The San Jose Sharks have assigned forward James Sheppard to Worcester of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment.
Sheppard, 26, has been recovering from an offseason procedure on his surgically repaired left knee and has yet to play this season.
In 67 games with the Sharks last season, Sheppard had four goals and 20 points.
Sheppard, originally a first round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2006, signed a one-year $1.3 million contract with the Sharks this summer.