Sharks need to make sure Erik Karlsson is healthy for the playoffs
The San Jose Sharks have Stanley Cup aspirations, so they need to make sure Erik Karlsson is at full strength when the playoffs come.
Heading into Saturday’s action, the San Jose Sharks (40-19-8) sit one point behind the Calgary Flames for first place in the Pacific Division. But they’ll continue that pursuit without a key piece, as Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported Friday defenseman Erik Karlsson will not return from a groin injury “anytime soon.”
Karlsson said he will be back for the start of the playoffs, and he hopes to get into a few games before that. But the two-time Norris Trophy winner has been dealing with a groin issue, and with 15 regular season games to go San Jose is in no danger of missing the playoffs. The only question will be if they win the Pacific and face one of the Wild Card teams in the first round, or they finish second or third in the division and face the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round.
Topping Calgary for the division title obviously sets up a more favorable opening playoff matchup, but for the perpetually playoff-underachieving Sharks it’s a distinction without a difference.
In 52 games this season, Karlsson has 45 points (42 assists; 18 assists on the power play) and a plus-3 rating over roughly 24:30 of ice time per game. He’s part of a core group for San Jose that tilts older, and his groin issue dates back close to two months now. So the Sharks have an easy excuse to rest someone, even if Karlsson is the only one of that older group currently with an injury to warrant it.
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San Jose made an all-in move by trading for Karlsson last offseason, as he’s slated to become a free agent in July. So making sure he’s at full strength when they’ll need him most is a top priority, even at the potential expense of a division title.