The San Jose Sharks are back on the ice, gearing up for their return after the Olympic break. While key players like Macklin Celebrini, Philipp Kurashev, Pavol Regenda, and Alex Wennberg are still representing their countries in the Winter Olympics, the rest of the squad is getting ready for their matchup against the Calgary Flames on February 26.
Notably, Filip Bystedt and Nick Leddy have been recalled and were present at practice. Bystedt, wearing an orange no-contact jersey due to a recent head injury, is showing promising signs of recovery. Coach Ryan Warsofsky mentioned that their call-up was primarily to boost practice numbers, as both players were not scheduled to play for the San Jose Barracuda.
Ryan Reaves, who missed the last game against the Colorado Avalanche, participated fully in practice, indicating he's ready to return to action. However, the Sharks are still missing a few key players.
Ty Dellandrea remains sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained on January 6. Coach Warsofsky described his status as week-to-week, hoping for a return before the season ends.
Tyler Toffoli, injured in the last game against Colorado, skated individually and is dealing with a day-to-day lower-body injury. His availability for the upcoming game against the Flames remains uncertain, with more clarity expected soon.
Dmitry Orlov, though healthy, faced travel delays due to a snowstorm in Lake Tahoe. Warsofsky is optimistic about his return to practice by Thursday.
As for Nick Leddy, despite being sent down last month, he hasn't played in the AHL. Warsofsky acknowledged some behind-the-scenes issues but praised Leddy's professionalism and work ethic with the Barracuda.
As the Sharks prepare to dive back into NHL action, they’ll be hoping for a full roster soon, ready to make waves in the latter part of the season.