Sharks Season Opener Exclusive to ESPN+ and Hulu Streaming Services
Fans hoping to catch the San Jose Sharks’ 2025-2026 season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday will require a subscription to either ESPN+ or Hulu. This marks a significant shift in broadcast access for the team’s games, as The Walt Disney Company expands its exclusive sports streaming portfolio.
The move, announced in August, will see four regular-season Sharks games streamed exclusively on the two platforms. Beyond the season opener, the streaming service will also carry the Sharks’ road matchups against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 17 and the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 11, as well as a home game versus the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 20.
Thursday’s game is scheduled to begin shortly after 7 p.m. local time. As of early October, an ESPN+ subscription costs $12 per month, while a bundle including Disney+ and Hulu is available for $16.99 monthly with commercials. Subscribers should note that the ESPN+ rate will increase to $13 per month beginning Nov. 6.
This isn’t the first time the Sharks have debuted on ESPN+. Last year, the service broadcast the team’s season opener on Oct. 10, featuring the NHL debuts of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith against the St. Louis Blues. Despite a promising performance from Celebrini – a goal and an assist – the Sharks fell to the Blues 5-4 in overtime, and Celebrini subsequently missed 12 games due to a hip injury sustained during the contest.
The Sharks will ice a revamped lineup on Thursday, welcoming several new faces. Forwards Philipp Kurashev, Jeff Skinner, Adam Gaudette, and Ryan Reaves, along with defensemen John Klingberg, Dmitry Orlov, and Nick Leddy, are all expected to feature. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in July, will also make his debut for the Sharks.
However, two of the organization’s top prospects, center Michael Misa and defenseman Sam Dickinson, will be healthy scratches for the game against the Golden Knights – considered among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. According to team sources, this decision is intended to gradually integrate the young players into the rigors of NHL competition.
The ESPN+ broadcast will be led by play-by-play announcer John Kelly and color analyst Cassie Campbell. Fans preferring traditional television coverage will find the Sharks’ first game on NBC Sports California on Saturday, when the team hosts the Anaheim Ducks, with longtime broadcasters Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda calling the action.
Originally Published: October 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM PDT
