- 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 Rumors
Sharks Reassign Ethan Cardwell To AHL
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
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
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.
Latest On Igor Chernyshov
- While the injury suffered by San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith was certainly not something the Sharks have benefited from, the opportunity provided by his absence in the lineup has at least been something other young players have so far been able to take advantage of. 2024 second-round pick Igor Chernyshov has played in the first three NHL games of his career, landing on franchise pivot Macklin Celebrini’s wing as a result of Smith’s absence. He’s managed three assists in his first three games, playing at an impressive level for a player with no prior experience at the NHL level. That has raised questions as to whether the Sharks would benefit from keeping Chernyshov in the NHL, even after Smith returns, and per San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky admitted the team “didn’t think he was gonna be this quick to help us,” and added that Chernyshov has far exceeded expectations thus far in the NHL.
Latest On Sam Dickinson
The Team Canada World Juniors roster appears set, with two final dominos falling: San Jose will not loan defenseman Sam Dickinson, per Frank Seravalli, and Seattle won’t loan forward Berkly Catton either, also noted by Seravalli.
Dickinson was a real candidate, as he would have brought key experience to Team Canada’s back end, as the only returning defenseman on the team. The 19-year-old has the distinction of being the only d-man under 20 to not be loaned out, other than Matthew Schaefer, which is to no surprise. Dickinson has not made quite the same impact as last summer’s first overall pick, as he has just three points in 27 games. Although helping lead Team Canada in a push for gold for a final time could have been a breath of fresh air for the exciting two-way defender, San Jose opts to hold onto Dickinson and not lose a true lineup contributor who continues to develop.
Similar to Dickinson, Catton has not exactly had a Schaefer-like impact yet either, with five points in 21 games, all assists. However, as emphasized by Seravalli, Catton is set to return from injury soon, and with Mason Marchment traded to Columbus, he will have a larger role on the Kraken once healthy, enough to keep the skilled forward from a Team Canada return.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Despite rumblings, Predators forward Ryan O’Reilly is not open to being moved at this time, as shared by Pierre LeBrun in an article for The Athletic. The respected veteran center is a pending free agent on an affordable ($4.5MM) contract, so naturally the appeal is there. However, although he has no such trade protection, O’Reilly and Nashville have a mutual agreement to treat it as if so, and for now, the 34-year-old will stay put. O’Reilly has 28 points in 34 games, continuing to play at a high level on both ends. However, GM Barry Trotz brought him in prior to 2023-24, when the Predators appeared firmly in a rebuild, before their attempted revival. Therefore, while on paper it would be wise to bring in a haul, O’Reilly’s impact in the locker room was always a major focus. Things could be revisited closer to the Trade Deadline, but O’Reilly simply playing out the deal is a real possibility, especially as the Ontario native has already won a Stanley Cup.
- Ahead of tonight’s game, Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube told reporters, including David Alter of The Hockey News, that Easton Cowan and Calle Jarnkrok would be scratched, while Max Domi and Steven Lorentz entered the lineup in Dallas. Cowan’s designation comes as a bit of a surprise as he was in the starting lineup on the first line last night in Nashville, notching 16:17 of ice time, with an assist. The 20-year-old has 11 points in 26 games, but according to Berube, a reset is needed. Jarnkrok has been a solid third liner for years, but at 34, he has just four goals on the season and his scratching is less of a surprise. Meanwhile, Domi jumps right into Cowan’s slot on the first line, eager to find his game in a bid to extend his Leafs tenure. Finally, Lorentz returns to a fourth line deployment, a role familiar for the 29-year-old.
Snapshots: Grzelcyk, Vatrano, Liljegren
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was fined $2,604.17 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Ottawa Senators’ center Tim Stutzle on Saturday. It is the maximum allowable fine under the CBA for this infraction. Grzelcyk cross-checked Stutzle in the face during a scrum in front of the net and was awarded a double-minor penalty. He will avoid suspension for the incident, allowing him to stick in a true utility role for the Blackhawks. Grzelcyk has averaged over 20 minutes of ice time in his last five games, far above the 16 minutes he’s averaged across the full season. He’s a veteran two-way defender with six points, all assists, and a plus-three in 35 games this season.
Other quick notes from around the league:
- Anaheim Ducks forward Frank Vatrano was also fined $5,000 by the NHL DPS for unsportsmanlike conduct against Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. Vatrano ragdolled Robertson after a shoving match in front of the net turned into a scrum on the boards. He has 34 penalty minutes in 35 games this season, to go with only five points and a minus-11. This news will keep Vatrano in a daily, depth role for the Ducks.
- The San Jose Sharks could be without defenseman Timothy Liljegren when they face the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Liljegren was designated as day-to-day and doubtful for Tuesday due to an upper-body injury, per Curtis Pashelka of Mercury News. Liljegren has averaged top-line minutes over in 28 games this season, though he only has four assists and a minus-10 on the year. Still, the 26 year old has stepped into an important, veteran role on a young Sharks lineup. He’ll be tough to replace, but rookie defender Sam Dickinson and depth defender Vincent Iorio could be the one to benefit from the need for a bigger presence.
Sharks Notes: Dellandrea, Gaudette, Skinner, Kurashev
The San Jose Sharks will see the return of depth forwards Ty Dellandrea and Adam Gaudette in Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Stars, per Max Miller of The Hockey News. Dellandrea sustained a hand injury after blocking a shot in Tuesday’s win over the Calgary Flames. He left the game briefly but returned before things wrapped up – though still carried a questionable tag through the rest of the week. Gaudette sat out on Tuesday after sustaining a lower-body injury last Saturday.
Both returnees are slated to fill out San Jose’s third-line alongside winger Ethan Cardwell. Gaudette snapped a four-game scoring drought with a goal before his injury on Saturday. He has seven goals and 11 points in 29 games this season. Nearly half of those points – five – came across an eight-game streak between late November and early December. Dellandrea is having a career year, with 10 points in 34 games. That’s well above the scoring pace from the 2022-23 season, when he set a career-high 28 points in 82 games.
Other notes out of San Jose:
- To make room for Gaudette and Dellandrea, the Sharks will once again send veteran winger Jeff Skinner to the press box. Skinner has been in-and-out of the lineup through much of the last two months. He’s appeared in five of San Jose’s eight games in December. The Sharks won four of those games but Skinner didn’t manage any scoring. He has just seven points in 22 games this season, a career-low scoring pace. Skinner will continue to serve as a plug-and-play winger for the Sharks.
- A timeline has also become clear for Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev, who sustained a long-term upper-body injury last week. He is expected to be back to full health before the NHL’s February break, and should be prepared to take the ice for Team Switzerland should he be named to the team, per Curtis Pashelka of Mercury News. Kurashev has found a surprising bit of offense with a move from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Sharks. He has six goals and 15 points in 31 games on the year, putting him on pace for 40 points across 82 games. That will be a tough mark to reach on the other side of a long injury, but could be enough of a scoring spark to catch the eye of Switzerland’s management. Kurashev has represented Switerland at the last four World Championships – dating back to his age-18 season, when he played in both the World Championships and World Junior Championships. He has 15 points in 32 total games at the World Championships.
Sharks Notes: Dickinson, Dellandrea, Gaudette
Earlier today, the Sharks officially loaned forward Michael Misa to Canada’s entry for the upcoming World Juniors. Not included in that announcement was defenseman Sam Dickinson, who is also eligible to participate. However, the team still hasn’t made a final decision on whether they will loan him out for the event, notes Sharks Hockey Digest’s Max Miller.
The 19-year-old has played fairly regularly this season, getting into 26 games though he was a scratch last night against Calgary. However, his minutes have been somewhat limited and sheltered as he’s averaging a little under 15 minutes per game of ice time. He would play a much bigger role on Canada’s back end, potentially as their number one defender. However, head coach Ryan Warsofsky also noted that he doesn’t want Dickinson to potentially slip into some bad habits if he were to be loaned out so that’s something they’ll have to weigh over the next few days before making a final decision.
More from San Jose:
- Center Ty Dellandrea is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against Dallas due to an upper-body injury, relays Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now (Twitter link). The 25-year-old was injured while blocking a shot on Tuesday but managed to stay in the game. Dellandrea has already surpassed his production from last season (10 points compared to eight) in half the games played while also averaging just under three hits per game. A pending restricted free agent with an affordable $1.3MM AAV, Dellandrea could be an intriguing under-the-radar trade target should the Sharks decide to listen to offers.
- Center Adam Gaudette is good to go for Thursday’s contest after missing last night’s game with a lower-body injury, Peng mentions (Twitter link). The 29-year-old had a breakout year last season with Ottawa where he had 19 goals in 81 games, earning a two-year, $4MM deal for his efforts. Gaudette is scoring at a similar clip this season with seven goals through 29 games while averaging 12:01 per night, his highest ATOI since 2019-20.
Sharks Activate Michael Misa, Loan Him To World Juniors
The reigning No. 2 overall pick is officially on his way to the 2026 World Juniors. The Sharks announced they’ve activated center Michael Misa from injured reserve and subsequently loaned him to Team Canada for the event, which begins next week.
With only Misa’s name included in today’s announcement, it seems set in stone that defenseman Sam Dickinson is staying on San Jose’s roster and won’t be loaned out to Canada for the tournament. Dickinson, 19, had two assists in five games for the Canadians last year at the event and had another year of eligibility left, but he’ll be sticking around on San Jose’s roster for the next several weeks despite sitting as a healthy scratch in last night’s win over the Flames.
Misa’s limited playing time this season made him a logical candidate to be allowed to go to the event, much like the case of Calgary star defense prospect Zayne Parekh. The 18-year-old broke camp with the Sharks but was in and out of the lineup, never playing more than three games in a row, until he sustained a lower-body injury in early November.
Before exiting the lineup, Misa made his first seven NHL appearances, scoring one goal and three points with a -1 rating. It’s worth noting he isn’t joining Canada’s training camp cold. The Sharks loaned him to their AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint at the beginning of the month as he neared a return, recording an assist in two games for the San Jose Barracuda before rejoining the Sharks for practice.
Now fully cleared, Misa will get his first and only chance to represent Canada’s national team at the under-20 level. He was a rather shocking snub from last year’s roster amid a 62-goal, 134-point season for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit that made him the leading scorer across all of the country’s top junior leagues.
The question now becomes whether Misa returns to Saginaw or remains with the Sharks when the WJC wraps up in January. As an under-20 player subject to the NHL-CHL transfer agreement, he’s ineligible for a full-time assignment to the AHL and must be loaned back to his junior team if he’s not on the NHL roster (or injured reserve).