In his first season with the Avalanche, Kovalenko has shown glimpses of the talent that made him an offensive standout with Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo (KHL), but limited deployment has likely stunted the opportunity for true success. In 12 games, Kovalenko is averaging 13:41 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A).
Liljegren was acquired from the Maple Leafs on Wednesday in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick, a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, and defenceman Matt Benning. He amassed 14 goals and 51 assists in 197 career games with the Maple Leafs and should be afforded plenty more playing time in San Jose.
After a one-game absence, Thrun will re-enter the Sharks lineup on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 23-year-old Thrun is averaging 16:16 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A), 12 blocks, seven hits, and a -9 plus/minus through 10 games this season.
Celebrini, who had one goal, one assist and two SOG in his NHL debut has not played since then, missing 10 straight games. There is no direct target date for his return to gameplay but his return to practice on Thursday is a promising sign that he will return the lineup sooner than later.
The 17th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Liljegren had fallen out of favour under new Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. He appeared in just 1 game this season after playing in 183 regular season games over the last three seasons. He amassed 14 goals and 51 assists in 197 career games with the Maple Leafs and should be afforded plenty more playing time in San Jose.
Thompson will re-enter the lineup after sitting out the front-end of San Jose's back-to-back on Monday. The 22-year-old blue-liner has three assists in four games this season and will likely feature on the team's second power-play unit.
A fourth-round draft pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Cardwell will make his NHL debut on Tuesday night after an impressive start to the season with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). Cardwell has one goal and four assists through six AHL games. He is expected to skate alongside Nico Sturm and Carl Grundstrom on the Sharks' fourth line.
Thrun will draw out of the lineup alongside Klim Kostin and Givani Smith as the Sharks opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Will Smith, Ethan Cardwell, and Jack Thompson will enter the lineup in their place.
Kostin will draw out of the lineup alongside Henry Thrun and Givani Smith as the Sharks opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Will Smith, Ethan Cardwell, and Jack Thompson will enter the lineup in their place.
Smith re-enters the Sharks lineup on Tuesday after sitting out the front-end of their back-to-back on Monday. The 2023 fourth-overall pick is yet to register a point through seven NHL games.
The Sharks will opt to give Mackenzie Blackwood the night off as Vanecek gets the nod in the tail-end of their back-to-back on Tuesday. Vanecek struggled his last time out, surrendering seven goals on 42 shots in a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Golden Knights. He owns an .869 SV% and has failed to record a victory in his first five appearances. He will be hard-pressed to pick up his first win of the season on Tuesday with the Sharks entering action as +260 underdogs.
In his first season with the Sharks, Dellandrea has one point (1G / 0A), a -5 plus/minus, five blocks, and 24 hits in nine games. He has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to October 26th. In a corresponding move, the Sharks recalled Ethan Cardwell from the AHL.
Cardwell was a fourth-round pick of the Sharks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has not made his NHL debut yet. The 22-year-old has five points (1G / 4A) in six games with the Barracuda (AHL) this season.
The Avalanche, riding a five-game winning streak, will turn to Georgiev between the pipes for the first time in 10 days. Georgiev backed up Justus Annunen for the last four games and will hope the rest helps him reset after a forgetful start to the 2024-25 season. In five games (1-3-0), Georgiev has an atrocious 4.99 GAA and .810 SV%. That said, Colorado enters the action on Monday as a sizeable -216 home favorite against the Chicago Blackhawks.
With Will Smith missing another game as part of a development strategy to ease him into NHL action, Kostin will re-enter the Sharks lineup on Monday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 25-year-old Kostin is averaging 8:45 time-on-ice through six games this season and has zero points.
Matt Benning will draw into the Sharks' lineup on Monday, resulting in Thompson being a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Thompson has been productive from the blueline for the Sharks this season, tallying three points (0G / 3A), eight blocks, and three hits in four games.
Smith has been a healthy scratch in two of the last five games and will be again on Monday as part of a development plan to ease him into NHL action. The 19-year-old has a -4 plus/minus and has yet to record a point through seven games this season.
The Avalanche, riding a five-game winning streak, will likely turn to Georgiev between the pipes for the first time in 10 days. Georgiev backed up Justus Annunen for the last four games and will hope the rest helps him reset after a forgetful start to the 2024-25 season. In five games (1-3-0), Georgiev has an atrocious 4.99 GAA and .810 SV%. That said, Colorado enters the action on Monday as a sizeable -216 home favorite against the Chicago Blackhawks.
