Nov 12, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart (7) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. San Jose Sharks won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
As the San Jose Sharks take a couple days off following a win over the Canadiens on Saturday night, let’s hit the news wire for the latest happenings concerning Team Teal.
Injuries
Both Brad Stuart and Martin Havlat are currently nursing injuries, with Stuart’s being the more serious. He has been out since the Olympic break with an upper-body injury, and coach Todd McLellan gave a grim update on Monday to Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: “Hasn’t been involved in contact, so the conditioning part we’re trying to maintain. The banging, the plays, the read of the game hasn’t happened yet. So, it will be a little while yet.”
Stuart, who has appeared in 51 games this season, has recorded three goals and six assists
Havlat may or may not have an injury, as he has not played in the last two games but McLellan told Kurz that Havlat should not be considered a healthy scratch. The oft-injured winger has five goals and six assists in 32 games this season.
Not an injury note, but hard-nosed forward Mike Brown, who has been scratched from the lineup the past four games, will probably suit up against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Edmunds, Sturm Drop the Puck
Before Thursday night’s game against the Penguins, 15-year-old Olympic figure-skater Polina Edmunds, just back from Sochi, dropped the puck for the ceremonial opening faceoff before a rousing ovation from the sellout crowd at the SAP Center. Edmunds attends Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose.
But not to be outdone, former Shark Marco Sturm did the honors on Saturday night before the Canadiens’ game. Sturm, who spent 16 seasons in the NHL, broke in with the Sharks in 1997 and spent eight productive seasons with the Sharks before being dealt in the trade that brought Joe Thornton to San Jose in 2005.
Mueller Amongst NHL’s Top Prospects
The Sharks have arguably the most exciting rookie in the league in Tomas Hertl, but there could be another top prospect joining him soon. The Hockey News named defenseman Mirco Mueller as one of the NHL’s top prospects in its annual Future Watch edition, per CSN’s Kevin Kurz.
Mueller was selected 18th overall by the Sharks in the 2013 draft, and is currently playing in the WHL. He could be up with the big boys as soon as next season.