Preview/Lines #18: Misa goes to Celebrini’s wing, Wennberg improved

ST. PAUL, MINN. — The San Jose Sharks are desperate to improve both offensively and defensively.

Losers of five of their last six games, they scored the fewest goals at 5 on 5 and gave up seventh place in the NHL.

Here’s head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s latest attempt to snap the Sharks out of their tailspin: Michael Misa, normally a center, was moved to the wing with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Collin Graf, normally a winger, and Ty Dellandrea take over in the center of the top nine, ahead of Misa and Filip Bystedt. Bystedt will be scratched.

“It’s all about creating some offense for our team and finding ways to score,” Misa said. The 2025 No. 2 pick has progressed offensively, with three goals and seven points in his last eight games.

Misa said the last time he played a lot on the wing was in juniors.

“It brings a little rhythm to run a little bit with Mack there,” Warsofsky said.

Moving 19-year-old Misa and rookie Bystedt out of the center and replacing them with Graf and Dellandrea looks like a clear attempt to shore up the defensive midfield.

“Fil had moments, you see the potential,” Warsofsky said. “(But) there are times where the game picks up, the speed picks up, the urgency picks up and the way to defend and get into people. So just some things defensively he’s continued to improve, and offensively as well.”

Warsofsky added of Bystedt, but it could also refer to Misa at center: “He’s a young player trying to find his way.”

Warsofsky hopes veteran checker Dellandrea can add some pace to his line and return to his past form.

“We look back to last year, before he got hurt there. He was playing really good hockey in that 3C position,” Warsofsky said. “So I’m trying to find that again.”

It’s safe to say the San Jose Sharks are missing glue center Alex Wennberg. Today, Warsofsky improved Wennberg’s upper body injury on a daily basis. Could he play Saturday for the Dallas Stars?