December 28th 2024.
The San Jose Sharks were dealt a tough blow this month when their goalie, Vitek Vanecek, suffered a fractured cheek from an errant puck during a game against the Winnipeg Jets. It was a frustrating and fluky incident, and the Sharks coach, Ryan Warsofsky, expressed his sympathy for Vanecek and his confidence that he would return to help the team as soon as possible.
According to the British NHS, cheek fractures usually take about six weeks to heal. In the meantime, the Sharks have recalled Yaroslav Askarov from the AHL to take Vanecek's place in the goaltending rotation. However, it's not just Vanecek who's out of commission - forward William Eklund and defenseman Jake Walman are also day-to-day with injuries and will not be playing against the Calgary Flames.
On a more positive note, forward Klim Kostin will be returning to the Sharks' lineup after being out with an upper-body injury. Warsofsky believes Kostin was playing some of his best hockey prior to getting injured and is looking forward to having him back on the ice. Unfortunately, this means that Nikolai Kovalenko will be a healthy scratch for the game. Warsofsky explains that he needs to see more consistent play from Kovalenko, who joined the Sharks in a recent goaltender swap.
Despite the roster changes, Warsofsky is still upset about the Sharks' performance in their recent game against the Vegas Golden Knights. He was so dissatisfied with their performance in the third period that he brought the team in for a full skate the morning of their next game. He emphasizes the importance of starting strong and developing winning habits from the start, rather than trying to fix things later on.
One player who received a warm welcome from the Sharks fans was Tomas Hertl, who spent 11 seasons with the team before being traded to the Golden Knights. Hertl was grateful for the video tribute and the support from the fans, but admits that it was a strange feeling playing against his former team for the first time. He also had kind words for Sharks rookie centerman, Macklin Celebrini, who impressed him with his talent and maturity on the ice.
Overall, it's clear that the Sharks are facing some challenges with injuries and their recent performance, but they are determined to work through it and come out stronger. Warsofsky and his team are focused on developing a winning mindset and setting a strong foundation for future success.
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