In their last game before the league pauses its schedule to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sharks gave up three goals in a lopsided first period. They never fully recovered in an 8-3 loss to the playoff-bound Dallas Stars on Saturday before an announced sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.

Former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund was well-loved in the Bay Area, but the forward isn't thinking about where he might play next season just yet.

NHL: San Jose Sharks face ex-teammates Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci on Saturday when they face the Dallas Stars at SAP Center

The San Jose Sharks have prime opportunities to grow their rookie’s skill and depth as well as better the team in the end. Even though the team will miss out on playoffs for the sixth year in a row, they can use this time to focus more on skill development.

Mikael Granlund is back! Granlund spoke with local media before Saturday’s San Jose Sharks-Dallas Stars tilt. It’s been just one week since Granlund and Cody Ceci were traded to the Stars for a 2025 first and a conditional 2025 fourth (which becomes a third if Dallas makes the Stanley Cup Final).

The Stars are playing the second night of a back-to-back following an emotional shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings.