San Jose Sharks Forward Will Smith Out Week-to-Week with Injury

San Jose, California — The San Jose Sharks will be without forward Will Smith for an undetermined time as he recovers from an upper-body injury. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed the news on Monday, stating that Smith is in a week-to-week recovery process.

Smith, 20, suffered the injury during the Sharks’ thrilling 6–5 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 13. Following the game, the team placed both Smith and fellow forward Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve, emphasizing their cautious approach to player rehabilitation.

Drafted fourth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, Smith has quickly established himself as a key player for the Sharks. After returning from Boston College, he made his NHL debut in the 2024–25 season and has been a consistent contributor from the start.

<p“[Smith] is gonna be out week to week,” Warsofsky told reporters. “I think we’re gonna re-evaluate him in the new year.” Despite being held scoreless in the game he got injured, Smith’s season performance remains impressive, with 12 goals and 29 points in 33 games.

Along with Macklin Celebrini, Smith has been vital to the Sharks’ surprising success this season. Currently, the Sharks hold a record of 17–16–3, just two points shy of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The team has improved significantly from last season and is showing signs of successful rebuilding.

The Sharks are scheduled to return to the ice on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The game will begin at 9 p.m. local time.