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Sharks Say Will Smith Out Week-to-Week Into January, Graf’s Status Unclear After Facial Injury

San Jose weighs lineup changes with a top scorer sidelined, leaving the top line in flux for the road trip.

Overview

  • Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said Smith will be re-evaluated in the new year after the upper-body injury sustained on Dec. 13 against Pittsburgh.
  • Smith is on injured reserve and has 12 goals and 29 points through 33 games, underscoring the impact of his absence.
  • Collin Graf was hit in the face by a deflected shot at practice and required stitches, with no update on his availability.
  • The team has not said whether Graf will travel for a three-game trip that starts Tuesday in Las Vegas and runs through Dec. 29 in Anaheim.
  • Rookie Igor Chernyshov has moved onto the top line and is a key internal option to help offset lost scoring.