DALLAS \u2014 Ty Dellandrea came into this season with more questions than answers about his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know what the situation would be. I didn\u2019t know if I was going to be on the team. I didn\u2019t know if I was going to play. I didn\u2019t know if I was going to be around,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
Dellandrea was heading into the last season of a two-year, $2.6 million contract, signed in the summer of 2024, after the Sharks acquired the center-winger from the Dallas Stars for a fourth-round pick.<\/p>\n
But he was coming off a rough debut campaign in teal, a fourth-liner who was occasionally healthy scratched, skating 11:48 a night.<\/p>\n
And the Sharks had spent the summer fortifying their bottom-six, acquiring Adam Gaudette, Jeff Skinner, and Ryan Reaves. The organization also had highly-regarded prospect Collin Graf in the wings.<\/p>\n
A smart training camp projection might have had Dellandrea headed to waivers by the end of training camp.<\/p>\n
Instead, the 25-year-old, at a crossroads in his career, has earned head coach Ryan Warsofsky\u2019s trust this season.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s gone from fourth-line winger to third-line center, leading the Sharks with a 51.9 Faceoff %, anchoring a surging penalty kill, bringing a reliable motor, and averaging 14:44 a night.<\/p>\n
\u201cTraining camp was big for him to earn that role, and he stacked games together. It\u2019s a game of mistakes, but he\u2019s an all-effort guy. Gives everything he\u2019s got every single night, competes. Even nights he doesn\u2019t maybe have it, he impacts the game in different ways,\u201d Warsofsky said, of why he doesn\u2019t sit Dellandrea after an occasional mistake. \u201cHe\u2019s a guy that plays like every game is his last. That\u2019s the desperation we need from more guys, really.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust consistency of bringing that every night, that probably helps him trust [me],\u201d Dellandrea said.<\/p>\n
Long run, Dellandrea may not end up as a 3C in NHL \u2014 he\u2019s got just two goals and six assists in 28 games \u2014 but there\u2019s no doubt that he\u2019s solidified his future in this league with his everyday lunch pail mentality.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe realizes his career is on the line,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cProbably in years past, you can look at our roster, and there\u2019s a lot of guys that are not in the National Hockey League, and they didn\u2019t realize that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that\u2019s a lesson!<\/p>\n
And Dellandrea, a Stars\u2019 2017 first-round pick, thinks he\u2019s got even more two-way impact to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working on everything to produce more offensively and just grow in my game. I do feel better compared to last year, but I do think there\u2019s still a long way to grow,\u201d he said. \u201c[My attitude\u2019s] not changing anytime soon. I\u2019m still working for a job every single night.\u201d<\/p>\n
San Jose Sharks (13-12-3)<\/p>\n
Yaroslav Askarov will start.<\/p>\n
Vincent Iorio, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Ryan Reaves will be scratched.<\/p>\n
Nick Leddy will come in for Iorio. Leddy will play the right side, paired with Sam Dickinson.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a quick game. He\u2019s got to defend a little bit better,\u201d Warsofsky said about Iorio. \u201cHe\u2019s gotta be more assertive.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not much different than what Warsofsky has said about Shakir Mukhamadullin<\/a>, who\u2019s sitting out another game.<\/p>\n John Klingberg will be on one of the power play units, but Warsofsky declined to say which.<\/p>\n Jeff Skinner will return to the line-up, in place of Reaves.<\/p>\n \u201cReavo is a little nicked up, so we just give him some time here, obviously we\u2019re getting healthy,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cWe have 13 forwards, long trip, so gives him a little recovery here.\u201d<\/p>\n Warsofsky declined to give much more detail about the lines, but after a 7-1 rout at the hands of the Washington Capitals, expect at least a couple changes.<\/p>\n It was an optional skate, and Warsofsky spoke while the skate was ongoing, so I didn\u2019t see any lines, if they skated in them today.<\/p>\n Dallas Stars (18-5-5)<\/p>\n #TexasHockey<\/a> Morning Skate Update:<\/p>\n \u2022 No lineup changes from Wednesday\u2019s game at New Jersey.<\/p>\n \u2022 Jake Oettinger will start in goal vs. #TheFutureIsTeal<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Harley & Lundkvist participated in morning skate, both \u201cday-to-day.\u201d Duchene did not skate with the group.#SJSvsDAL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) December 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Where To Watch<\/p>\n Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars is at 5 PM PT at American Airlines Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t