Discouraging news for San Jose Sharks fans to start out the new year as defenseman Radim Simek did not participate in the team’s morning skate ahead of their matchup Wednesday with the Avalanche in Colorado.
Sharks’ head coach Peter DeBoer told the media present in Colorado that Simek suffered a concussion in San Jose’s Monday evening contest against the Calgary Flames.
At this time, there’s no timetable for Simek's return.
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Simek was on the wrong end of a controversial hit at the end of San Jose’s New Year’s Eve rumble with the Flames. Forward Sam Bennett delivered a late hit on Simek with 25 seconds left in the game, which fueled an angry reaction from both viewers and Simek's teammates on the bench.
Following the game, DeBoer called the hit "predatory." Bennett received a match penalty for an ensuing scrap with Barclay Goodrow but did not receive any discipline from the league for the hit on Simek.
The 26-year-old Czech rookie has been impressive since penciling into the lineup alongside Brent Burns at the beginning of December. He’s tallied five points (one goal, five assists) in 14 games played for Team Teal this season.