• Posted by Admin
• Date : 30 Jun 2023

San Jose Sharks goaltender Eetu Makiniemi (32) blocks a shot against the Vancouver Canucks in overtime at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) By Jon Becker | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: June 30, 2023 at 4:46 p.m. | UPDATED: June 30, 2023 at 4:51 p.m. The San Jose Sharks confirmed theyre keeping a pair of players they acquired within the past year by re-signing goalie Eetu Makiniemi and left wing Jacob Peterson during a flurry of moves the team announced Friday. While Makiniemi and Peterson earned new contracts that staved off free agency, the Sharks chose not to issue qualifying offers to five players, including forward Noah Gregor and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, making them all unrestricted free agents. Neither forwards Jonah Gadjovich and Evgeny Svechnikov nor goalie Strauss Mann were tendered contract offers. Blackwood, who was traded to the Sharks earlier this week, could also have a new deal soon, though. He remained in talks with the Sharks about a new contract as of Thursday afternoon. His qualifying offer would have netted him a $3.36 million, one-year deal, according to CapFriendly. Gregor, who had 17 points in 57 games with San Jose last season, was the only player not qualified who was originally a Sharks draft pick. Makiniemi, who arrived last July as part of the Brent Burns trade, was about to become a free agent before signing a one-year, two-way contract. Makiniemis deal carries a cap hit of $775,000 in the NHL, including $145,000 in guaranteed salary, according to PuckPedia. We are excited to sign Eetu, said Sharks general manager Mike Grier. He is a player who showed great promise before his injury last season. We look forward to his continued development in the upcoming year. Makiniemi made his San Jose debut this past year and posted a .906 save percentage in two games. At 23-years-old, he became the Sharks youngest-ever goalie to win his first career start when he stopped 23 shots while beating Anaheim on Dec. 9. He spent most of last season with the AHLs Barracuda, where he had a team-leading .900 save percentage and a 2.96 goals against average in 22 games. The 24-year-old suffered a torn labrum while with the Barracuda but is expected to be ready for training camp. San Jose Sharks Jacob Peterson (24) waits for a face-off against the Winnipeg Jets in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Peterson, who turns 24 on July 19, also signed a one-year, two-way contract, likely for the NHLs minimum $775,000 salary. He played well in his 11 games with the Sharks at the end of last season, scoring eight points (two goals, six assists) after arriving from Dallas in a deal for Scott Reedy in March. Jacob is a smart, versatile young forward that fit in well with our group last season, said Grier. Were looking forward to having him back and building upon that start.