San Jose Sharks’ injury report feat. Luke Kunin, Radim Simek and more

Modified Mar 16, 2023 19:47 GMT

Vancouver Canucks v San Jose Sharks — Luke Kunin on IR due to a lower-body injury

The San Jose Sharks are currently facing a tough time this NHL season, with a record of 19-36-13 in 68 games. They're placed at the bottom of the Pacific Division standings.

It's been a challenging season for the Sharks, who have struggled to find consistency in their performances. Despite having a strong roster with notable players such as Luke Kunin and Radim Simek, the Sharks have struggled to find a rhythm and have failed to string together wins.

While it would be inappropriate to blame injuries for the Sharks' performance, it's notable that some of the best players are currently on "injured reserve".

San Jose Sharks forward Luke Kunin on injured reserve.

Luke Kunin, the forward for the San Jose Sharks, was sidelined on December 20th, 2022, due to a lower-body injury. He was moved to injured reserve after being injured in a game against the Arizona Coyotes. Unfortunately, the news was bad for Kunin, as it was revealed that he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, which means he will miss the remainder of the season.

This is a significant blow for the Sharks. Kunin has been a key player for them this season, tallying 13 points, 58 shots on goal, 27 blocks, and 63 hits in 31 games. However, the team activated Matt Nieto from injured reserve in a corresponding move. The good news is that Kunin is expected to make a full recovery in 6-8 months.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Radim Simek on injured reserve.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Radim Simek is currently considered "week-to-week" due to a reoccurring situation related to the two concussions he suffered earlier in the season. Additionally, Simek sustained an injured foot on a shot block during the Sharks' 8-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Despite the setbacks, Simek has contributed to the Sharks' defense this season, with one goal, one assist, 37 shots on net, 55 blocks, and 66 hits in 34 games played. However, his availability going forward remains uncertain. He continues to recover from his injuries.

Other players on injured reserve include Markus Nutivaara, Jonah Gadjovich, and Jacob MacDonald.

The Sharks made a roster move on November 28th, last year as Markus Nutivaara was placed on long-term injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. However, this is considered a paper move since Nutivaara is yet to make his season debut. He was acquired by the Sharks in the offseason from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2022 fourth-round draft pick.

Sharks forward Jonah Gadjovich has been placed on injured reserve and is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Gadjovich's absence will be filled by Kevin Labanc as he recovers from the injury he sustained on February 14th, 2023, in a game against the Washington Capitals.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Jacob MacDonald joined the team at the end of Monday's (March 13th) practice session, but it is still unclear when he will be able to return to action. His timeline remains week-to-week, despite his appearance at practice. MacDonald has been sidelined since suffering an upper-body injury in a game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 6th.

Edited by Gaelin Leif