Sharks’ Alternate Captain Candidates for 2026-27

At just 20 years old, Macklin Celebrini is a shoo-in to step into the San Jose Sharks captaincy in 2026-27. In his sophomore season, he broke the Sharks single-season franchise scoring record once held by Hall of Famer Joe Thornton. He is far and away the team’s best player and the best natural leader on the roster. 

In 2025-26, Tyler Toffoli was the lone player to be an alternate captain for every game. Celebrini and Barclay Goodrow wore the A for every home game, while Alex Wennberg and Mario Ferraro served as alternates for every road game. 

Celebrini’s promotion and the vacancy left by Ferraro’s departure to Winnipeg in the offseason mean that the Sharks are due for a new set of alternates. Teams are only allowed to have a max of three players dressed with a letter, whether it’s a captain and two alternates, or three alternates and no captain. Here are the two players who should wear the A in support of Celebrini’s looming captaincy in 2026-27.

Tyler Toffoli

Toffoli was the lone player in 2025-26 to be an alternate captain for every game, which is telling in how the organization views the veteran winger. His character in the locker room has been apparent since he walked in the door, being especially nurturing for the younger players.

In 2025, Toffoli had made a bet with Celebrini and Will Smith: if all three players score a goal, the veteran would have to have a sleepover in their hotel room. On March 4 in Buffalo, the prophecy was fulfilled for the Sharks as all three netted goals in a 6-2 win against the Sabres. His willingness to follow through on something like that is a testament to his ability to relate to younger players.

“He’s a good mentor for us, a friend,” Celebrini said, singing Toffoli’s praises to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. “He’s like an older brother, so it’s cool to hang out with him. That’s the beauty of him, he’s just a great guy. You ask anyone from any team he’s been on.”

San Jose is looking to get their first taste of postseason action since Game 6 of the 2019 Western Conference Final. Toffoli has a plethora of crucial playoff experience that will come in handy as the Sharks try to exorcise their demons. He is the only player on the roster, besides defenseman Dmitry Orlov, who has won the Stanley Cup. 

Toffoli got his name etched on the Cup in 2014. First, his Los Angeles Kings came all the way back against the Sharks down three games to none in the opening round, eliminating San Jose. That collapse influenced the Sharks to strip Thornton of his captaincy. The Kings then defeated the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks en route to besting Henrik Lundqvist’s New York Rangers in five games for the title. 

In 93 career playoff games, Toffoli has 20 goals and 46 total points. Some of his biggest playoff moments include his primary assist on Alec Martinez’s Cup-clinching goal past Lundqvist and his series-winning overtime goal sending the Montreal Canadiens to the conference final in the 2021 bubble playoffs. 

Alex Wennberg

Wennberg signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension to stay in San Jose on Jan. 4, 2026. He is one of the first signings that indicated the Sharks are done tearing things down and ready to build a roster for the future. 

The Swedish center’s calming presence is a perfect resource for younger players to lean on. He plays smart, makes very few mistakes and drives play on the third line. His line with Kiefer Sherwood and William Eklund consistently operated as the Sharks’ next best scoring attack after Celebrini’s line.

The Sharks have a lot of young talent in their forward group, so they need adults in the room to help set the tone and keep the group focused, especially through tough times. Wennberg already earned the responsibility for the more difficult half of games because he is a resilient player that can be counted on in tight moments.

When the Sharks traded Fabian Zetterlund to the Ottawa Senators at the 2025 Trade Deadline, the 22-year-old Eklund was crushed, losing his best friend in the game of hockey. Wennberg, Eklund’s fellow countryman, shielded his teammate by taking questions on his behalf.

The quiet leader who puts his teammates first, who tends to be a pass-first player on the ice, is an excellent choice to be a resource of wisdom and inspiration when adversity strikes for this inexperienced group.

Honorable Mentions 

Some other potential candidates the Sharks could pick if they want to go a different direction with their leadership include Sherwood and Jacob Trouba. 

Trouba’s relevant experience captaining the Rangers equips him with thick skin that can handle media pressure and criticism for the overall group’s play if things go south. Celebrini can learn the nuances of that part of the job from the team’s new defenseman, but Trouba’s grimy and intensely physical style of play is the on-ice attribute his teammates should aspire to replicate.

Sherwood plays an unselfish style of game, hitting everything that moves and maximizing his effort on every play of every shift. The passion and desire he plays with is a great example for his teammates to do whatever is necessary to eke out wins. He also wore the A during the Sharks’ last game in 2025-26. 

The Sharks haven’t felt such a high-octane buzz entering an upcoming season since Joe Pavelski was captain. A starving fanbase can’t contain the excitement that goes with finally having expectations that don’t include lottery balls. As the Sharks enter a new era with Celebrini assuming the captaincy, the choice for the alternates is clear. A leadership group captained by Celebrini with Toffoli and Wennberg can absolutely take a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.