The San Jose Sharks are starting camp without four key players.
General manager Mike Grier shared that Yaroslav Askarov, Logan Couture, and Shakir Mukhamadullin have lower-body injuries, while Marc-Edouard Vlasic is dealing with an upper-body injury. Except for Couture, these injuries aren’t long-term but will keep them from joining the team at the start of camp. Max Miller from The Hockey News mentioned that Couture hasn’t skated since his last game on January 31, 2024, and isn’t close to returning to the ice. It’s highly unlikely that Couture will be ready for training camp; he’s expected to begin the season on injured reserve.
Couture only played six games in the 2023-24 season due to osteitis pubis, which causes pain and swelling in the groin and lower abdomen. It’s uncertain if he’ll return for the 2024-25 season. He remains San Jose’s highest-paid player with three years and $24 million left on his contract. Vlasic, who is second in salary on the team, has mostly been healthy during his 18-year NHL career but missed about two weeks last February due to an upper-body injury. His playing time has dropped over the past four seasons after being a top shutdown defenseman for over a decade. With new additions like Jake Walman and Cody Ceci this offseason, Vlasic might see even less ice time.
Impact of Injuries:
Askarov’s and Mukhamadullin’s injuries will delay their evaluation by San Jose as they head into the season. Askarov has shown great success in the AHL and is seen as a future goaltender for the Sharks after being acquired from Nashville Predators late this summer. Fans might worry about how these delays affect team performance early on.
Mukhamadullin joined in 2023 as part of a trade package for Timo Meier. He played 55 games last year with San Jose’s AHL affiliate, scoring seven goals and earning 24 points. His size and skating skills make him a strong candidate for making it into the Sharks’ defensive lineup out of camp.
What do you think about these updates?
