Western Conference Injuries: Sharks, Blues, Predators and Stars
Dallas Stars Jamie Benn against the Nashville Predators
On the San Jose Sharks …

Kevin Kurz: Coach Pete DeBoer said the defenseman Dylan DeMelo‘s injury “doesn’t look promising.”

Curtis Pashelka: Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was activated from the IR yesterday and the the Sharks put defenseman David Schlemko on the IR.

On the St. Louis Blues …

Jeremy Rutherford: Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo skated yesterday morning and is very close to returning to the lineup. Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson skated yesterday as well and should be a full-participant in the Blues practice today.

On the Nashville Predators …

Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: Winger James Neal missed last night’s game and is on the IR.

Forwards Viktor Arvidsson (upper-body) and Colin Wilson (lower-body), and defenseman P.K. Subban (back) are also out.

“It’ll probably be more by committee than anything else,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said Sunday morning of replacing those players’ contributions. “If there was another James Neal kicking around down in the minors, he’d probably be here by now. Those players are good at what they do. They put the puck at the net. They’re goal scorers. It’s tough when they come out.”

On the Dallas Stars …

Mike Heika: Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak left last night’s game early with an upper-body injury.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Winger Jamie Benn missed his fourth consecutive game with a foot injury. Benn is on the IR, but is getting close to returning to the lineup.

“He’s close, but he’s not ready. He’s skating at maybe 80 percent,” Ruff said. “We’re not putting him in a position where it is just going to be a one and done. He’s got to be ready. He’ll know when he’s ready, and he’ll say, ‘I’m ready.'”

If Benn is ready to go on Thursday, the Stars would need to make an additional roster move after they activate him.