SAN JOSE — Defenseman Henry Thrun will likely not be back in the San Jose Sharks’ lineup anytime soon.
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Tuesday that Thrun is now considered more week-to-week due to an upper-body ailment that recently landed him on injured reserve. Thrun missed Monday’s practice at Sharks Ice as he was being re-evaluated.
Thrun had to leave the Sharks’ game against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 27 and missed the team’s next four games from March 1-6. Thrun returned for Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders but re-aggravated the injury in a 4-2 Sharks loss.
Thrun had not been placed on IR as of a few hours before the Sharks’ game Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators, and was one of seven defensemen the team is carrying on its active roster. Jan Rutta, who hasn’t played since Jan. 23, is out indefinitely with a lower body injury.
Thrun, who turns 24 on Wednesday, has 10 points this season and has averaged just under 17 minutes in ice time per game.
Thrun’s injury forced the Sharks to recall Jimmy Schuldt from the Barracuda on Monday. Schuldt, who played his first NHL game in almost six years last week when the Sharks played the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, will be in Thursday’s lineup, paired with Vincent Desharnais.
“I have no idea how long guys are going be out. I don’t even ask,” Schuldt said before Tuesday’s game. “I don’t know what (the Sharks’) plan is. For me, it’s better if I don’t. Whether it’s a practice day, a game day, whether I’m in the lineup or out of the lineup, I’m going to approach it the same way.
“Regardless of the circumstances, if I get sent down tomorrow, I’ll be happy I was here and keep pushing,” said Schuldt, the Barracuda’s captain. “If I’m here for a while, that would be great, too.”
TOFFOLI UPDATE: Tyler Toffoli took part in the Sharks’ morning skate Tuesday, on a line with William Eklund and Alexander Wennberg. However, Warsofsky said the veteran winger was a game-time decision to play against the Predators. Toffoli has a lower-body injury, but there was optimism he would play Tuesday.
Toffoli did not practice Monday, and Warsofsky said the Sharks will probably have to manage his ailment going forward. The Sharks’ homestand continues with games against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday and the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
GREGOR UPDATE: Noah Gregor also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate but, like fellow former Ottawa Senator Zack Ostapchuk, was still waiting for immigration paperwork to be processed. If he’s cleared before Tuesday’s game, which begins at 7:30 p.m., he could play against the Predators.
Warsofsky did not have an update on Ostapchuk’s status.