San Jose Sharks 2026-27 Fantasy Projections & Strategy

The San Jose Sharks suddenly matter again in fantasy, headlined by a true superstar in Macklin Celebrini and a wave of high-upside young forwards. With projections painting Celebrini as a top-five overall option and strong numbers for his supporting cast, managers need a clear plan for how aggressively to pursue these Sharks. Let’s break down what the projections are telling us and how to turn them into winning fantasy decisions for 2026-27.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest shift is the emergence of Celebrini as a legitimate fantasy cornerstone for the San Jose Sharks. He’s projected for elite production (a 122-point projection in the source), skating as a top-line forward with prime power-play deployment. That combination of role and output places him firmly among the very best fantasy assets in the league.

Right behind him, Will Smith is projected for strong scoring of his own (75 points in the original projections), driven by chemistry with Celebrini and a likely spot on the top power-play unit. He’s not quite in elite territory yet, but he profiles as a high-end complementary scorer with room to grow.

Michael Misa is pegged as a second-line center with PP1 exposure and is labeled as a breakout candidate. The projections are effectively saying: the late-season surge we saw is real, and the power-play role should stick. That’s exactly the profile you want to target as a buy-low before the rest of your league fully prices in the upside.

Finally, rookie forward Ivar Stenberg arrives as a Calder Trophy contender after a strong SHL campaign. While his exact deployment is less certain, his rookie ranking and prior production suggest he could force his way into meaningful minutes quickly, making him a classic upside stash or early-season watchlist candidate.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, the Sharks’ value is heavily concentrated in Celebrini and Smith, with Misa and Stenberg as upside plays.

Macklin Celebrini: With a projection in the 120+ point range and top-line, PP1 usage, Celebrini belongs in the absolute top tier of fantasy forwards. You should be willing to build your entire offense around him. His role suggests a high floor (heavy minutes, all situations) and a ceiling that rivals any player in the league.

Will Smith: Smith’s projected 75 points reflect both his individual talent and his attachment to Celebrini. As long as he’s stapled to Celebrini at even strength and on the top power play, he profiles as a strong top-six scorer with legitimate 70+ point potential. In points-only, that makes him a core piece in keeper and dynasty formats and a strong mid-tier scorer in one-year leagues.

Michael Misa: Slotted as a second-line center with PP1 exposure and coming off an end-of-season surge, Misa is the classic “projection lags behind talent” player. The numbers see a breakout trajectory, and the role supports it. In points-only, he’s an ideal mid-round value play and a priority trade target if your league-mates are still skeptical.

Ivar Stenberg: The rookie tag and Calder chatter make Stenberg a high-variance asset. In points-only, he’s best treated as a bench stash or early-season waiver watch. If he lands in the top six or gets power-play time, his SHL track record suggests he can translate quickly.

Categories / Bangers

We don’t have detailed peripheral projections here, but we can still infer some category impact from roles and labels.

Celebrini is the clear engine of the Sharks’ offense. Elite point totals plus PP1 time usually translate into strong contributions in goals, assists, power-play points, and shots on goal. Even if he’s not a heavy hitter, his scoring volume alone makes him a category monster.

Smith should ride shotgun on most of those scoring categories. Expect solid totals in assists and power-play production, with enough goal-scoring to be more than a one-dimensional playmaker. In multi-cat formats that don’t heavily weight hits and blocks, he’s a premium asset.

Misa gains extra appeal in categories leagues because second-line centers with PP1 time often rack up shots and special-teams production while facing slightly softer matchups than the top line. If he continues his late-season surge, you’re looking at a player who can help across goals, assists, and power-play points, with potential for decent shot volume.

Stenberg is more speculative. Rookie forwards can be streaky, but if he earns offensive usage, he could chip in across goals, assists, and possibly shots. In deeper multi-cat leagues, he’s a smart upside bench piece rather than someone you rely on out of the gate.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty and keeper formats are where these Sharks really shine.

Macklin Celebrini is a foundational dynasty piece. A top-five overall projection at his age means you’re not just getting short-term dominance; you’re locking in a multi-year elite asset. In any long-term build, he’s the type of player you simply do not trade unless you’re blown away.

Will Smith is a premium long-term hold. The 75-point projection is impressive, but the more important signal is his chemistry with Celebrini and his place on PP1. As the Sharks improve around them, Smith’s ceiling could rise even further. In keeper formats, he’s exactly the kind of young core forward you want to secure before his price spikes.

Michael Misa is explicitly flagged as a buy-low in the analysis, and that’s the correct dynasty lens. His end-of-season surge and power-play role suggest the breakout hasn’t fully been priced in yet. Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge what it would cost to acquire him now; in most leagues, paying a modest premium is justified for his upside.

Ivar Stenberg is a classic dynasty stash. A strong SHL background and Calder-level buzz indicate real talent, even if his immediate NHL role is uncertain. In deeper keeper and dynasty formats, he belongs on your bench or farm with the expectation that he could become a top-six scorer within a couple of seasons.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

• Macklin Celebrini – Add (all leagues): Projected as a top-five overall fantasy player with elite scoring and PP1 usage; build your roster around him.
• Will Smith – Add (keeper/dynasty, strong in standard): Riding shotgun with Celebrini at even strength and on PP1 gives him a high, stable scoring floor.
• Michael Misa – Trade target / Add (standard and deeper): Second-line center with PP1 time and a late-season surge makes him a prime breakout and buy-low candidate.
• Ivar Stenberg – Watchlist / Stash (deep, dynasty): Calder contender with strong SHL production; monitor early deployment and be ready to pounce if he lands in the top six.

Fantasy Takeaways

• Macklin Celebrini projects as a true fantasy superstar; treat him as a franchise-level asset in every format.
• Will Smith’s projected scoring and chemistry with Celebrini make him a priority long-term piece, especially in keeper and dynasty leagues.
• Michael Misa’s end-of-season surge and PP1 role signal breakout potential, creating a clear buy-low window before his price climbs.
• Ivar Stenberg’s SHL success and rookie ranking justify an early watchlist or stash spot, particularly in deeper and rookie-heavy formats.
• Overall, San Jose’s young core turns the Sharks from a fantasy afterthought into a team you can actively target for high-upside offense in 2026-27.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.