SOURCES: Reimer Injury ‘Likely’ Day-to-Day, Ferraro Week-to-Week

MONTREAL — The San Jose Sharks have put James Reimer on IR.

That’s bad news for a Sharks squad that’s in Canada and has a pair of back-to-backs this week, Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens and Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Saturday against the Ottawa Senators and Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Good news, a source tells San Jose Hockey Now that Reimer’s injury is believed to be “most likely” more day-to-day than week-to-week.

However, that doesn’t help Kaapo Kahkonen, who will be forced to carry the load right now in Reimer’s stead. Hopefully veteran Aaron Dell, recently recalled from the San Jose Barracuda to back up Kahkonen, will be able to successfully spell the Finn if need be.

Kahkonen has struggled this season. Per Evolving Hockey, Kahkonen’s -10.02 Goals Saved Above Expected is third-worst in the NHL, ahead of only Thatcher Demko and Elvis Merzlikins. It’s fair to say that the San Jose Sharks have expected more of the talented 26-year-old, who they signed to a two-year, $5.5 million dollar contract this past off-season. The Sharks traded top-four defender Jake Middleton to the Minnesota Wild for Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-rounder last Trade Deadline.

Dell has bounced around the NHL and AHL over the last two seasons, going 2-13-1 with an .882 Save % when he’s played for the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. The 33-year-old did perform at mostly a high level from 2016 to 2020, when he backed up Martin Jones on the San Jose Sharks, going 48-34-12 with a .908 Save %.

Reimer is believed to have gotten hurt on the day that he backed up Kahkonen against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 21. He missed the subsequent one-game road trip to Seattle with a lower-body injury, but returned to start the San Jose Sharks’ 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 25.

However, he missed practice the next day with an injury said to be related to the one that sidelined him against the Kraken. David Quinn expressed hope that Reimer would be available from the outset of this road trip, but that won’t be the case.

Reimer will travel with the Sharks though, suggesting he might be available to play soon.

Also traveling with Reimer and the San Jose Sharks through Canada are Mario Ferraro, Nico Sturm, and Jonah Gadjovich.

Ferraro also last played on Nov. 25 against the Kings, and has a foot injury that I’m told is “most likely” week-to-week.

Sturm has what’s presumed to be a concussion, suffered on Nov. 19 against the New York Rangers after a high Ryan Carpenter hit. Sturm has been a full participant in practice with the Sharks.

Gadjovich has been out since Nov. 23 against the Kraken with an unidentified illness that isn’t COVID, per Quinn.

The San Jose Sharks have also recalled physical forward Jeffrey Viel from the Barracuda.