SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks may get a greater understanding of how shut Macklin Celebrini is to returning to the crew’s lineup as quickly as subsequent week.
The Sharks are scheduled to apply on each Monday and Wednesday in San Jose as they begin to wind down their five-game homestand. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky stated Saturday that Celebrini, who has been on injured reserve with a hip situation for over three weeks, gained’t play in a recreation till he practices with some contact.
Celebrini rejoined crew actions on Thursday and has participated in two morning skates with the Sharks and one apply, which didn’t seem to have a lot in the best way of contact or battle drills.
Celebrini was the primary Sharks participant on the ice Saturday morning – and the final one off — because the crew had an elective skate earlier than its recreation towards the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Heart.
Celebrini stayed on the ice for about 90 minutes Saturday morning, with he and fellow injured ahead Ty Dellandrea solely leaving after the Zamboni got here on and commenced cleansing the ice.
The Sharks, who entered Saturday on a three-game win streak, end their homestand with video games towards the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday and the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
There’s no assure Celebrini will return subsequent week even when he’s a full participant in apply, as Warsofsky lately stated the 18-year-old heart stays week-to-week. The Sharks additionally wish to give Celebrini as a lot time as he must heal, so the problem is within the rearview mirror for good.
“We have a pretty good plan going forward,” Warsofsky stated. “We won’t put him in a game without contact. So that’s kind of where it’s at.”
Celebrini performed by means of the hip harm in his NHL debut on Oct. 10 and had a aim and an help within the Sharks’ 5-4 time beyond regulation loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Sharks, earlier than their recreation towards the Canucks, had a 3-6-2 file in video games with out Celebrini this season.
SMITH’S NICKNAME: Sharks heart Will Smith clutched a bouquet of recent pink flowers as he entered the Sharks’ dressing room on Saturday after the morning skate. A fan had given them to Smith for scoring the primary two targets of his NHL profession on Thursday because the Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2.
Smith additionally has a recent, new nickname inside the Sharks, as defenseman Jake Walman known as him “Puppy,” after a lyric by hip-hop artist Luh Tyler in a music known as “2 Slippery.”
“She don’t want no puppy, she want a big dog,” the lyric goes.
Walman stated he gave Smith the nickname as a result of he is aware of the 19-year-old, one of many youngest gamers within the NHL, will quickly develop into a ‘big dog.’
“It’s definitely his vibe,” Smith stated of Walman. “It’s his song.”
It’s all in enjoyable, Smith stated.
“We have two Smitties too, so I probably need a new name anyway,” Smith stated, mentioning fellow ahead Givani Smith.
Combining each on the energetic roster and IR, the Sharks have 12 gamers who’re new to the group. Some ribbing and pleasant banter helps carry the group nearer collectively.
“We actually have a pretty funny group. We’ve got a bunch of characters,” Will Smith stated. “Even when we had that tough losing streak, guys were still coming to the rink, and it wasn’t depressing or anything. Guys were ready for that first win. So I think that was huge.”
Smith stated he obtained numerous messages of congratulations after his two-goal efficiency, too many to go over Thursday night time. He learn them Friday.
On each of his targets, Smith was capable of finding some open ice. His second aim got here from proper subsequent to the faceoff circle as he slipped behind the protection, and the primary one was virtually a carbon copy after he obtained a move from Luke Kunin.
“If you watched us at (Boston College), something that my linemates and I would always do is try to find that soft area or the weak side,” Smith stated. “It’s kind of funny. I was actually talking about that the other day, and then my first goal happened to be in the same place.
“I asked (Kunin), ‘Did you hear me or did you see me?’ He said, ‘Both.’”
LINEUP NOTES: With Timothy Liljegren coming into the Sharks’ lineup Saturday, fellow right-shot defenseman Jack Thompson will probably be a wholesome scratch. Thompson has three factors, all assists, in six video games with the Sharks this 12 months as he’s averaged 16:38 in ice time.
Givani Smith and Klim Kostin will even be wholesome scratches on Saturday. Kostin has now been scratched in three straight video games after he had zero factors in his first seven video games. Givani Smith has performed in solely two of 13 video games this season.
Initially Printed: November 2, 2024 at 1:14 PM PDT
