SAN JOSE — Will Smith will be out a while longer for the Sharks.
San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said Monday that the second-year winger won’t return to action until at least January because of an upper-body injury he suffered on Dec. 13 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Smitty’s going to be out here week to week,” Warsofsky said. “We’re going to reevaluate him in the new year.”
Warsofsky declined to share further details of the injury but said the 20-year-old Smith is “making steps daily to getting better. So that’s the big positive.” The Sharks have a holiday break following Tuesday night’s game at Las Vegas and then play four times in 11 days from December 27 through January 5.
San Jose Sharks center Will Smith (2) moves the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Smith, who is second on the team with 12 goals and 29 points, was placed on injured reserve a week ago. His status highlights another round of concerning injuries for the Sharks, which now includes fellow winger Collin Graf.
The 23-year-old took a puck to the face during practice on Monday after Mario Ferraro’s shot was deflected up during a drill. Graf received stitches for the cut.
The Sharks did not provide an update on Graf’s status as of early Monday afternoon, including whether he would travel with the team to face the Vegas Golden Knights.
“He’s gonna get stitched up and get looked at here by our docs,” Warsofsky said. “So we’ll see what they say. Anytime someone goes down, the human side of it really (is unfortunate). Not so much of how he’s been playing. But to see the blood, not a great look. So hopefully he’s OK.”
San Jose Sharks’ Collin Graf (51) looks to pass the puck while playing the Seattle Kraken in the first period of their NHL game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Graf has played well since elevating to the Sharks’ top line alongside Macklin Celebrini and Igor Chernyshov, scoring three goals in San Jose’s last two games and adding an assist in a loss to Dallas.
Overall, Graf is on a four-game point streak dating to the Sharks’ game against Pittsburgh. He has six goals and nine points in San Jose’s last eight contests.
In other injury news, defenseman Vincent Desharnais is still week to week. Desharnais has been on injured reserve since Dec. 1 with an upper body injury.
“We’re looking for him to join our practice after Christmas,” Warsofsky said. “So that would be a big one. We miss him.”
San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) skates against the Vegas Golden Knights during their game on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Defenseman Timothy Liljegren will not travel with the Sharks to Las Vegas but could factor in shortly afterward. He has been out since suffering an upper-body injury in Saturday’s morning skate.
“He’ll get evaluated on the 26th with our staff, and we’ll have a good feel,” Warsofsky said.
Top-six forward Philipp Kurashev remains week to week with the upper-body injury that landed him on injured reserve Dec. 15 and sounds a ways away from a return. He was spotted wearing a cast this week.
“As long as he has a cast, I don’t see him playing,” Warsofsky said.
Dickinson still with Sharks
One Sharks player who is healthy is Sam Dickinson, and he looks to be staying in San Jose for the foreseeable future.
The rookie defenseman was a candidate to join the Canadian team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota, but longtime NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Sunday that Dickinson would remain with the Sharks during the World Juniors.
Neither Dickinson nor Warsofsky would directly confirm that on Monday, but it sounds like San Jose does in fact plan to keep the rookie D-man in house.
“I’m not sure,” Warsofsky said. “He’s done a good job. He’s improving here. Again, there’s still areas of improvement, but we like what he’s done.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 28: Drew O’Connor #18 of the Vancouver Canucks and Sam Dickinson #6 of the San Jose Sharks battle for control of the puck in the first period at SAP Center on November 28, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
“There’s pros and cons to both. Being in here with our guys, the way we want to play, the things that we need to have him improve on, play against a good Vegas team. Not so much put it in the rearview mirror, the discussion of whether he should go or not, just focus on where he is and getting better. I’m sure that he’s thought about it. (It’ll be good to) clear his mind a little bit.”
Dickinson has experienced some growing pains in his first NHL season, but he’s maintaining a positive attitude as he works through them. He didn’t seem bothered by missing out on the World Juniors.
“I’ve always been just worried about San Jose right now, worried about the Sharks,” Dickinson said. “Focus on the game tomorrow, not looking too far in the future.
“It’s great. I’m happy to be here, happy that I get to stick around and continue to build here and build what I felt I’ve been building through the whole year. Continue working to get wins with this team. We’ve done a great job of that so far. So I’m excited to stay here and continue that opportunity. I just take it day by day. I just show up and practice and do what I’m told.”