There’s a lot going on for tonight’s game so let’s get you prepped for what you need to know about this year’s team. There are plenty of new faces and new names that you need to get to know as well as new leaders. So, whether you’re headed to The Tank tonight to watch the game in person or you’re planning, you’re going to watch it on TV or stream the audio, here’s what you need to know about this years iteration of Team Teal.
New names and numbers
One of the things I always have a tough time with, especially from the press box when it’s really far from the ice, is figuring out who I’m watching at the start of the season. I’m still training my brain to match names to jersey numbers. That’s been especially true the past few seasons with how much personnel turnover the Sharks have had. So, when you’re watching the game tonight, here’s the opening night roster along with the player numbers:
| 2 | Will Smith | 38 | Mario Ferraro |
| 3 | John Klingberg | 51 | Collin Graf |
| 4 | Nick Leddy | 53 | Jeff Skinner |
| 5 | Vincent Desharnais | 71 | Macklin Celebrini |
| 6 | Sam Dickinson | 72 | William Eklund |
| 9 | Dmitry Orlov | 73 | Tyler Toffoli |
| 10 | Ty Dellandrea | 75 | Ryan Reaves |
| 21 | Alex Wennberg | 77 | Michael Misa |
| 23 | Barclay Goodrow | 81 | Adam Gaudette |
| 30 | Yaroslav Askarov | 85 | Shakir Mukhamadullin |
| 33 | Alex Nedeljkovic | 96 | Philipp Kurashev |
| 37 | Timothy Liljegren |
Player nicknames
Of course, the next thing you’re thinking to yourself is: What do I call these guys? Okay, maybe that’s just me. The Sharks have provided a nickname guide for the season. Nothing too scandalous, and we’re presuming that in the room, there might be a few more PG-13-rated nicknames, but these are good ones to share with the kiddos when it’s tough to shout out Mukhamadullin’s name.
There are three rookies on the list, Misa, Askarov and Dickinson. Don’t be surprised if they’re not in every game this season. Unlike Celebrini and Smith, they’re not locks. It seems like they’re still working on plans to ease Misa and Dickinson into the lineup. Askarov is going to get the same treatment as a rookie goaltender learning how to play in the league. He’ll get his reps, but odds are it won’t be against the toughest matchups, at least to start.
Watching tonight’s game
Okay. I’ve covered this in a previous post, but it’s worth mentioning here that just because you have a cable TV package, it DOES NOT mean you can watch tonight’s Sharks game. The good people (sarcasm intended) at ESPN and all of its overlords have determined that this is a national game. Check your streaming services to make sure you can watch the game and give yourself a little extra time because it can be a bit frustrating.
Also, just a note that because this is a nationally televised game, there might be a delay in watching depending on how the games are stacked. The puck is supposed to drop at 7 p.m. tonight at the Shark Tank. Note the early start time. All games are starting earlier this season.
Going to tonight’s game
If you happen to be going to tonight’s game, there’s plenty to keep you busy. The teal carpet begins at 4 p.m.
Here’s the festival map:
Check out the map and activities list for today's Pregame Festival presented by @Ticketmaster
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 9, 2025
⏰ 4 p.m. – Get there early!
🎉 Open to all pic.twitter.com/8sL3ozwZPe
At 5 p.m., the Sharks will unveil “Sharks Way” the new street next to the Shark Tank. Doors to SAP Center will open early for Sharks 365 Members. They open at 5:30 p.m. The General Admission doors will open at 5:45 p.m.
The pregame ceremony starts at 6:50 p.m. That’s when the newest players like Misa and Dickinson get officially announced. And, like we said, the puck gets dropped at 7 p.m.
Be sure to check back with Fear the Fin for your pregame lineup and much, much more.
