably for the injured John Klingberg on the team’s top power play unit, moving the puck comfortably and using his heavy shot.

And since the 6-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 17, Orlov has managed the puck better, as has the rest of the team, a key to the Sharks’ improved play since then.

The 34-year-old says the team got the message loud and clear after a turnover-filled Utah game.

“We need to be smart with the puck, without the puck,” Orlov said. “You don’t want to lose the puck, turn it over, and then play defense all the time.”

Orlov added that the coaches want the Sharks to be creative, but not at the expense of forcing offense.

“We put it deep sometimes when we don’t have a play. But nobody tells us, don’t make a play,” Orlov said. “If you can skate and get in the zone, cut back, or try to play one-on-one against the defense, it’s always the right thing to do.”

“He’s definitely playing better hockey,” Warsofsky said. “He’s playing with his identity, his gaps have been good, his stick’s been good.”

Warsofsky did note that Orlov, coming from a different penalty-killing scheme with the Carolina Hurricanes, is still adjusting to San Jose’s set-up.

Orlov is also taking fellow Russian Yaroslav Askarov under his wing, taking the young goaltender to his first Russian bath house in New York City recently.

“Not think about hockey a little bit,” Orlov said, smiling. “I think he liked it.”

San Jose Sharks (1-5-2)

Yaroslav Askarov starts, the first back-to-back start for a Sharks goalie this year.

Misa in, Skinner healthy scratched.

Same defense.

Warsofsky, on Skinner: “He’s in decent [defensive] spots. It’s just, we got to win some more pucks. That’s not just him. That’s our whole group. We’ll got to win more 50-50 pucks. Create in the inside, a little bit more.”

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 26, 2025

#SJSharks lines tonight, Misa in for Skinner, Askarov vs. Wallstedt, Dickinson & Buium too!

Toffoli-Celebrini-Smith
Eklund-Wennberg-Kurashev
Graf-Misa-Gaudette
Goodrow-Dellandrea-Reaves

Orlov-Liljegren
Ferraro-Iorio
Dickinson-Desharnais

Askarov

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) October 26, 2025

Warsofsky also says to expect a change-up in the penalty kill, including more Philipp Kurashev.

Minnesota Wild (3-5-2)

Filip Gustavsson started on Saturday in a 6-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. So Jesper Wallstedt should start the back-to-back on Sunday.

Marcus Foligno, who left toward the end of the game yesterday, is out with an upper body injury. No timeline yet but Hynes said he had to get imaging done.

Pitlick in. Wallstedt starts. #mnwild

— Jessi Pierce (@jessi_pierce) October 26, 2025

Could this be a match-up of first-round pick goalies? 2021 No. 20 pick Wallstedt versus 2020 No. 11 pick Yaroslav Askarov?

Where To Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild is at 3 PM PT at Grand Casino Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.