The San Jose Sharks have placed forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve, sidelining them for the team’s upcoming three-game homestand. Both players sustained injuries during the match against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
Kurashev was injured midway through the second period after crashing into the boards in the Penguins’ zone. Smith sustained his injury with 16:30 remaining in the third period following a hit from Pittsburgh defenseman Parker Wotherspoon. After the impact, Smith skated off the ice while visibly favoring his right arm, discarding one of his gloves in the process. This incident sparked a brief altercation, with center Macklin Celebrini confronting Wotherspoon immediately after the hit.
Both Smith and Kurashev had been key players, starting on the Sharks’ top line. Smith, prior to the injury, ranked as the team’s second-leading scorer with 29 points in 32 games, while Kurashev contributed 15 points in 30 games. Their absence will be felt significantly as the Sharks prepare for their upcoming matches.
In response to these injuries, the Sharks have recalled forwards Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell from the San Jose Barracuda, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate. Both players will look to fill the gaps left by Smith and Kurashev as the Sharks embark on a critical homestand.
The Sharks are set to begin this three-game stretch on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, against the Calgary Flames. This will be followed by encounters with the Dallas Stars on Thursday and the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. As the team navigates these challenges, fans will be keenly watching for updates on player recoveries and the performance of the newly promoted forwards.
