SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by loaning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.
The transactions mean that the Sharks, at the moment, are carrying 14 forwards, six defensemen and three goalies in Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek and rookie Yaroslav Askarov.
Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky.
The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand.
Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings.
Sturm, who was injured in the Sharks’ game against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty killing forwards.
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