Two unrestricted Group III free agents were re-signed to
one-year contracts by the San Jose Sharks Saturday morning, the
organization announced from the site of this year’s Entry
Draft.
LOS ANGELES
Two unrestricted Group III free agents were re-signed to one-year contracts by the San Jose Sharks Saturday morning, the organization announced from the site of this year’s Entry Draft.
Center Scott Nichol, 35, produced career highs in points (19), assists (15) and games played (79) in his first year with San Jose. Nichol, originally drafted by Buffalo in the 11th round (#272) in 1993, led the NHL in face-off percentage (60.6) and was 12th in hits (226).
Defenseman Niclas Wallin, 35, came to San Jose in a trade with Carolina on Feb. 7. Carolina received San Jose’s second-round pick in this draft, while San Jose received Carolina’s fifth-round pick. Wallin was originally drafted by Carolina in the fourth round (#97) in 2000.
After selecting Charlie Coyle in the first round Friday, San Jose made the first of seven selections on Saturday with the 28th pick of the third round. Max Gaede, a right wing, played at Woodbury High School in Minnesota last winter, netting 25 goals with 17 assists. The 6-foot-2 power forward has committed to play at Minnesota State Mankato.
“He was one of the top players in Minnesota this year,” said Tim Burke, Director of Scouting for the Sharks. “He’s a big strong kid.”
The Sharks had three picks in the fifth round.
Cody Ferriero, whose brother Benn played for the San Jose Sharks this season, was pick #127 in the Entry Draft by San Jose. A senior at Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Mass., the 5-11 forward will play for Boston College next year. Ferriero collected 10 goals and 22 assists in 27 games at GA.
San Jose’s pick at #129 was Freddie Hamilton, a 6-footer who played for the Niagara IceDogs in the Ontario Hockey League. The center, born New Year’s Day in 1992, garnered 25 goals and 30 assists last season.
The Sharks also called on 6-foot-5 defenseman Isaac Macleod for the #136 pick of the draft. Macleod, who played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, also plans to play for Boston College.
“He’s a late-bloomer,” Burke said of Macleod. “He’s come on a lot in the last year.”
San Jose traded goaltending prospect Henrik Karlsson, 27, to Calgary for pick #163. That selection became Konrad Abeltshauser out of Halifax of the QMJHL. The German-born defenseman, 17, scored five goals and added 20 assists in 48 games for the Mooseheads.
“He’s a monster,” Burke said. “He moves very well for a huge guy.”
The Sharks made two selections in the seventh and final round.
San Jose received Atlanta’s pick #188 in a trade with week and turned that into defenseman Lee Moffie of the University of Michigan in the CCHA.
“(Moffie) wasn’t drafted last year,” Burke said. “If we don’t draft him, he becomes a free agent and then 30 teams go after him.”
The Sharks traded their seventh round pick in 2011 to Pittsburgh in order to tab Christopher Crane of Green Bay in the USHL at pick #200.
Crane, who plans to attend Ohio State, earned 102 penalty minutes in 52 USHL games.
