There are just two games left before the Sharks take an extended break thanks to NHL All-Star weekend running into the team’s bye week. But it sounds like there’s one player who will be getting some extra time to rest and recuperate.
Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer told the press on Monday morning defenseman Erik Karlsson will miss the Sharks’ matchups in Florida and in Washington ahead of the break as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The news was reported by Paul Gackle of the San Jose Mercury News.
Karlsson was a last-minute scratch ahead of last Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He participated in the start of pregame warmups before heading into the dressing room.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
While it still isn’t entirely clear what is ailing Karlsson, DeBoer acknowledged the defenseman has been “dealing with something for a little while” and that Karlsson “felt he was going to be able to play through it and just couldn’t.”
Karlsson first missed time with the team when he was absent from the Sharks’ morning skate ahead of their game with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played in that game – which the Sharks win 5-2 – but was missing from action for a chunk of the third frame.
In San Jose’s loss to the Arizona Coyotes the following evening, he posted an assist and was minus-four.
With Karlsson sidelined until after the bye week, the Sharks recalled Jacob Middleton from the AHL Barracuda. There’s no word yet on whether he’ll pencil into the lineup against the Panthers or the Capitals.
San Jose Sharks
There is also a possibility that Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who has been missing from the Sharks' blue line since San Jose's matchup with the Colorado Avalanche on January 2, could be back in the lineup. He took line rushes at morning skate and was paired with Justin Braun.