San Jose Sharks face a pivotal stretch with three massive questions looming post-Olympic break. Will Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Yaroslav Askarov thrive in high-pressure playoff scenarios, or will the team fade and shift focus to next year’s draft? The defense remains unstable—can Mike Grier flip expiring contracts to land impactful, medium-term blue line upgrades before the NHL trade deadline? Defensemen like Timothy Liljegren, Mario Ferraro, and John Klingberg’s futures hang in the balance as prospects Eric Pohlkamp and Luca Cagnoni wait in the wings.

Host JD Young breaks down the Sharks’ battle for a playoff spot, emphasizing the importance of meaningful games for young talent development. Special teams woes also demand urgent attention—can aggressive tweaks on the power play and penalty kill help turn the tide for San Jose? Explore key scheduling opportunities, the evolving roster, and the Sharks’ quest for postseason relevance.

Check out the podcast on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community:https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Indeed
Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/lockedon right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit_ FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Does Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins make too much sense for it not to work? Hunter Hodies of Locked on Penguins joins to try and figure out a trade between the San Jose Sharks and the Penguins. We discuss the parallels between when the Sharks acquired Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators and if the Penguins acquired the reigning Norris Trophy winner. Next, we discuss the fit between Karlsson and Pittsburgh and how Karlsson can help provide more offense. We also discuss Karlsson's lack of defense and how he was asked to carry the Sharks' offense. Finally, Hunter and JD try to hammer out a beneficial trade between both teams based on what the Sharks are looking for and what the Penguins have.

Check out the podcast on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With free agency off to a running start, what teams are still left in a position to try and acquire three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson? Start with the Carolina Hurricanes and why they would be the most difficult to pull off the trade with their lack of a "bad" contract and little space. Why, despite being over the cap, the Pittsburgh Penguins could still make it work, and why the Seattle Kraken would be the easiest to make the trade. Next, the San Jose Sharks sent Artemi Kniazev to the Winnipeg Jets for Leon Gawanke. Analyze the trade, why a numbers game on the left side made it tough for Kniazev, and what the Sharks are getting from Gawanke (12:00). Finally, what does Mike Grier still have left to do, and why signing a cheap veteran center would make sense after trading Steven Lorentz over the weekend (20:00).

Check out the podcast on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices