The San Jose Sharks have re-signed two of their restricted free agents in Joonas Donskoi and Melker Karlsson. The former was signed to a two-year deal and latter a three-year deal.
Sharks re-sign J. Donskoi to 2-year deal worth $1.9 M per season AAV; and also re-sign M. Karlsson to 3-year deal worth $2 M per season AAV
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 12, 2017
San Jose Sharks Re-Sign Joonas Donskoi and Melker Karlsson
Karlsson signed a three-year deal worth $2 million per season meaning he looks to stay in San Jose until 2020. The 26-year-old Swedish forward is one the most versatile player in the Sharks lineup, as he has been placed anywhere from the first to the fourth line over the course of his three seasons in the Bay Area. In those three years he has posted 34 goals and 65 points in 185 games, scoring ten goals or more each season. The Sharks hope Karlsson can continue his steady progression as a skilled bottom-six player with a scoring touch.
Donskoi received a new two-year deal meaning he’ll be in San Jose until 2019. The 25-year-old Finn has had an up and down beginning to his career in the NHL. After playing some promising hockey in his rookie season, where he posted 36 points in 76 games, Donskoi endured the classic sophomore slump in 2016-17. In a season marred by several minor injuries Donskoi played in 61 games while posting a mere 17 points and finished the playoffs playing with a separated shoulder. He was also one of the most unlucky forwards on the team, having the lowest on-ice shooting percentage among Sharks forwards who played at least 60 games at 6.3%. Donskoi should improve going forward as he certainly has the skills to score more than 20 points per season.
With the signing of these two young forwards on relatively cheap contracts that leaves the team with a bit more than $14 million to resign fellow RFA Chris Tierney as well as franchise icons, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, should either of the two intend come back next season.
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