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SAN JOSE – Scott Hannan missed Monday’s practice in San Jose with an upper body injury, but it doesn’t appear to be long term.
“He’s being evaluated today. Obviously, he didn’t skate and we’ll know more later on, but we think he’ll be fine,” coach Todd McLellan said.
While the specifics of Hannan’s injury are unclear, the defenseman left the game against the Islanders on Saturday after a first period hit from Cal Clutterbuck seemed to knock Hannan’s head into the glass.
[RECAP: Couture, Sharks edge out Isles 3-1]
Last season, Hannan, 35, missed seven games in late January after a high hit from the Red Wings’ Danny Cleary, and another in April after the Avalanche’s Patrick Bordeleau whacked him in the head during in a game in Colorado. He missed five games in mid-December with an unspecified upper body injury.
Hannan, who was honored in a pregame ceremony on Saturday for recently playing in his 1000th NHL game, is scoreless with eight penalty minutes and -1 rating in 11 games this season.
[RELATED: Sharks' Hannan reaches milestone of 1,000 games played]
Matt Irwin would be the likeliest player to replace Hannan in the lineup, if necessary, while John Scott skated as a defenseman in practice for the second time this season.
Tyler Kennedy, meanwhile, is back on his way to San Jose, according to the AHL transactions page. In three games with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate on a conditioning assignment, Kennedy had two goals and one assist for three points and 12 shots on goal.
[RELATED: Sharks' Kennedy heads to AHL for conditioning]
“I know that he played his three games in Worcester and reports are that he played pretty well,” McLellan said.
Kennedy, 28, has yet to make his season debut due to an upper body injury early in training camp.
