The San Jose Sharks held practice in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, where head coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed that forward Will Smith will not be in the lineup for today’s matchup against the Washington Capitals. According to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, Smith participated without a non-contact jersey but was still ruled out as a precaution. However, Smith has yet to be ruled out for Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. Smith has now participated in consecutive practices in which he was cleared to take contact as he works toward a return from an upper-body injury. He has been sidelined for more than a month after suffering the injury on December 13 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, when he was checked into the boards by Parker Wotherspoon. Will Smith breaking ankles against the Utah Mammoth. Smith, 20, was enjoying an excellent sophomore NHL campaign, producing 29 points on 12 goals and 17 assists through 33 games. Igor Chernyshov has stepped in effectively on the Sharks’ top line alongside Macklin Celebrini, though he has struggled in recent games. After recording eight points in his first seven appearances, Chernyshov has been limited to just one point over his last five contests. Since losing Smith, the Sharks have quietly put together a competitive stretch, posting a 7-5-1 record despite not only missing Smith but also dealing with several other key players on injured reserve. Phillip Kurashev was injured in the same game as Smith, while Shakir Mukhamadullin and Vincent Desharnais have also been sidelined during this span. San Jose has shown notable resilience, grinding out wins across regulation, overtime, and shootouts while remaining competitive against playoff-caliber opponents. While offensive consistency has fluctuated at times, the Sharks’ ability to stay above .500 in points during Smith’s absence reflects a team that continues to battle and adapt rather than fold as injuries mount. Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/315b689e-9063-4f90-902c-549a546e3ab9.jpeg]
