The San Jose Sharks have placed winger Ryan Reaves on Injured Reserve (IR) as of Sunday, following an injury sustained during their recent match against the New Jersey Devils. In his absence, the team has recalled forward Ethan Cardwell from the San Jose Barracuda.
Reaves, 38, suffered a lower-body injury during the second period of Thursday’s game against the Devils. While attempting a breakaway, he managed to take a backhand shot on goal despite being challenged by Devils winger Paul Cotter. Unfortunately, he tripped over the glove of Devils goalie Jake Allen and fell hard, leading to his exit from the game.
After the match, Reaves was seen wearing a walking boot, raising concerns about the severity of his injury. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky indicated before Saturday’s home game against the Colorado Avalanche that Reaves’ condition was considered day-to-day rather than week-to-week. The Sharks faced a challenging situation with only 12 healthy forwards during their 3-2 overtime victory over the Avalanche.
Reaves’ Impact and Cardwell’s Promotion
Since joining the Sharks from the Toronto Maple Leafs in July 2023, Reaves has emerged as a crucial leader in the locker room. He will remain on IR for a minimum of seven days, backdated to Friday. In the eight games prior to his injury, he recorded two goals and engaged in notable fights against Ross Johnston of the Anaheim Ducks and Matt Rempe of the New York Rangers.
Cardwell, 23, has shown promise with the Barracuda, netting two goals and accumulating two points in seven games this season. He has also made a brief appearance in the NHL, scoring one goal in six career games. As of now, it remains uncertain whether he will participate in the upcoming game against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Sharks continue to navigate the challenges of the season as they adjust their roster in light of Reaves’ injury. Fans will be watching closely to see how the team adapts with Cardwell stepping into a more prominent role.
Stay tuned for further updates on Reaves’ recovery and Cardwell’s performance as the Sharks prepare for their next match.
