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San Jose Sharks News
Granlund (illness) is expected to return to the Penguins lineup on Thursday.

Granlund missed the Penguins' previous game due to illness but is expected to return to the Penguins' lineup on Thursday as they take on the Islanders. The 31-year-old has nine goals, 27 assists, 83 SOG, and a -16 plus/minus through 60 games between Pittsburgh and Nashville this season.

Mikael Granlund
Vanecek is in the starter's crease at the Devils' morning skate.

Vanecek allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) for his fifth-win in six games as he beat Arizona in his previous start. The 27-year-old continue's to be nearly impossible to beat, as proven by his 27-6-3 record, 2.50 GAA and .908 SV%. He will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have lost two of their last three games but are ninth in the NHL in goals per game (3.37).

Vitek Vanecek
William Eklund will be making his season debut Saturday for San Jose.

Eklund had 17 goals, 24 assists, 43 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 52 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) and will be making his season debut with the Sharks on Saturday. Eklund was a 2021 1st round pick (7th overall) and has played in nine career NHL games previously, picking up four assists.

William Eklund
Vanecek will start Wednesday in Colorado.

Vanecek stopped 19 of 22 shots (.864 SV%) for his third win in four games as he beat Los Angeles in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been sensational in his first season in New Jersey, with his 25-6-3 record, 2.37 GAA and .913 SV%. He will take on the red-hot Colorado Avalanche, who have won six-straight games after their 3-0 victory over Vegas last game.

Vitek Vanecek
The Sharks have acquired Henry Thrun from the Ducks for a 2024 third-round pick.

Thrun has five goals, 26 points, 14 PIMs and a +16 plus/minus through 28 games with Harvard (NCAA) and has been traded to Anaheim Tuesday for a third-round pick. Thrun was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2019 draft (101 overall).

Henry Thrun
The Red Wings have signed Jake Walman to a three-year contract extension worth $10.2 million ($3.4M AAV).

Walman was a third-round pick in 2014 and was traded to the Red Wings in the Nick Leddy deal last March. The 27-year-old has taken a massive step forward this year, playing on the top-pair with Moritz Seider for the last few months. Walman has a booming slap shot and is a shot-blocking machine in his own-end. On the year, he's scored five goals with five assists (10 points) with 95 SOG and 77 Blks in 40 games.

Jake Walman
Martin Kaut has been reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Kaut has two goals, two assists, 32 SOG and four PIMs through 30 games between San Jose and Colorado this season but has been reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Monday. The 23-year-old heads back to the Barracuda, where he had a goal and six assists through seven games played prior to his last promotion.

Martin Kaut
Mackenzie Blackwood has been placed on the injured reserve (lower-body).

Blackwood has an 8-5-2 record, 3.04 GAA and .900 SV% but has been placed on the injured reserve retroactively to 2/21 with a lower-body injury. Akira Schmid will take his place on the Devils' roster for the time being.

Mackenzie Blackwood
The Sharks have acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotyuk, Andreas Johnsson, a Conditional 2023 1st Round Pick, a Conditional 2024 2nd Round Pick and a 2024 7th Round Pick from the Devils for Timo Meier, Scott Harrington, Santeri Hatakka, Zachary Emond, Timur Ibragimov, and a 2024 5th Round Pick.

Zetterlund has been in-and-out of the Devils lineup this season, scoring six goals with 14 assists (20 points) in 45 games. The 2017 third-round pick has an outstanding shot and will provide some offensive punch in the Sharks' middle-6. Zetterlund should see an increase in usage (12:57 ATOI in NJD) following this trade.

Fabian Zetterlund
The Sharks have acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin, Fabian Zetterlund, Nikita Okhotyuk, Andreas Johnsson, a Conditional 2023 1st Round Pick, a Conditional 2024 2nd Round Pick and a 2024 7th Round Pick from the Devils for Timo Meier, Scott Harrington, Santeri Hatakka, Zachary Emond, Timur Ibragimov, and a 2024 5th Round Pick.

Mukhamadullin was the No.20 overall pick in 2020 and has remained in the KHL since. The 21-year-old defenseman is 6-foot-3, 194 lbs. and has scored six goals with 19 assists (25 points) in 67 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev (KHL). Mukhamadullin could come to San Jose in 2023-24.

Shakir Mukhamadullin
The Panthers have placed Givani Smith (face) on LTIR.

Smith had to leave the Panthers' previous game after just 3:29 TOI due to a face injury and has now been placed on the long-term injured reserve. The 24-year-old has a goal, three assists, 24 SOG, 47 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 24 games prior to his injury.

Givani Smith