Sharks Add Depth Ahead of 2026‑27 Season
The San Jose Sharks announced a series of front‑office and on‑ice additions that will take effect for the upcoming 2026‑27 NHL campaign, signaling a strategic push to reinforce every layer of the organization.
Among the most notable moves is the hiring of Nathan Airey as the team’s full‑time emergency backup goalie, a role defined by the league’s new collective bargaining agreement that mandates a traveling EBUG who will don the number 00 on the ice.
Airey, a 23‑year‑old netminder who completed his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota, brings a 16‑win, 11‑tie, three‑shutout résumé and an .888 save percentage to the position, giving the Sharks a reliable option for road trips and injury contingencies.
Eric Pinsky joins as assistant video coach, bringing experience from his tenure with the San Jose Barracuda and prior work as a video analyst and hockey operations manager, while Josh Woodard steps into the role of head equipment manager after three decades of service by Mike Aldrich.
Scott Greenberg has been appointed head physical therapist, partnering with longtime staff member Mike Potenza to oversee player rehabilitation and conditioning programs that aim to keep the roster at peak physical condition throughout the grueling schedule.
The front‑office also welcomes Cameron Burt and Tyler Holske as amateur scouts; Burt, a former professional defenseman with stints in the AHL, ECHL and European leagues, adds on‑ice insight, while Holske, a former European goalie now leading the South Shore Kings in the USPHL, contributes scouting depth from a coaching perspective.
The team noted that the 2023‑24 season saw a rotation of local goalies — including Justin Kowalkoski and Kyle Chauvette — used as emergency backups when Yaroslav Askarov was sidelined by illness or injury, a practice that the new full‑time EBUG structure will replace.
A Strategic Overhaul
General manager Mike Ganter emphasized that the additions are part of a broader effort to modernize the Sharks’ operations, from video analysis to equipment logistics and player health, ensuring the franchise remains competitive in a rapidly evolving league.
By integrating seasoned professionals and fresh talent, the Sharks hope to translate these behind‑the‑scenes enhancements into on‑ice success, aiming to contend for a playoff berth and ultimately a Stanley Cup championship.