Sharks’ Captain Logan Couture is making progress with an undisclosed lower body injury. The captain has not played this season and missed training camp. On Wednesday in an optional skate, Couture was on a fifth line with Alexander Barabanov and Ryan Carpenter.
Carpenter also remains on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. The centerman last played on Dec. 3.
On Dec. 17 center Nico Sturm’s middle body injury was still considered out week to week. Sturm last played on Dec. 12 in the Sharks’ 2-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets.
Anthony Duclair is back in the lineup after being scratched on Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Duclair will play in the second line with Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund.
Duclair is a pending unrestricted free agent in his tenth season with seven teams in the NHL. Before joining the Sharks, Duclair played with the Florida Panthers from 2020-2023.
The forward played 74 games in the 2021-2022 season with 31 goals and 21 assists. In the 2020-2021 season Duclair had 32 points over 43 games played with the Panthers.
The New York Rangers might consider Duclair an option after a disappointing start from veteran Blake Wheeler.
While the Rangers are first in the metropolitan division, forward Kaapo Kakko remains out with a long-term injury. Kakko might have had a breakout 2023-2024 season on the top line before suffering a lower-body injury. The 22 year-old had 40 points in 82 games played the prior regular season.
With two key players left questionable, the Rags could look to the Sharks for trade talk.
Because of the Sharks unfortunate start and rebuilding position, another player up for trade talks has been Ferraro.
San Jose could get a lot in return for the defenseman who was drafted in 2017 in the second round. Ferraro has been with the Sharks since 2019 and yet to see a post season.
The 25 year-old defenseman told San Jose Hockey Now, “I feel like I have unfinished business here [San Jose].” He added, “I feel like I still owe them [the organization] and the fans.”
With veteran players like Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Couture in doubt for play, evaluating assets to build around will be key.
Teams like the Philadelphia Flyers or the Carolina Hurricanes could benefit from Ferraro in their lineup.
At this point, the Sharks organization will have to consider their options in a rebuilding season rather than a reset.
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Featured image courtesy of San Jose Sharks on NHL.com
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