Why the Sharks sent Igor Chernyshov to Barracuda despite hot start to NHL career

SAN JOSE — Potentially needing to free up roster spots in the coming days, the San Jose Sharks on Thursday reassigned forward Igor Chernyshov to the Barracuda.

Promoted by the Sharks from the AHL last month, Chernyshov’s NHL career began with a bang with three goals and five assists in his first seven games.

That production slowed down over the last two-plus weeks as Chernyshov had three assists in his last eight games, including two assists in the Sharks’ 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Monday. Chernyshov was a healthy scratch in the Sharks’ 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday as Adam Gaudette took his spot in the lineup.

The Sharks were facing some tough decisions, as they already have 13 forwards on the active roster with both Philipp Kurashev and Kiefer Sherwood expected to be activated off of injured reserve in the next week or so. The Sharks also dedicated a roster spot to Michael Misa for the rest of the season and did not send an NHL roster player to the Vancouver Canucks in their trade for Sherwood on Monday.

Sherwood (undisclosed) will join the Sharks on their upcoming five-game road trip that starts early next week, and he is hoping to play against his former team on Tuesday when San Jose faces the Canucks at Rogers Arena. Kurashev (upper body) could play later in the trip, which ends on Feb. 4 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin is also nearing a return after missing the last eight games with an upper body injury. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky on Thursday labeled Mukhamadullin as day-to-day.

Chernyshov, selected 33rd overall by the Sharks in the 2024 draft, did not require waivers to be sent down.

Chernyshov, 20, was promoted to the NHL on Dec. 15, two days after forwards Will Smith and Kurashev sustained upper body injuries in the Sharks game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Smith returned to the active roster on Jan. 16 when the Sharks faced the Detroit Red Wings.

Despite the demotion, the Sharks now likely know that they have an NHL player in Chernyshov who can still help them down the stretch, particularly after the NHL trade deadline on March 6 when there are no roster size limits. During his 15 NHL games, Chernyshov with tied for fourth on the Sharks with 11 points (three goals and eight assists) and averaged 15:47 in ice time.

Prior to joining the Sharks, Chernyshov had 23 points in 25 games this season with the Barracuda, who have won just three of seven games this month and are now fifth in the Pacific Division. San Jose hosts Bakersfield on Saturday.