The San Jose Sharks return to play on Feb. 14 versus the Winnipeg Jets. Could the Sharks have a healthy lineup by then?
On Sunday Logan Couture missed practice with a groin injury that kept him away for over half the season (45 games). Couture was also put on the Shark’s injury list, though he has not been ruled out for Wednesday’s match up.
Other Sharks who remain day-to-day are Tomas Hertl, Ty Emberson, and Alexander Barabanov.
Hertl missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but made the appearance at NHL’s 2024 All-Star event. The alternate captain’s last appearance was in the Shark’s 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Hertl’s main point of contact was a hip-check from Henri Jokiharju in the second period.
With Hertl absent, 21-year-old William Eklund got a chance at center in the team’s 2-0 win against the Seattle Kraken. Eklund has played mostly as winger during his time with the Sharks. The forward logged two assists as third star in the shutout win. He has six points in the last five games and is on a three-game point streak (five assists, one goal).
As of Feb. 1, Emberson is still day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Emberson last played in the Shark’s 2-0 win over the Kraken, earning one assist. The defenseman has earned nine points in 23 appearances this season.
Barabanov missed many games with a broken finger early in the season. The winger last played in the team’s 3-2 OT loss to the Anaheim Ducks, exiting in the second period. Last season Barabanov had 47 points in 68 games played.
While Mario Ferraro, Henry Thrun, Givani Smith, and Mikael Granlund are on injured reserve, on Sunday they participated in practice.
Thrun suffered an upper-body shoulder injury that sidelined him in late January. The rookie defenseman has three points in 23 games.
Healthy Sharks could see Barabanov, Couture, and Anthony “The Duke” Duclair on a first or second line together. Hopefully the injured centers will be back to the rink sooner than later come Wednesday on the road in Winnipeg.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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