The San Jose Sharks are on hiatus from NHL play due to the 2026 Winter Olympics break. There are no regular-season NHL games scheduled.
The focus of the week ahead for Sharks fans shifts entirely to the international stage in Milan, Italy, where key Sharks players will represent their countries:
Macklin Celebrini (Canada)
Philipp Kurashev (Switzerland)
Pavol Regenda (Slovakia)
Alexander Wennberg (Sweden)
Macklin Celebrini on the World Stage
The biggest story for the franchise is 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini making the star-studded Team Canada roster. It is incredibly rare for a teenager to crack the Canadian Olympic roster, which is filled with veteran superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
Celebrini is having a Hart Trophy-caliber sophomore season (81 points in 55 games). The Olympics serve as his “coming out party” to the global audience, where he will likely center a line or play significant minutes alongside future Hall of Famers.
A Surprise Playoff Push
Entering the Olympic break, the Sharks are surprisingly competitive, sitting just five points out of a wild-card spot with a record hovering around .500 (27-24-4).
This unexpected success creates a difficult decision for general manager Mike Grier approaching the March trade deadline. Does he “sell” veterans for assets, or does he “buy” (or hold) to reward the young core with a playoff chase?
The “Rest” of the Roster
While the Olympic contingent heads to Italy, the rest of the young core—including Will Smith and William Eklund—get a critical three-week reset.
The break provides time for any nagging injuries to heal before the team resumes play on Feb. 26 against the Calgary Flames.
Related – Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
Sharks Olympic Schedule This Week
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Players to Watch |
| Wed, Feb 11 | 10:40 AM | Slovakia vs. Finland | Regenda |
| 3:10 PM | Sweden vs. Italy | Wennberg | |
| Thu, Feb 12 | 6:10 AM | Switzerland vs. France | Kurashev |
| 10:40 AM | Czechia vs. Canada | Celebrini | |
| Fri, Feb 13 | 6:10 AM | Finland vs. Sweden | Wennberg |
| 6:10 AM | Italy vs. Slovakia | Regenda | |
| 3:10 PM | Canada vs. Switzerland | Celebrini vs. Kurashev | |
| Sat, Feb 14 | 6:10 AM | Slovakia vs. Sweden | Regenda vs. Wennberg |
| Sun, Feb 15 | 6:10 AM | Switzerland vs. Czechia | Kurashev |
| 10:40 AM | Canada vs. France | Celebrini |
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