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Latest On Klingberg, Mukhamadullin

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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. 

Sharks Sign Alexander Wennberg To Extension

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This afternoon the San Jose Sharks locked up pending free agent center Alexander Wennberg as first reported by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

The team went on to officially announce that the deal is for three years at a $6MM AAV.

Signed to a two-year deal worth $5MM per season in 2024, Wennberg has enjoyed playing a larger role on a lesser team of late. An eventual deal to a top contender was likely in mind, but today’s news indicates that San Jose sees Wennberg as much more than merely a veteran placeholder. In a thin trade market for centers, GM Mike Grier could have added even more futures to his loaded cupboard. Yet especially given their step forward this season, the Swede will stay with the Sharks for the foreseeable future and help them blossom into a serious contender in the late 2020s. After so much turnaround in recent years, the core is starting to solidify.

At a $6MM price tag through his age-34 season, the figure for Wennberg is indicative of a limited free agent market, especially down the middle. With another forward now erased from the board, Utah’s Nick Schmaltz remains the likely top center available. The 29-year-old is peaking at the right time, with 36 points in 42 games, and would be wise to hit the market with another counterpart now out of the picture.

As for Wennberg, AFP Analytics predicted that he’d be due for a four year extension worth $4.8MM per season. Therefore, the more favorable three year term came with an added cost, enough to sway Wennberg away from the open market, and San Jose comfortably has the cap room to do so. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith remain on their entry level deals for one more season, and the Sharks will also have Jeff Skinner’s $3MM coming off the books this summer, along with over $15 million across practically their entire defense core.

Once a high end prospect for Columbus, Wennberg broke out in 2016-17 with 56 points, seemingly on his path to become a high end offensive top six driver. Since then, he’s had no more than 38 points in a season, ending up a more defensive center with playmaking ability. He made stops in Florida, Seattle, and New York, before coming to San Jose on a generous deal which helped the rebuilding club fill the void of Logan Couture while reaching the cap floor.

Wennberg posted 35 points in 77 contests last season, but especially with the team playing much better overall, he’s taken a step forward with 26 in 41 games. On most contenders, Wennberg would be a true third line center, but clearly he enjoys playing a key role on a dynamic young team, earning more salary to do so. He posts strong defensive and playmaking metrics, proving to be a highly valued supporting piece.

Above the .500 mark at the midway point, San Jose sneaking into the playoffs still seems unlikely, but considering their progress under Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky, the team will be a threat for the duration of Wennberg’s deal. With an abundance of assets and the unique opportunity to overhaul their back end this summer, Grier checks a big box today, with his forward corps mostly sorted out.

Today’s news is a nice morale boost for the group as they return to action on Tuesday, aiming to maintain their playoff push and cap off the rebuild ahead of schedule.

Photo courtesy of Jerome Miron – Imagn Images. 

John Klingberg Out With Lower-Body Injury

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  • 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.

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Evening Notes: Hutson, Plante, Sherwood, Leddy

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Washington Capitals defense prospect Cole Hutson and Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante are both dealing with day-to-day injuries with Team USA at the 2026 World Junior Championship per NHL.com’s Mike Morreale.

Hutson was injuried when a stray puck hit him in the back of the head in Saturday’s game against Switzerland. It was a scary moment that ended with Hutson being carted off the ice and transported to the hospital. Luckily, he left the hospital later that night avoided the worst case scenario. He returned to Team USA’s practice on Monday morning.

Plante hasn’t yet returned to practice after sustaining an injury in the second period of Monday’s game against Slovakia.

Both players sat out of USA’s Wednesday matchup against Team Sweden. The Americans lost that matchup 3-6. Hutson led the 2025 World Juniors in scoring with 11 points in seven games. Plante led the NCAA in scoring before leaving for this tournament. He has 30 points in 20 games. The two are major pillars of the American lineup. Their day-to-day status will be a silver lining as the Americans eye a tough elimination round.

Other notes from around the league:

  • The San Jose Sharks have expressed interest in Vancouver Canucks scorer Kiefer Sherwood per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman in a recent interview on the FAN Hockey Show. The 30-year-old winger would be an interesting buy for a Sharks club well outside of playoff contention. He has offered Vancouver a unique mix of goal-scoring and heavy-hitting. Sherwood recorded 19 goals, 40 points, and an NHL record 462 hits in 78 games last season. He is continuing in that line this year, with 16 goals and 184 hits in only 39 games. Those numbers put him on pace for 34 goals and 387 hits in 82 games this season. Bringing in that impact could help San Jose protect their young stars and add a bit more veteran shooting to the mix as they eye cheap additions to the lineup.
  • Sticking in San Jose, young defender Shakir Mukhamadullin rotated back into the lineup for Nick Leddy in Wednesday’s shootout win over the Minnesota Wild per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. He recorded two shots on goal and no points. The Sharks have rotated between the two defenders over their recent stretch. Mukhamadullin has managed six points, 10 hits, and 21 shot blocks in 21 games. Leddy has three assists and 20 shot blocks in 15 games. The two will continue rotating while San Jose waits on Timothy Liljegren’s nearing return.

San Jose Sharks Injury Updates

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Ahead of tomorrow’s matchup against the Minnesota Wild, the head coach of the San Jose Sharks, Ryan Warsofsky, issued a multitude of injury updates. Unfortunately, there weren’t too many positive updates.

Regarding the forward core, and likely the most optimistic of all the updates, Warsofsky relayed to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News that both Philipp Kurashev (upper body) and Will Smith (undisclosed) skated this morning. Additional reporting suggests that they skated before the team’s full practice, and they’re still both considered week-to-week.

Warsofsky also shared with Pashelka that Adam Gaudette is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, which explains Pavol Regenda’s recall earlier today. Still, the impact of being without Kurashev and Smith for the next few weeks can’t be overstated. Despite being out since December 13th, the latter remains the second-highest scorer in San Jose with 12 goals and 29 points in 33 games. Kurashev is ninth with 15 points in 31 contests.

Furthermore, the Sharks will be playing with a banged-up defensive core, too. Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest reported that Timothy Liljegren will not suit up against the Wild tomorrow and remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The former 17th overall pick has not played since December 18th and has registered four assists in 28 games this season while averaging over 20 minutes per night.

Additionally, the team doesn’t expect Vincent Desharnais to return anytime soon. Miller added in the same report that Desharnais is still considered week-to-week, which could push his games lost past 20. Desharnais, who, like Liljegren, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, has only appeared in 20 games for San Jose this season.

The only injured member of the team’s defense that hasn’t been ruled out tomorrow is Shakir Mukhamadullin. Still, Pashelka noted that Mukhamadullin is questionable, meaning the Sharks could be down to six healthy blue liners. Fortunately, their only away game until January 15th is against the Los Angeles Kings on January 7th, meaning they’ll have easy access to additional bodies for the next few weeks if needed.

Sharks Recall Pavol Regenda

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The Sharks announced they’ve recalled winger Pavol Regenda from the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. They had an open roster spot after sending Ethan Cardwell down last week.

Regenda’s recall comes after center Adam Gaudette sustained a lower-body injury in last night’s win over the Ducks, Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports. It’s unclear if the 29-year-old, who had three points in his last three outings, re-aggravated the same lower-body injury that held him out for a game earlier this month.

The Sharks weren’t carrying an extra forward, so if Gaudette can’t go against the Wild tomorrow, Regenda will enter the lineup unless they opt to dress seven defensemen. The 26-year-old was added to the roster for a three-day stretch at the beginning of the month and was quite valuable in a bottom-six role, notching a pair of goals while averaging 12:43 of ice time across two contests.

Acquired from Anaheim last season, Regenda has been a well-established power forward in the AHL since signing with the Ducks as a free agent in 2022. The 6’4″, 212-lb winger arrived in North America on the heels of a strong showing at the Olympics and World Championship for his native Slovakia, and he’ll presumably be on his way to Milan in February to suit up for them again alongside a forward group led by young stars Dalibor Dvorsky and Juraj Slafkovsky.

In 28 games for the Barracuda this year, Regenda has four goals and eight assists for 12 points with a -3 rating. That’s his worst point-per-game output since arriving in the AHL, where he’s routinely paced at or above half a point per game.

Misa Injury In Canada's Pre-Tournament Game Not Considered Serious

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  • While forward Michael Misa left Canada’s World Junior pre-tournament game on Tuesday due to injury, it shouldn’t keep him out of the lineup when things get underway on Friday, relays TSN’s Mark Masters. Misa was a late arrival after being loaned out by the Sharks and has only played in seven games this season where he has three points.  San Jose still has to decide if they’re going to bring the 18-year-old back after the tournament or loan him back to junior and not officially begin the first year of his entry-level contract.  If there are any lingering injury concerns by the time this tournament ends, that would certainly play a big role in their decision.

Sharks Reassign Ethan Cardwell To AHL

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With the NHL now off for the next three days, there have been a handful of roster moves around the league today.  The new rule saying that players must play in at least one AHL game if they’re sent down has limited the number of moves but San Jose was among those to make one.  Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News relays (Twitter link) that the Sharks have assigned winger Ethan Cardwell to AHL San Jose.

The 23-year-old was recalled a little more than a week ago following injuries to forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev.  Since the promotion was so recent, Cardwell remained eligible to be sent down even with the roster freeze in effect.

Cardwell got into three games with the Sharks on this stint, bringing his season total to seven.  However, the most recent one – last night against Vegas – was particularly tough as he was on the ice for four goals against despite playing a season-low 9:48.  He didn’t pick up any points over those three outings, keeping his total for the campaign at one, a goal scored back in early November.

Cardwell has spent the bulk of the season with the Barracuda but injuries have limited him to just 14 games.  He has been productive in those outings, however, with three goals and six assists.

With the move, San Jose now has one open roster spot.  They can either choose to fill it by calling someone else up as early as Saturday or, if Kurashev is able to return, he can be activated into that vacancy.

Sharks Could Move Multiple Defensemen

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On last Friday’s episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period mentioned the San Jose Sharks’ abundance of pending free agent defensemen, saying that teams will have a look. Pagnotta mentioned Mario Ferraro as the likely leading candidate, followed by Timothy Liljegren, Vincent Desharnais, Nick Leddy, and finally, John Klingberg. Surprisingly, all five are pending unrestricted free agents, and it’s hard to imagine the Sharks will end the season empty handed. 

San Jose GM Mike Grier has shown a willingness to wheel and deal, often bringing in overpaid veterans along with additional assets, helping them find their game and provide leadership, then promptly sending them on their way. Jake Walman, Mikael Granlund, and Cody Ceci all proved to be such examples last season, and naturally, the team figures to follow the same strategy as they move out those not in the long term plans. 

The only issue is that San Jose has exceeded expectations so far, impressively just two points out of wild card range. With Macklin Celebrini playing at an elite level already, and Yaroslav Askarov finding his groove, the revival may have arrived a year or so ahead of schedule. Now, Grier must sort through his roster to determine which veterans can bring additional assets, while not hurting the overall team’s performance. 

Ferraro stands out, as he has been subject to rumors for a number of years. Evident of their complete tear down, the 27-year-old is the longest tenured Shark, breaking into the league when Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Brent Burns still rocked the teal. Ferraro faced the brunt of the Sharks’ darkest days in the last few seasons, with statistics which weren’t pretty. This year he has just seven points in 36 games, but plays more of a shutdown role. As fellow lefty Sam Dickinson establishes himself as a major part of the future, Ferraro and his reasonable $3.25MM cap hit is likely expendable, even if San Jose remains in the hunt. 

Klingberg and Leddy, both stars in the mid 2010s, have $4MM cap hits and trade protection alike. Klingberg has enjoyed a resurgence as a Shark. In recent years he faced major injuries and lack of NHL interest. The end appeared near, but after signing with the Sharks, he’s turned back the clock, playing heavy top pair minutes and notching 15 points in 27 games. If San Jose were still dropping 50+ games in a season, dealing the veteran would be a no-brainer, but as such a great fit, it may take a strong offer, if Klingberg is even willing to waive his NMC. If Grier is willing to utilize his last salary retention spot on Klingberg, the longtime Dallas Star becomes an especially interesting asset. 

Meanwhile, Leddy has not had the same success, and it appears perhaps father time has caught up to the 34-year-old who relies on mobility. Leddy has dealt with injuries this season, able to play in 14 games, tallying three assists. Given his contract, a move would be difficult. Leddy may finish the season as a Shark for better or worse, but the Stanley Cup Champion surely is fully aware of his role at this point, and embracing it. 

Liljegren and Desharnais may both have a more limited market, but they are coveted right handed shots. A former top prospect of Toronto, Liljegren is still just 26. However, with four points in 28 games, his $3MM cap hit wouldn’t be easy to move, relative to production. The Leafs fetched a third round pick for his services in 2024, and it is hard to imagine he’d bring more now. Desharnais, on the other hand, is slightly more affordable and brings the size teams salivate over at the deadline. Acquired by San Jose for just a fifth-round pick, Grier would probably come out ahead in any deal. 

Although they are likely in no rush, due to their success, San Jose has a unique opportunity to come out next season with an entirely new defense core. From their longest tenured player in Ferraro, to a former star who unexpectedly has found new life in Klingberg, any contender could choose from Grier’s well stocked shelves of rental defensemen this spring. 

Sharks’ Will Smith Out Week-To-Week, Collin Graf Questionable

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Luck was not on the San Jose Sharks’ side during Monday’s practice. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky designated top young forward Will Smith as out week-to-week with an upper-body injury and won’t be re-evaluated until 2026, per Max Miller of Ssan Jose Hockey Digest. Smith has been out since sustaining an injury in San Jose’s December 13th matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On top of that injury, top-line winger Collin Graf had to get stitches during Monday’s practice, after an erant puck hit him in the face. The puck avoided Graf’s eye and seemed to injure his cheek, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. The Sharks aren’t yet sure if Graf will be available for their three-game road trip that runs through a December 29th matchup against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Sharks will continue to face an uphill battle without Smith in the lineup. He has driven the offense when he’s on the ice, netting 12 goals and 29 points in 33 games this season, good for second on the Sharks in scoring behind Macklin Celebrini. San Jose has lost two of their three games since Smith’s injury, painting his importance to the lineup even amid a scoring surge for the Sharks.

In Smith’s absence, Graf has emerged as a key factor and scoring compliment to Celebrini. He has four points in three games without Smith, and six points in his last five games. That hot streak has brought Graf up to 19 points in 35 games this season, eight more than he managed in 33 games of his rookie year last season. Graf has also contributed 29 shot blocks and 34 hits, ranked third and sixth among Sharks forwards respectively.

The 23-year-old Graf has carved out a nightly role in the top-six in December. His absence would force San Jose to push either William Eklund or Jeff Skinner – who has recently served as a healthy scratch – into a top-line role. The Sharks could also push Adam Gaudette or Tyler Toffoli into elevated minutes, if they’re willing to shake up their wingers.

One piece that will make the shakeup a bit easier is the emergence of rookie Igor Chernyshov, who has been playing on the top-line next to Graf and Celebrini and recorded three assists in his first three NHL games. Chernyshov was a breakout scorer in the OHL last season and leads the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda in scoring with 23 points in 25 games this year. He could quickly be leaned on as San Jose looks to mitigate injuries to a pair of high-impact forwards.

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