San Jose Sharks’ forward Philipp Kurashev is now considered week-to-week due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Will Smith’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, as Coach Ryan Warsofsky did not dismiss the possibility of surgery for the young player. The Sharks are now looking to navigate these challenges without two of their top-scoring wingers.
Both players were placed on injured reserve on Monday, following their exits during a recent match against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kurashev, 26, sustained his injury in the second period after crashing into the boards. He skated to the bench but later left for the dressing room at PPG Paints Arena. Smith, 20, was injured in the third period after a hit from defenseman Parker Wotherspoon. He immediately left the ice, visibly in pain, clutching his right arm.
Despite these setbacks, the Sharks managed to secure a dramatic 6-5 overtime victory against the Penguins, having trailed 5-1 earlier in the third period. Smith entered this week as the Sharks’ second-leading scorer, with 29 points in 33 games, while Kurashev has contributed 15 points in 31 games this season.
With both Smith and Kurashev sidelined, the Sharks have recalled forwards Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell from the Barracuda of the AHL. Chernyshov, who is set to make his NHL debut on Tuesday, will play on the first line alongside Macklin Celebrini and Collin Graf when the Sharks face the Calgary Flames to kick off a three-game homestand. Chernyshov leads the Barracuda with an impressive 23 points in 25 games, while Cardwell has recorded nine points in 14 games and will join Jeff Skinner, who is celebrating his 1,100th NHL game, and Ty Dellandrea on the third line.
As the Sharks adjust to these roster changes, the focus will be on how they can maintain their competitive edge in the coming games. Fans will be eager to see how the new lineup performs against the Flames, especially with the added pressure of recent injuries. Further updates on Kurashev and Smith’s conditions are expected as the week progresses.
