SAN JOSE SHARKS NEWS

Logan Couture - Assist in season debut Couture picked up an assist in Saturday's 5-3 win over Anaheim.

Impact After missing the first 45 games of the season with a lower-body injury, Couture picked up an assist on Marc-Edouard Vlasic's second-period tally in his return to the lineup Saturday. The 34-year-old center had 27 goals and 40 assists with San Jose last year. Couture's reintroduction to the Sharks' top six should give a boost to an offense that's struggled for much of the season.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Makes 31 saves in win Blackwood stopped 31 of 34 shots in Saturday's 5-3 victory over Anaheim.

Impact Blackwood was sharp Saturday, making 30 or more saves for the fifth time in his last seven starts as he picked up the 5-3 win despite being outshot 34-to-19. The 27-year-old Blackwood improved to 6-17-3 with an .894 save percentage and 3.69 GAA this season. The Sharks are back in action Monday on the road versus the Kings.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Welcomes back captain with goal Vlasic registered a goal in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Ducks.

Impact The Sharks were finally able to plug captain Logan Couture (lower body) in the lineup for his season debut, and it paid immediate dividends, as the point-packing pivot feed Vlasic on the rush for the defenseman's first goal of 2023-24. The Sharks rank dead last in scoring at 2.04 goals per game, with Pickles picking up just three points from the blue line through 24 games, but Couture being back in the fold should stop the bleeding to a tangible degree.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Tomas Hertl - Paces Sharks with two points Hertl supplied an empty-net goal and an assist in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Ducks.

Impact Hertl leads the Sharks in points -- he's fashioned 14 goals and 18 assists in 45 games -- but that isn't saying a whole lot as Team Teal ranks dead last in scoring at 2.04 goals per game. Also, it gets worse when you consider that Hertl's already had 56 of his shots blocked compared to 77 blocks against for his 82-game career average. The silver lining is that the Sharks welcomed captain Logan Couture (lower body) back for his season debut in Saturday's win, and that should take some pressure off Hertl in this anemic offense.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Sharks try to break road losing streak, take on the Kings

The San Jose Sharks will look to break their three-game road losing streak in a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings

JANUARY 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Months after he couldn't get out of bed, Sharks captain enjoys memorable return SAN JOSE, Calif. – Logan Couture skated with the puck directly into the Anaheim Ducks’ zone on a 2-on-1. Then, at the exact right moment, th...

JANUARY 21 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Reinforcements boost Sharks over Ducks Tomas Hertl and Fabian Zetterlund each had a goal and an assist and Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves as the San Jose Sharks recorded a 5-3...

JANUARY 21 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Couture has assist in season debut, Sharks defeat Ducks | NHL.com San Jose captain missed 1st 45 games with injury; Henrique has goal, assist for Anaheim

JANUARY 21 • NHL.COM

Logan Couture makes long-awaited return, records assist in Sharks' 5-3 win over Ducks

Sharks captain Logan Couture made a long-awaited return from injury with an assist in his first game this season as San Jose beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-3

JANUARY 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jacob MacDonald - Not close to returning MacDonald (lower body) skated Saturday but is a ways away from playing, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact MacDonald was last in the lineup Dec. 23. He has six goals, seven points, 21 PIM, 14 hits and nine blocks in 17 appearances this season. MacDonald might slot into the third pairing once he's healthy, but it wouldn't be surprising to also see him spend time in the press box.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Givani Smith - Return isn't imminent Although Smith (lower body) did skate Saturday, he's not close to returning, coach David Quinn told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Impact Smith, who hasn't played since Dec. 21, has a goal, three points, 33 PIM and 45 hits in 26 contests this season. When Smith is an option, he will compete for a fourth-line spot and might also occasionally serve as a healthy scratch.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Mikael Granlund - Surfaces on IR Granlund (upper body) was put on injured reserve Saturday, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Impact Granlund, who was injured in Tuesday's 2-1 shootout loss to Chicago, won't eligible to return until at least Jan. 27 against Buffalo. He has accumulated five goals, 29 points, 73 shots on net, 32 blocked shots and 36 hits over 38 games this season. The Sharks will get back Logan Couture (lower body) and Nico Sturm (middle body) in Saturday's contest against Anaheim, which should help soften the blow of losing Granlund.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Ty Emberson - Lands on IR Emberson (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Impact Emberson, who is considered week-to-week, hasn't played since Jan. 9 against Toronto. In 21 appearances this season, he has seven points, 22 shots on goal, 30 blocked shots and 43 hits.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Mackenzie Blackwood - Tending twine Saturday Blackwood will patrol the home crease Saturday against Anaheim, per Max Miller of The Hockey News.

Impact Blackwood is coming off a 24-save effort in Tuesday's 2-1 shootout loss to Chicago. He has a 5-17-3 record this season with a 3.72 GAA and an .894 save percentage through 29 games played. The Ducks sit 29th in the league this campaign with 2.50 goals per contest.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Sharks could get key players back against sliding Ducks The injury bug continues to bite the San Jose Sharks, yet reinforcements are expected to come Saturday when the team hosts the Anaheim Ducks...

JANUARY 20 • SUNHERALD.COM

Couture to make season debut for Sharks against Ducks | NHL.com Center sustained lower-body injury during offseason; Sturm also expected back

JANUARY 19 • NHL.COM

Logan Couture - Return slated for Saturday Couture will be activated off injured reserve and make his season debut Saturday against the Ducks, coach David Quinn told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now on Friday.

Impact Couture scored 27 goals and 67 points in 82 contests last season. While rust might be a factor after missing the first 45 games of the 2023-24 campaign, Couture isn't projected to be eased into the lineup. Instead, he's likely to play on the first line alongside Alexander Barabanov and Fabian Zetterlund based on Friday's practice, per Max Miller of The Hockey News. Couture is also expected to serve on the top power-play unit. His return might result in Kevin Labanc being a healthy scratch against Anaheim.

JANUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Sturm - Playing against Ducks Sturm (abdomen) will be activated off injured reserve ahead of Saturday's matchup with Anaheim, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Sturm has been on the shelf since Dec. 12 against the Jets, a stretch of 16 games on the sidelines due to his abdominal injury. With Logan Couture (lower body) making his season debut as well, the Sharks suddenly find themselves with some center depth. As such, Sturm figures to slide into a third-line role behind Couture and Tomas Hertl.

JANUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Sharks bring 3-game losing streak into matchup against the Ducks

The San Jose Sharks will try to break a three-game losing streak when they play the Anaheim Ducks

JANUARY 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Logan Couture - Hoping to debut Saturday Couture (lower body) is hopeful he'll be ready to make his season debut Saturday against Anaheim, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Couture has yet to play this season due to a lower-body issue, but it appears he may finally return to game action versus the Ducks. If he's able to play, look for Couture, who racked up 27 goals and 67 points through 82 contests last season, to step into a top-six role and a spot on one of San Jose's power-play units against Anaheim.

JANUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Ty Emberson - Injury specified Emberson is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Emberson was previously listed as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, but his mystery issue is evidently of the upper-body variety. The 23-year-old defender, who's picked up seven points in 21 contests this season, is presumably still a ways away from returning.

JANUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Sturm - On track to return Sturm (abdomen) is on track to return Saturday against Anaheim, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Sturm will need to be activated off injured reserve before returning, but it looks like that shoud happen prior to Saturday's contest. The 28-year-old forward has collected just four points through 26 contests this season, so his return to action won't make waves in fantasy circles.

JANUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Sharks to retire Joe Thornton's No. 19 next season Former San Jose Sharks star Joe Thornton will have his number retired next season, becoming only the second player in franchise history to r...

JANUARY 18 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Mikael Granlund - Considered week-to-week Granlund (shoulder) will be out week-to-week but likely avoided surgery, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Impact Granlund was injured Tuesday against Chicago and is expected to miss some time but appears to have avoided a long-term recovery. The veteran forward has tallied five goals and 29 points through 38 games this season. In his absence, Tomas Hertl and Luke Kunin will likely see increased roles.

JANUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE