Sharks To Activate Alexander Wennberg; Reassign Filip Bystedt

Earlier this morning, the San Jose Sharks assigned forward Filip Bystedt to the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL. Bystedt’s demotion was expected, as Alexander Wennberg confirmed to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News that he will return from injured reserve this evening.

Wennberg, 32, hasn’t played since October 19th after suffering an upper-body injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 13-year veteran is in his third season with the Sharks after signing a three-year, $18MM ($6MM AAV) extension with San Jose last January.

Returning tonight, Wennberg will have missed 10 games due to the upper-body injury. That will stand as his longest absence while playing in the Bay Area. In his first year with the Sharks, during the 2024-25 season, Wennberg finished with 10 goals and 35 points in 77 games with a -21 rating, averaging 18:51 of ice time per game. Last season, the former 14th overall pick registered 18 goals and 55 points in 80 games with a -25 rating, averaging over 20 minutes per game.

Unfortunately, Wennberg hasn’t gotten off to as good a start to last season. Before the injury, again playing in San Jose’s top six, Wennberg had registered only three assists in nine games with a -3 rating. He’ll return to center the Sharks’ second line between Mason Marchment and Kiefer Sherwood tonight against the New York Islanders.

Meanwhile, Bystedt will return to AHL San Jose after debuting in the NHL. Arguably San Jose’s top forward prospect outside the NHL, Bystedt will still be searching for his first point when he inevitably returns. He finished his first call-up with zero points in five games with a -3 rating, while averaging 9:49 of ice time per game. He’ll look to pick up where he left off with the Barracuda, as the former first-round pick scored four goals and eight points in his first eight games this season.