Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic will play in his 1,300th NHL game Thursday when the San Jose Sharks face the Columbus Blue Jackets

The San Jose Sharks sit 31st in the league with a 14-26-6 record, making them a prime contender for top-end draft selection. With the Sharks in the midst of a rebuild, selling the team to gather draft assets is a priority.

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks returned defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL on Monday morning before leaving for a five-game road trip.

The Blue Jackets will be looking for revenge tonight as they welcome in the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks won the prior meeting this season by a score of 2-1 back in November. But this is a different Columbus team from the last time San Jose saw them.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions! Tonight, the San Jose Sharks take on one of the surprise teams in the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Today, like every day, Last Word on Hockey looks at the games happening and gives our predictions for each one,

For example, Columbus occupies a playoff position in January for the first time in years, thanks in part to their first five-game winning streak since Jan. 11-22, 2020. But perhaps the most encouraging sign has come in the way the Blue Jackets have won the last three games.