SAN JOSE – Alexander Barabanov and Markus Nutivaara are not progressing from their respective injuries and as of Friday there was no guarantee either player would be available for the San Jose Sharks’ first two regular-season games in the Czech Republic next week.
Sharks coach David Quinn said both Barabanov and Nutivaara remain day-to-day with lower body injuries, and that he and the team would not know until Saturday whether either player will be traveling to Europe.
Barabanov and Nutivaara are not playing in either of the Sharks’ split-squad preseason games Friday in Las Vegas and Anaheim. On Saturday, the Sharks will fly to Germany and play an exhibition game against Eisbären Berlin at Mercedes-Benz Arena on Tuesday.
San Jose begins the regular season next Friday and Saturday against the Nashville Predators at O2 Arena in Prague.
The Sharks can take a maximum of 27 players to Europe, an NHL spokesman confirmed, so the team might be hesitant to bring Barabanov and Nutivaara overseas if there was any question about whether they can play.
Regardless, going without either Barabanov or Nutivaara for any length of time would test the depth of a Sharks team that already has its share of roster questions.
Barabanov was a key offensive contributor last season as he played on the Sharks’ top line with Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl, and Nutivaara opened training camp alongside Erik Karlsson on San Jose’s top defense pair.
“I feel for them personally, and I certainly feel for us,” Quinn said. “When the players are in the situation they’re in – with the situations that they started with here – it’s not easy to be hurt and not be able to take advantage of the opportunity.
“So I feel bad for them personally, and I certainly feel bad for us collectively as a team.”
Quinn said Nutivaara’s lower-body injury is related to the ailment he had last season when he missed 81 of 82 regular season games and all of the Florida Panthers’ two-round playoff run.
Nutivaara played in last Sunday’s preseason game at home against Los Angeles but did not feel healthy the following day and has stayed off the ice this week.
“It’s been a tough go for him,” Quinn said of Nutivaara. “He’s battling and doing everything he can, and hopefully he feels better (Saturday).”
Perhaps not coincidentally, the Sharks on Friday signed defenseman Scott Harrington to a one-year, two-way contract.
Harrington was signed to a professional tryout agreement in early September, skated with Karlsson in Thursday’s practice and it appeared he would be paired with the two-time Norris Trophy winner in Friday’s preseason game with the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.
“He defends well, he can make an outlet pass, he’s a penalty killer, and he’s a quality person that brings character to the team,” Quinn said. “So he’s an important player, and he’s played to his strengths since he’s been here.”
If Nutivaara is not feeling better by Saturday, there’s also a good chance Harrington will be on the flight to Europe.
‘Just try and be consistent, play the puck well, support the rush when I can and be tough to play against,” Harrington said of his approach. “That’s what I’ve tried to do and just continue to try and get better every day.”
Barabanov skated briefly on Thursday but was not on the ice for either of the Sharks’ morning skates Friday. Barabanov, who had 39 points in 70 games last season, was injured in practice last Saturday.
“He was still not great today,” Quinn said of Barabanov.
In recent days, Luke Kunin has skated with Meier and Hertl and practiced and all three were part of the team that traveled to play the Golden Knights.
If Barabanov remains out, and Kunin takes his place on the Sharks’ top line, one of Quinn’s moves might be to move Thomas Bordeleau or William Eklund to the wing on the third line with Nick Bonino and Noah Gregor.
“I’m really open to doing whatever. For me, it’s not scary to be put on the wing,” Bordeleau said. “You’re on the ice, you play hockey. So it’s really not that complicated. If that’s what (Quinn) needs out of me, that’s what I’ll do.”
Both Bordeleau and Eklund got a taste of the NHL last season and have had good camps in Quinn’s eyes.
Quinn said Eklund is learning about consistency and playing 5-on-5 hockey, particularly away from the puck.
“He certainly shows the ability to play in this league and be a good player in this league, so I’ve liked what I’ve seen,” Quinn said.
The Sharks did get some good injury news Friday as winger Oskar Lindblom was a full participant in one of the team’s morning skates.
Lindblom did not take part in any of the team’s preseason games as he dealt with an upper-body injury remained in San Jose but said he felt better than expected when he was on the ice Friday. Lindblom, though, remained in San Jose on Friday, as he wanted to practice one more time before in North America before the flight to Berlin.
Lindblom is playing catch-up a bit having missed a handful of days in camp but has another week to get his conditioning in order.
“I just have to practice a little harder and get my lungs back,” said Lindblom, who has skated with Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc when he’s been healthy. “But I felt good today and then we’re going to have one more week here to get going, so I think it’s going to be fine.”
