SAN JOSE – Forward Klim Kostin has been activated off of injured reserve and will be available today when the San Jose Sharks host the Dallas Stars in the last game for both teams before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament that begins next.
Kostin last played on Jan. 10 when he sustained a lower-body injury in a game against the Utah Hockey Club. It was initially feared that Kostin’s injury might keep him out until after the break, but he has been practicing with the Sharks in recent days, and on Thursday, coach Ryan Warsofsky said the 25-year-old winger would be an option to play against the Stars.
It was not immediately clear whether Kostin, a pending restricted free agent, would play against the Stars, although with the Sharks having lost three straight, it seems probable. Kostin has four points in 26 games this season.
To make room for Kostin on the Sharks’ 23-man roster, center Colin White, who was placed on waivers Friday, was reassigned to the Barracuda, which hosts Tucson today at 2 p.m.
Saturday’s game between the Stars and the Sharks comes a week after Dallas acquired center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from San Jose.
In three games with the Stars since the trade, Granlund has two assists and is averaging 18:11 in ice time, and Ceci has one assist and is averaging 21:36 in ice time. Dallas is 1-0-1 in that time, and is coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
The Sharks are 0-1-1 since the trade, have lost nine of their last 10 games and enter Saturday in 32nd and last place in the NHL’s overall standings.