The nature of defender Erik Karlsson’s day-to-day injury was revealed yesterday and it’s been upgraded to something more like month-to-month at worst, and week-to-week, at best. The San Jose Sharks announced that Karlsson underwent surgery on Monday to repair a small muscle tear in his left forearm.
Karlsson previously missed two games earlier this month — Jan. 6 against the Buffalo Sabres and Jan. 8 against the Philadelphia Flyers — but head coach Bob Boughner said that it was not due to the same injury.
The timeline for return after a surgery like this varies, depending on the severity of the tear, the muscle involved and other factors. The team has said Karlsson will be re-evaluated in mid-March, putting him out for at least six weeks.
A cursory bit of research indicates that this type of injury can occur from overuse, or improper use (i.e., not warming up properly), and symptoms may take weeks to build, though the injury is still likely to be noticed both visually and, obviously, through pain and discomfort. Rest is going to be an important part of the recovery process, as to not aggravate the injury further, and playing through this type of injury could have resulted in something much more severe.
With the addition of Karlsson, the Sharks now have $18.53 million in cap space tied up in five players on injured reserve, three of whom are defenseman.
News & Notes
- Karlsson out until at least March for Sharks after forearm surgery [NHL.com]
- Erik Karlsson sidelined as Sharks’ playoff push gets tough [NBC Sports]
- Caps Close Homestand vs. Sharks [NHL.com]
- Which Former Sharks Are Playing in Olympics? [San Jose Hockey Now]
- Trading Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier? Where will the Coyotes play next year? Duhatschek mailbag [The Athletic]
- Midseason NHL Fantasy Breakdown: Most Surprising Players [The Hockey News]/
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Blood in the Water
- Dell to have NHL Player Safety hearing for actions in Sabres game [NHL.com]
- Patrik Allvin accepts offer to become new Canucks general manager [Sportsnet]
- LeBrun: Hockey Canada’s Scott Salmond on building a non-NHL Olympic team: ‘We needed to be prepared either way’ [The Athletic]
- Ranking Bruins’ best assets to use at 2022 NHL trade deadline [NBC Sports Boston]
- Bold predictions for the second half of the NHL season: Trades, playoff races, awards, more [ESPN+]
- Power could play for Sabres this season, GM says [NHL.com]
- WATCH: More than 50,000 stuffed animals thrown onto ice at hockey game [WCVB]
- After months in Blaine, U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team departs Minnesota [Twin Cities Pioneer Press]
- Jason Zucker undergoes core muscle surgery [Pensburgh]
- Flyers announce assistant interim coach John Torchetti [Broad Street Hockey]/
Scores & Recaps
- Buffalo Sabres 0, Ottawa Senators 5
- Dallas Stars 5, New Jersey Devils 1
- Arizona Coyotes 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 6
- Vegas Golden Knights 3, Carolina Hurricanes 4 (OT)
- Philadelphia Flyers 3, New York Islanders 4
- Florida Panthers 5, Winnipeg Jets 3
- Edmonton Oilers 3, Vancouver Canucks, 2 (OT)
- Nashville Predators 4, Seattle Kraken 2 /
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On the Schedule
- Anaheim Ducks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, BSW, ESPN+
- San Jose Sharks at Washington Capitals, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on NBCSWA, NBCSCA, ESPN+
- Calgary Flames at Columbus Blue Jackets, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on SNW, BSOH, ESPN+
- Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings, 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
- Boston Bruins at Colorado Avalanche, 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on TNT, SN, TVAS/
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