San Jose Sharks projected lineups for October 26, 2025
The Sharks’ projected lineup features an exciting blend of youth and experience as head coach utilizes his roster to maximize offensive potential. The top line showcases the dynamic pairing of rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith alongside veteran Tyler Toffoli, creating a potent combination that has shown promise throughout the early season.
Celebrini and Smith continue to lead the Sharks in scoring, with Celebrini posting five goals and eight assists while Smith has contributed two goals and six assists through eight games. Their chemistry has been one of the few bright spots in San Jose’s challenging start, and keeping them together with Toffoli’s veteran presence could prove crucial in generating offense.
The second line features William Eklund, who scored the only goal in the Sharks’ 3-1 loss to New Jersey, centering between Alexander Wennberg and Jeff Skinner. This trio provides a balanced mix of playmaking and finishing ability that should create secondary scoring opportunities.
On the third line, Collin Graf centers Philipp Kurashev and Adam Gaudette, while the fourth line consists of Barclay Goodrow, Ty Dellandrea, and Ryan Reaves. The addition of Reaves to the lineup brings a physical element that could prove important against Minnesota’s aggressive forecheck.
The defensive pairings show Mario Ferraro alongside Vincent Iorio on the top pair, with Dmitry Orlov and Timothy Liljegren forming the second pairing. The third defensive pairing features rookie Sam Dickinson paired with Vincent Desharnais, providing the Sharks with a mix of mobility and size on the blue line.
Between the pipes, The Hockey Writers reports that Yaroslav Askarov is projected to start, with Alex Nedeljkovic serving as the backup. The Sharks are dealing with several injuries, as Nick Leddy (upper body), John Klingberg (lower body), and Shakir Mukhamadullin (upper body) are all sidelined. Forward Michael Misa could return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against New Jersey.
Minnesota Wild projected lineups for Sharks game on October 26, 2025
Minnesota’s projected lineup demonstrates the team’s offensive depth, particularly on the top two lines where their scoring talent is concentrated. The first line features superstar Kirill Kaprizov alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson, with Kaprizov leading the Wild with five goals and six assists through nine games.
The second line is equally impressive, featuring rising star Danila Yurov on the left wing with Marco Rossi at center and Matt Boldy on the right. Boldy has matched Kaprizov’s production with eleven points, showcasing the scoring balance that makes Minnesota dangerous when both units are rolling. Both players have been logging over 22 minutes of ice time per night, underscoring their importance to the Wild’s success.
Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman, and Vladimir Tarasenko form the third line, providing veteran leadership and two-way play. The fourth line consists of Yakov Trenin, Ben Jones, and Vinnie Hinostroza, offering energy and responsible defensive zone play.
On defense, Jonas Brodin and Brock Faber anchor the top pairing, providing steady, reliable minutes in all situations. The second pairing features highly-touted prospect Zeev Buium alongside captain Jared Spurgeon, while Jake Middleton and David Jiricek round out the third pairing.
According to Inside The Rink, Jesper Wallstedt is projected to start in goal with Filip Gustavsson as the backup. The Wild are without Mats Zuccarello (lower body), Nico Sturm (back), and Zach Bogosian (lower body) due to injuries. Daemon Hunt, Tyler Pitlick, and Hunter Haight are healthy scratches.
Key matchups in the Sharks vs Wild projected lineups October 26, 2025
The battle between the top lines will be paramount in determining this game’s outcome. The Sharks’ Celebrini-Smith-Toffoli combination will face off against Minnesota’s Kaprizov-Eriksson Ek-Johansson line in what promises to be an entertaining offensive showcase. Celebrini and Smith’s speed and creativity versus Kaprizov’s elite playmaking ability creates a fascinating dynamic.
The coaching chess match extends to the defensive pairings as well. How Minnesota’s Brodin-Faber duo contains San Jose’s young offensive stars will be crucial, particularly in transition where the Sharks have shown they can be dangerous. Conversely, the Sharks’ Ferraro-Iorio pairing faces the daunting task of slowing down Kaprizov and Boldy, who have been nearly unstoppable when given time and space.
Special teams could also play a decisive role. The Wild’s power play, anchored by Kaprizov and Boldy, has the potential to exploit San Jose’s penalty kill, which has struggled at times this season. The Sharks will need disciplined play to avoid giving Minnesota’s top unit extended opportunities with the man advantage.
The goaltending matchup between Askarov and Wallstedt features two young netminders looking to establish themselves as reliable NHL starters. Both have shown flashes of brilliance but also the inconsistency typical of developing goalies. Whichever netminder can provide timely saves and keep his team in the game will likely be the difference-maker.
Physical play will also factor prominently with players like Ryan Reaves in San Jose’s lineup and Marcus Foligno for Minnesota. Both teams need to balance aggression with discipline, as taking unnecessary penalties could prove costly against skilled offensive units.
Impact of injuries on projected lineups for Sharks vs Wild October 26, 2025
The injury situations for both teams significantly impact their respective lineups and strategic approaches. San Jose’s absence of Nick Leddy removes a veteran presence from their blue line, forcing younger players like Sam Dickinson into more prominent roles. Leddy’s experience in managing defensive zone coverage and contributing to the transition game leaves a noticeable gap in the Sharks’ defensive structure.
The loss of Shakir Mukhamadullin further depletes San Jose’s defensive depth, limiting options if in-game adjustments are needed. John Klingberg’s continued absence means the Sharks are missing another offensive-minded defenseman who could help activate the attack from the back end.
Minnesota’s injury concerns center primarily around Mats Zuccarello’s absence from their forward group. Zuccarello’s playmaking ability and chemistry with Kaprizov have been instrumental to the Wild’s offensive success in recent seasons. His absence forces other players to step up and fill that creative void, placing additional pressure on the team’s depth forwards.
The loss of Nico Sturm impacts Minnesota’s center depth and penalty-killing capabilities. Sturm’s defensive reliability and faceoff prowess are assets that the Wild miss in key situations. Zach Bogosian’s absence on defense means the Wild are relying more heavily on younger players like Zeev Buium and David Jiricek to handle significant minutes.
These injuries force both coaching staffs to adjust their systems and may create opportunities for role players to prove their worth. For San Jose, players like Vincent Iorio and Vincent Desharnais must step up and provide stable defensive play. Minnesota’s depth forwards like Vinnie Hinostroza and Ben Jones need to contribute defensively while chipping in offensively when opportunities arise.
What to expect from the Sharks vs Wild matchup on October 26, 2025
This game represents a crucial opportunity for both teams to build momentum as the season progresses. The Sharks, desperately seeking their second win of the campaign, need a complete 60-minute effort to overcome a Wild team that, despite its own struggles, possesses more firepower and depth. San Jose must capitalize on its speed and youth while minimizing defensive breakdowns that have plagued them throughout the early season.
Minnesota comes into this matchup following a disappointing 6-2 home loss to Utah, making this a potential bounce-back spot for the Wild. Playing at the Xcel Energy Center, where they hold a 1-2-0 record this season, Minnesota needs to establish better home-ice dominance. The Wild’s offensive weapons should theoretically overwhelm a Sharks team that has struggled defensively, but hockey rarely follows the script perfectly.
Special teams execution will likely determine the final outcome. Minnesota’s power play, featuring multiple elite offensive talents, should find success if given enough opportunities. San Jose must stay disciplined and avoid giving Minnesota’s top unit extended chances to operate in the offensive zone.
The performance of the goaltenders cannot be overstated. If Askarov can steal this game for San Jose with a stellar performance, the Sharks have a legitimate chance to secure a road victory. Conversely, if Wallstedt can shut down San Jose’s limited offensive threats, Minnesota should cruise to a comfortable win. Expect both teams to test the opposing netminder early and often, looking to establish confidence in their respective attacks.
As the puck drops at 6:00 PM ET, fans watching on ESPN+, NBCS, or FDSN will witness two teams desperate for a win but at very different stages of their respective seasons. The Sharks view this as a development year while building around their young core, whereas the Wild have playoff aspirations that their current record doesn’t reflect. This matchup will test whether San Jose’s youth can overcome Minnesota’s experience and superior depth, making for compelling hockey that could swing either direction depending on execution and a few fortunate bounces.
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.