The San Jose Sharks are changing the lineup for tonight's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.

The San Jose Sharks are changing the lineup for tonight's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.

William Eklund will be out of the lineup with an upper-body injury. The winger was a game-time decision before last night's 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Eklund said postgame that he is not 100%.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky will also make Will Smith a healthy scratch. The center has not scored a point in four games and played a season-high 19:09 last night. 

"It's part of the plan [for him]," Warsofsky said. "[It is] nothing to do with performance, just part of the plan. He'll be out tonight."

Comparisons can be drawn to what the Anaheim Ducks did with 2023 NHL Draft No. 3 pick Leo Carlsson last season. They would scratch Carlsson occasionally throughout the season so as not to overwork the young center. Warsofsky shut down any connection between Smith's scratching and Carlsson's.

"I can't speak for what the Ducks did in their plan with Leo," Warsofsky said. "This is our plan with Will. That's what we're going with."

Danil Gushchin and Givani Smith will enter the Sharks lineup in place of the two forwards. Gushchin skated with Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli during a practice in Chicago, during which Eklund was absent. Warsofsky wouldn't commit to where Gushchin or Givani Smith will slot in the lines. 

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