Sturm did not play on Sunday but is expected to return to the Sharks' lineup on Tuesday and skate on a line with Justin Bailey and Kevin Labanc. Sturm is averaging 14:48 time-on-ice through 22 games this season but has only two points (0G / 2A), being held without a point in 91% of contests.
Sturm let the Sharks' know Tuesday that he would be stepping away from the team for personal matters and will miss their upcoming games vs. Vancouver and Seattle. The 28-year-old centre has struggled much like his San Jose counterparts in 2023-24, with his two assists, 16 SOG, eight PIMs, and a -12 plus/minus in 17 games.
Sturm hasn't played since Nov. 19th due to a concussion but will return Wednesday as the Sharks take on Vancouver. The 27-year-old had been enjoying his best season to date prior to the injury with six goals and eight points through 20 GP.
Sturm had been enjoying a strong 2022-23 prior to the announcement Tuesday that he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, scoring six goals and eight points off 33 SOG through his first 20 games to start the season.
Sturm missed the Sharks' final preseason game with an undisclosed injury but is a "full go" for the first game of the season, according to head coach David Quinn. Sturm, who had nine goals and 11 assists (20 points) in 74 games last season, will make his Sharks debut on the fourth line with Jonah Gadjovich and Steven Lorentz on his wings.
Sturm, who was acquired from Minnesota for Tyson Jost on Tuesday, will start his Avalanche career on the third line with Alex Newhook and J.T. Compher on his wings. Sturm has scored 20 goals with 16 assists (36 points) in 111 career NHL games.
The Avalanche frees up $1.275 million in AAV with this swap and acquire a bigger centre to play in their bottom-6. Sturm was an undrafted free agent out of Clarkson University, who has scored nine goals with eight assists (17 points) in 53 games with the Wild this season.
Sturm will be a healthy scratch for the first time all season, making way for Nick Bjugstad (upper-body) to play for the first time since the Winter Classic.
Sturm will likely replace Kyle Rau, who was in the lineup for Marcus Foligno on Sunday. Sturm has scored seven goals with eight assists (15 points) in 38 games this season.
Sturm was added to the COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday and remains sidelined for Friday's game in New York. Victor Rask will draw back into the lineup to replace Sturm on the fourth line.
Sturm has missed the last two games with an illness but will replace Brad Hunt in the lineup Tuesday vs. the Kings. Sturm, who will skate on the fourth line with Victor Rask and Ryan Hartman, has no points and nine shots on goal in four games this season.
Sturm spent most of his first professional season in the AHL, where he was fifth on Iowa with 32 points (12G / 20A) in 55 games. With Eric Staal traded to Buffalo, Ryan Donato traded to San Jose and both Mikko Koivu and Alex Galchenyuk expected to hit free agency, the door is wide open for Sturm to play in the NHL full-time in 2021.
With Mikko Koivu expected to return to the Wild's lineup on Tuesday, Sturm heads back to Iowa where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 25 games this season.
Sturm has been called up on several occasions this season but has yet to appear in a game with the Wild in 2019-20. The 24-year-old centre could make his season debut this week with Joel Eriksson Ek going on IR.
Sturm did not appear in a game during his time with Minnesota and returns to Iowa, where he has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 23 games this season.
