SAN JOSE — Tomas Hertl has been activated from long term injured reserve and is expected to play Thursday when the Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers in their final game before the start of the NHL all-star break.

Hertl, 23, has missed the last 32 games with a right knee sprain but has been skating with the team at full strength for over a week. He was with the Sharks on their two-game road trip when they beat the Colorado Avalanche on Monday and the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

The Sharks traded Tommy Wingels to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, creating a roster spot and some space under the NHL’s salary cap for the return of Hertl, who carries a $3 million salary cap hit this season. The Sharks retained $742,500 of Wingels’ $2.475 million cap hit.

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Sharks reach agreement with depth centerman on two-year deal The Sharks are riding a six-game win streak and entered Wednesday in first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks are 22-8-2 in Hertl’s absence. The Ducks host the Oilers on Wednesday night.

Hertl had four goals and five assists when he was injured Nov. 17 against the St. Louis Blues.

In other news, Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc were assigned to the Barracuda on Wednesday, as the Sharks presently have just 12 forwards on the active roster.

Micheal Haley is on injured reserve with a lower body injury.

It’s not known where Hertl will slot when he does return. He was playing as the Sharks’ third line center when he was injured and was averaging 16:28 of ice time per game. He also led the Sharks in faceoff percentage at 56.1.