San Jose Sharks Activate John Klingberg
The San Jose Sharks announced today that defenseman John Klingberg has been activated off of injured reserve.
Klingberg missed four consecutive games with a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old has been one of the Sharks’ most heavily-used defensemen this season, tied for first among blueliners in ice time with 21:37 per game. When healthy, he’s also quarterbacked the Sharks’ top power play unit, averaging 3:25 power play time on ice per game.
After two consecutive injury-riddled seasons, this year has been a bounce-back year for Klingberg from a production standpoint. He’s scored nine goals and 16 points in 31 games, which is a 24-goal, 42-point 82-game pace.
Klingberg had scored just 42 points in the three seasons following his 47-point 2021-22 campaign, which was his final year in Dallas.
Although returns in terms of Klingberg’s defensive value have been more mixed, that’s not entirely detached from what was expected of Klingberg even in the best years of his career.
Now back to full health, Klingberg will get the chance to continue to build on his momentum this season with an eye to the summer. His one-year, $4MM contract is set to expire this summer, making him a pending unrestricted free agent.
Sharks Reassign Patrick Giles
Jan. 9: Giles was returned to the AHL today, the team announced. He was scratched for both games of his call-up on Tuesday and Wednesday. The move indicates one of the Sharks’ IR-bound defenders – Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, and Shakir Mukhamadullin – could be returning to action tomorrow.
Jan. 5: The Sharks recalled center Patrick Giles from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda on Monday, per a team announcement. To open a roster spot, the Sharks placed defenseman John Klingberg on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 31.
It’s the second recall of the season for Giles, who last appeared on the roster in November. The 26-year-old, who was acquired from the Panthers in last year’s Vítek Vaněček trade, has 20 games of NHL experience, including three on his previous recall this season.
The Chevy Chase, Maryland, native will provide the Sharks with an extra forward for Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jackets. While they now have 14 forwards on the active roster, Adam Gaudette has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury – although Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News reports he could be an option to return to the lineup against Columbus.
The 6’5″, 218-lb Giles grades out as a fine fourth-line pivot for a few games at a time, but shouldn’t be relied upon more than that. His possession numbers weren’t inspiring in more extended action with Florida last season, and he has a team-worst -10 rating with nine points in 28 games for the Barracuda.
As for Klingberg, San Jose’s top power play quarterback sustained a lower-body injury against the Wild on New Year’s Eve that caused him to sit out Saturday’s loss to the Lightning. He’s been ruled out of the Sharks’ upcoming back-to-back but will be eligible to return this weekend against the Stars, per Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest.
His absence means more opportunities for youngsters Sam Dickinson and Vincent Iorio while veteran Nick Leddy gets some added reps as well, despite serving as a healthy scratch for most of the campaign. Klingberg’s nine goals and 16 points in 31 games have him on pace for his best offensive showing since departing Dallas in free agency in 2022.
Snapshots: Schwartz, Toews, Sharks
A long awaited return could be coming soon, as Seattle forward Jaden Schwartz was a full practice participant donning a no-contact jersey, as reported by Sound Of Hockey. The veteran hasn’t played since late November, in week five of his initial six-week expected absence.
Schwartz suffered a lower-body injury against Dallas on November 26. Despite struggling to create offense, currently last in the league in that category, Seattle holds a Wild Card spot, and has stayed afloat without their key forward. A pending UFA in the final year of his five year deal worth $5.5MM per season, on paper the 33-year-old could be a trade candidate. However, especially given their status in the playoff mix, it is thought that the Kraken would like to retain Schwartz into the twilight years of his career as a leader on a young forward core, with a Stanley Cup under his belt.
Unfortunately, Schwartz is no stranger to injuries throughout his career, as the 15 year veteran has not reached the 82 game mark, coming up one game short in 2024-25. Yet when healthy, he remains productive, with 15 points in 23 games this season. The small sample size is on pace for his best season with Seattle. A return by tomorrow’s game is unlikely, but Schwartz could return by later in the week.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Colorado defenseman Devon Toews is out tonight due to an upper-body injury, as reported by Corey Masisak of The Denver Post. While it is not officially connected, the ailment is likely related to Saturday, when Toews fell awkwardly into the boards. He was able to finish the game, but now, has missed his first of the campaign. The 31-year-old’s offensive output has taken a step back this season, with 13 points in 40 games, below his usual 50-point pace. Yet he and Cale Makar complement each other perfectly, forming one of the very best pairings in the league on both ends of the ice. Toews could return as soon as Tuesday, as the Avs travel to Tampa Bay.
- Two San Jose defensemen were absent from practice today, John Klingberg and Shakir Mukhamadullin, as shared by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. Klingberg was out of yesterday’s game, and the top defender was sorely missed as the club lost 7-3 to Tampa Bay. The veteran is dealing with a lower-body injury, and based on today’s news, he could return sometime later in the week. Overcoming major injury concerns in the past, Klingberg has enjoyed a resurgence with San Jose, eating minutes on the top pairing and helping the team show real promise. On the other hand, Mukhamadullin left yesterday’s game after just five minutes of ice time due to injury. Veteran Nick Leddy could return to the lineup Tuesday if neither are able to return, having not played since December 23.
West Injury Notes: Avalanche, Klingberg, Mukhamadullin
Much like he did a few days ago ahead of their road trip through the southeast, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar provided a few more injury updates this afternoon. Provided by Corey Misiak of The Denver Post, Bednar said that the team is expecting netminder Mackenzie Blackwood and forward Joel Kiviranta to return after the trip.
Additionally, on the positive side of the update, Bedar indicated that although he won’t play tonight, forward Gavin Brindley may return as early as tomorrow against the Florida Panthers. Both Kiviranta and Brindley are dealing with lower-body injuries, though neither is expected to miss too much time.
The news is also good regarding Blackwood. The Avalanche did not initially provide a timeline for his recovery, so a few days missed should not significantly impact their chances on the three-game road trip. Bednar mentioned to Misiak that Blackwood’s injury was discovered at the team’s practice on Thursday.
Other injury notes from the Western Conference:
- The San Jose Sharks were missing blueliner John Klingberg in their blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning today. Before the game, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now shared that Klingberg is dealing with a lower-body issue. The Sharks could have used Klingberg’s offensive capabilities today, as he’s scored nine goals and 16 points in his first 31 games with the club.
- Outside of Klingberg, the Sharks are dealing with another injured defenseman from today’s game. Shortly before the start of the third period, San Jose shared that Shakir Mukhamadullin has exited the game due to injury, without specifying if it was a lower or upper-body issue. The 23-year-old defenseman skated in 5:33 of today’s contest, earning a -3 rating with one blocked shot.
Sharks Reassign Luca Cagnoni
Oct. 22: The Sharks announced Wednesday they’ve reassigned Cagnoni back to AHL San Jose. He did not play in the lone game he was rostered for, a 4-3 loss to the Islanders last night. His demotion indicates John Klingberg should be back in the lineup tomorrow against the Rangers after missing three games with a lower-body injury. While he didn’t play yesterday, he was a full participant in morning skate, Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest relays.
Oct. 19: The San Jose Sharks have recalled Luca Cagnoni, one of their top defensive prospects, from their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. In a corresponding move, the team placed defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin on injured reserve. Mukhamadullin is dealing with an upper-body injury and is now set to miss the team’s upcoming four-game road trip.
Although the Sharks have one of the NHL’s more crowded bluelines at this point (this recall gives them eight healthy defensemen, per Puckpedia’s tracking) this move is nonetheless an opportunity for Cagnoni. The 20-year-old 2023 fourth-round pick had an exceptional debut campaign in pro hockey last year, amassing 52 points in 64 AHL games en route to AHL All-Rookie Team honors.
An undersized left-shot defenseman, Cagnoni’s calling card has always been his ability to generate offense from the blueline. While it’s still likely too early in the season to assess overall trends for teams, the Sharks currently rank 28th in goals scored per game and have scored just four goals in their last three games.
Should Cagnoni get into any NHL games due to this recall, the move could potentially help spark the Sharks’ offense due to the creativity Cagnoni offers from the blueline. Cagnoni has six NHL games on his résumé from last season, wherein he registered two points.
While Cagnoni appears unlikely to displace Dmitry Orlov or Mario Ferraro as one of the Sharks’ top-two left-side blueliners (at least at this point in his career), it’s possible the Sharks could give Sam Dickinson (who is still just 19 years old) a breather and dress Cagnoni for a game instead.
Such a move would not be without precedent: the Pittsburgh Penguins scratched rookie blueliner Harrison Brunicke as part of a larger development plan to keep their young blueliner “fresh” and capable of sustaining a high level of play.
Since Dickinson is occupying a second-unit power play role with John Klingberg injured, it’s also a possibility that Cagnoni gets a look there should they elect to give Dickinson a game off.
Regardless of whether Cagnoni ultimately gets into NHL games as a result of this recall or not, it’s nonetheless an encouraging sign for the young blueliner’s long-term future that he’s already being called upon as an option for the NHL roster.
Injury Notes: Klingberg, Liljegren, Lindholm
A trio of Swedish defensemen have been banged up, but are not expected to miss much time. First, out of San Jose, Sheng Peng of NBC Sports California updated earlier today that John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren are out day-to-day, and are questionable for Friday, when the Sharks go to Utah. Both players were hurt last night, as San Jose was drubbed by Carolina, although each played high minutes. Liljegren is considered upper-body, which aligns with when he appeared shaken up after going down hard in an attempt to pin a Hurricane along the boards.
Peng also added a key note, that fortunately, given that it was listed as lower-body, Klingberg’s ailment is not related to his ongoing hip trouble. For now, the Sharks could turn to Vincent Desharnais to make his season debut, along with the more intriguing young Shakir Mukhamadullin, who posted two assists in his only game this season.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm recently told Belle Fraser, Multimedia Producer of the team, that Hampus Lindholm is also day-to-day, but is expected to resume skating tomorrow. The veteran enjoyed a major career resurgence in Boston in 2022-23, but unfortunately has been chasing it since, especially with an injury riddled 2024-25. Thankfully, Lindholm has managed to skate in two games for Boston so far, as he looks to get back on track and hope to help lead the team back to the playoffs come spring.
Snapshots: Devils Reassignments, Sharks Injuries, Lucic
The New Jersey Devils reassigned forwards Lenni Hameenaho and Shane Lachance to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets today. The move corresponded with the team’s signing of veteran Luke Glendening earlier today. Both Hameenaho and Lachance are young forwards who appear relatively close to being NHL-ready, if they have not reached that status already. Lachance in particular had a strong preseason, but it would be surprising if both do not see NHL time at some point this season.
Lachance, 22, was traded to the Devils in March as part of the larger Trent Frederic trade, and signed with the team shortly after at the conclusion of his NCAA career with Boston University. The 22-year-old is a 6’4 winger who scored 30 points in his final 40 games in college and had two points in a two-game cameo late last season with the Comets. Lachance is the son of Scott Lachance, who has been a member of the Devils’ hockey operations department since his retirement as a player (2007-08) and currently serves as the team’s director of amateur scouting. Hameenaho, 20, was the Devils’ top pick at the 2023 draft and had 51 points in 58 games for Liiga’s Assat Pori last season.
Some more notes from around the league:
- A slate of injury updates was reported in San Jose today, with San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reporting that two veteran defenders, Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg, are dealing with upper-body injuries. Bay Area News Group’s Curtis Pashelka also reported that forward Egor Afanasyev and defenseman Jack Thompson are dealing with lower-body injuries and are both day-to-day. Peng added that both Orlov and Klingberg are expected to be ready to play in the team’s season-opening game on Thursday, but the same cannot be said about Afaneseyev and Thompson, as their availability for Thursday is unclear.
- St. Louis Blues PTO signing Milan Lucic is currently dealing with a lower-body injury, and remains with the team as he works through his recovery, reports NHL.com’s Lou Korac. According to Korac, the Blues will extend Lucic’s PTO in 10-day increments as he works his way back into full health. While Lucic could still be a candidate to earn a full-time contract with the Blues, it is important to note that the 37-year-old winger has not only missed almost two full seasons of hockey, but also was not a particularly effective player even when he last played, nor did he have a notably strong preseason.
Snapshots: Finnie, Girard, Klingberg
The Detroit Red Wings entered training camp looking to find the right left winger to skate on the team’s first line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. After four preseason games, an unexpected candidate appears to have emerged: 2023 seventh-round pick Emmitt Finnie. The 20-year-old winger has scored a goal and registered an assist this preseason, and has generated positive reports due to his performances in training camp.
Today, The Athletic’s Max Bultman wrote that Finnie is a legitimate contender to start the season on the Red Wings’ top line. Veteran James van Riemsdyk entered the preseason as the favorite for the role, but has missed all of camp attending to a family matter. Elmer Soderblom was a possibility, but did not make a big impact when given the chance to play with Larkin and Raymond. That leaves Finnie in line to begin the season in that role, which would be quite the way for him to start his full-time pro career. Finnie spent most of last season in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers, and scored five points in 13 games in a late-season cameo with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Other notes from across the NHL:
- This morning, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told Guerilla Sports’ Jesse Montano that veteran defenseman Samuel Girard is nearing a return to the ice, albeit in a non-contact capacity. Girard is currently managing a lower-body injury, and Bednar said the target for the blueliner is to make a return in time for opening night. Girard was Colorado’s number-three defenseman by ice time last season, averaging 20:50 time-on-ice per game including time on both sides of special teams.
- San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg returned to practice as a non-contact participant, and is nearing a return to full participation according to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng. Klingberg has missed a portion of the last week of training camp recovering from an upper-body injury, but based on today’s reporting it appears his availability for the start of the regular season is not in question. Klingberg signed a one-year, $4MM contract in San Jose this past summer after skating in 19 playoff games for the Edmonton Oilers en route to a Western Conference title.
West Notes: Mammoth, Lucic, Klingberg, Kaprizov
As is the case around many training camps, the Mammoth are dealing with a couple of injuries. KSL Sports’ Cole Bagley notes (Twitter link) that winger JJ Peterka and defenseman Olli Maatta are both listed as out day-to-day but aren’t supposed to be out for long. Peterka was Utah’s big offseason addition, coming over in a trade from Buffalo after putting up 27 goals and 41 assists in 77 games. Meanwhile, Maatta was acquired in an early-season swap last year with the team dealing with injury woes on the back end and did well enough to earn himself a three-year, $10.5MM extension soon after.
More from out West:
- The Blues expect winger Milan Lucic to be back to full practice on Monday, relays Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic (Twitter link). He’s currently listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, a tough spot to be in for someone who is on a PTO in camp and is trying to make the team. Lucic last played in 2023-24 (where he suited up just four times) and is hoping to land a spot on the fourth line in St. Louis. He’ll need to get some more preseason action under his belt to have a shot at accomplishing that objective.
- Sharks defenseman John Klingberg is expected to return to practice soon, reports Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News (Twitter link). The veteran has missed the last few days of camp due to an upper-body injury. Klingberg inked a one-year, $4MM contract with San Jose early in free agency after playing well in limited action with Edmonton, including four points in 19 playoff games. Generally a defenseman who can put up some offensive production, he’ll have a chance to do that on a Sharks back end that doesn’t have too many offensive threats as things stand.
- Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov is dealing with an eye infection that will keep him out of the lineup, notes Michael Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link). Head coach John Hynes noted that Kaprizov is already on antibiotics and that the hope is that he won’t miss much time. The veteran was limited to just 41 games last season due to injuries although it didn’t stop him from declining what was reported to be the richest contract offer in NHL history earlier this offseason.
West Injury Updates: White, Klingberg, Buium
San Jose Sharks forward Colin White is dealing with an upper-body injury that will sideline him on a week-to-week recovery timeline, reports Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest. It’s a tough blow for the 28-year-old center as he’ll miss an opportunity to compete in training camp and preseason games that could help him push for an NHL role. The 28-year-old 2015 first-round pick was a full-time NHLer from 2018-19, when he scored 41 points for the Ottawa Senators, through 2022-23. But persistent injury issues (White missed most of 2021-22 due to shoulder surgery) along with declining performance led to White losing his status as a full-time NHL player.
White played in 24 AHL games in 2023-24 and spent most of 2024-25 as an AHL player. He scored 25 points for the San Jose Barracuda and got into a total of three NHL games. Despite the fact that he played in his fewest NHL games of any season in the past half-decade as a Shark, White elected to re-sign in San Jose on a one-year, two-way contract carrying a $775K NHL salary, $425K AHL salary, and $475K guarantee. Now sidelined by this upper-body injury, White won’t be able to compete for a spot on the Sharks’ opening-night roster.
Some other injury updates from the Western Conference:
- Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky also issued an update on a second injured player, veteran blueliner John Klingberg. Klingberg is also dealing with an upper-body injury and is out on a day-to-day timeline. Warsofsky added that Klingberg’s injury isn’t related to the hip issues that cost Klingberg significant time over the last two years. After signing with the Edmonton Oilers and helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final, Klingberg signed a one-year, $4MM contract in San Jose with the expectation that he’d play in a top-four role. This injury appears to be a slight setback for him, but thankfully not one likely to impact his status for the start of the season.
- There had been some concern among fans in the Twin Cities when Minnesota Wild rookie Zeev Buium, considered by many to be a leading Calder Trophy contender, missed a third consecutive day of training camp due to injury. But Buium was a full participant at practice today and Wild coach John Hynes told reporters (including The Athletic’s Joe Smith) that Buium is progressing well and is likely to dress for the club’s preseason game on Thursday. That Buium appears to have avoided any major injury trouble is great news for the Wild, who are likely to rely on Buium quite a bit in his rookie campaign. The 19-year-old former University of Denver star is an elite puck distributor and could very well start the season quarterbacking a power play unit ahead of one of Brock Faber or Jared Spurgeon.