Collin Graf and Bauer: A New Era Begins In San Jose

As the San Jose Sharks gear up for the 2025-26 NHL season, all eyes are on 22-year-old forward Collin Graf. Not just for what he might do on the ice, but for what he’s choosing to wear while doing it. Enter Bauer Hockey.

Graf, a standout from Quinnipiac University and a rising star within the Sharks organization, appears to be making a notable equipment switch this offseason. After spending the bulk of his collegiate and early professional career using primarily CCM gear, the Massachusetts native was recently spotted in the HD Pro Summer Hockey League wearing Bauer gloves, helmet, and also using their sticks. This is obviously a marked departure from his usual setup.

Though this change might seem cosmetic to the casual fan, those familiar with the sport know it can carry bigger implications. For starters, Graf has used Bauer skates for several years, and he had been seen testing Bauer sticks last summer as well. But now that he’s moved further into Bauer territory with gloves and a helmet, the shift feels more deliberate, and potentially more permanent.

This potential switch is worth noting not just because of Graf’s individual trajectory, but because of what it might represent for the Sharks as a whole. For much of the past decade, San Jose has been a team with very few Bauer users on the roster. Icons like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns, and even Logan Couture were not known as Bauer users during their Sharks tenures. But that trend might quietly be shifting now, and Graf may be one of the key figures ushering in this new chapter.

There’s a practical angle to all of this as well. AHL players are generally required to use CCM equipment due to league partnerships. So the fact that Graf is confidently leaning into Bauer gear this summer could hint that Sharks management sees him spending the majority, if not all, of the 2025-26 season in the NHL. After splitting last year between the Sharks and the Barracuda, the expectation from many inside and outside the organization is that he’s ready to take the next step and become a regular NHL contributor.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed in pro hockey. Graf’s performance in training camp and the early months of the season will ultimately decide where he lands. Should he struggle, a stint in the AHL could bring a swift return to CCM equipment. But if he excels, and there’s plenty of reason to believe he will, we could be witnessing the beginning of a long-term partnership between Collin Graf and Bauer Hockey.

He’s also not alone. Promising young forward Will Smith and defensive phenom Sam Dickinson, both of whom are expected to play major roles in San Jose’s future, are also known Bauer users. The once CCM and Warrior dominated Sharks are slowly turning into a team where Bauer-branded gear is no longer an outlier but a growing norm. It’s a subtle, but telling shift in culture and player preference within the organization.

With training camp just weeks away, keep your eyes on Collin Graf. Not just for the goals and assists he might rack up, but for the stick he’s scoring with, the gloves he’s wearing, and the helmet he’s donning. If it’s Bauer in September, that’s not just a fashion statement, it could be a signal that Graf is here to stay.

Photo Credit: Eakin Howard