Sharks re-sign Pavelski, Boucher, Roenick

The Sharks announced earlier today the re-signing of restricted free agent Joe Pavelski and unrestricted free agents Brian Boucher and Jeremy Roenick. Sharkspage is all over this with transcripts of the conference calls that occurred to announce the signings. Roenick's return has been common knowledge since the team alluded to it at the State of the Sharks meeting last month, but the retaining of another relative greybeard, Boucher, is a breath of fresh air in that it allows Thomas Greiss more time to develop in Worcester which, judging by a somewhat disastrous two-game look-see last season, he could really use.

According to TSN, Pavelski's contract totals $3.275 million over two years, about market value for a player who has been a delightful surprise since being selected 205th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Little Joe has evolved from something of a shootout god into a bonafide second-line center for the Sharks and will likely be slotted in that role come training camp, probably between Patrick Marleau and Devin Setoguchi. Reports have indicated both Boucher and Roenick have been inked to one-year deals, the former to a $650k contract and the latter to a deal worth $1.1 million. In addition to being an allegedly positive contributor in the locker room, Boucher showed flashes of brilliance in the few games he started for the Sharks after being acquired at the trade deadline. In any case, he is a far more trustworthy candidate to spell Nabokov than the aforementioned Greiss and Doug Wilson has indicated that the former Flyer, Blackhawk and Blue Jacket will start upwards of 10-15 games next season.

Not enough can be written about Roenick's positive impact on the team since being saved from the clutches of retirement by Doug Wilson a year ago. JR remains steadfast in his pursuit of the Cup and will be returning for his second go-around in teal. Good news for Sharks fans, bad news for those waiting for the oft-outspoken center to ascend the broadcast booth.

In terms of the team's remaining free agents, Wilson is on record stating qualifying offers have been tendered to RFAs Ryane Clowe, Christian Ehrhoff and Marcel Goc. Talks between Wilson and impending UFA Jody Shelley are reportedly going well, while all indications are that Tomas Plihal will not be retained and only one of Curtis Brown and Patrick Rissmiller (both UFAs July 1st) is engaged in serious contract discussions with San Jose. Meanwhile, on the Brian Campbell front, Wilson withheld comment regarding the nature of contract discussions between the Sharks and Campbell's agents, only stating that they were ongoing. David Pollak suggests New York Rangers UFA blueliner Michal Rozsival as a viable replacement should Campbell choose to bolt via free agency, noting that Rozsival has a connection to newly hired Sharks coach Todd McLellan, with Rozsival having played for McLellan while with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos. Speaking of McLellan, the Globe and Mail's Tim Wharnsby reports that former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Trent Yawney is likely to flank the Sharks' bench boss as an assistant coach, Rob Zettler and Tim Hunter having joined Ron Wilson in Toronto.

Finally, in other NHL news, the Tampa Bay Lightning are a joke.

Sharks 3, Canucks 1

Now that's more like it.

Jeremy Roenick took a quantum leap toward No. 500, scoring twice as the Sharks exorcised any demons that lingered from the team's shootout loss to the Oilers the night before.

Stifling defensive play, exceptional goaltending from Nabokov and keenly capitalizing on their chances lead San Jose to a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, placing the Sharks (albeit prematurely) first in the Western Conference. There's still room for improvement, however, as the team's power play -- its strong suit for much of last season -- looked poor, going 0-for-7, although Roenick's first goal was less than a second after a four-minute man advantage. San Jose could also be accused of taking the foot off the gas early in the 3rd period.

Torrey Mitchell registered his first NHL point on that Roenick tally, and has easily been one of the team's best forwards through two games, even with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau playing excellent hockey. Douglas Murray has also cemented himself as the team's 6th defenseman. After displaying his physicality during a fight with Raffi Torres in Edmonton, Murray registered a career-high two assists against the Canucks, along with his patented brand of gritty play.

Looking towards Sunday's contest against Colorado, the Sharks will probably looking for Jonathan Cheechoo, who has so far been the weak link of the team's phenomenal top line, to contribute a little more on the scoresheet. Milan Michalek's production should also improve if his linemates Mitchell and Roenick continue to make an impact.

Three Stars:
1. Jeremy Roenick: 2G, 0A, +1
2. Evgeni Nabokov: 22S, 1GA
3. Douglas Murray: 0G, 2A, +3, 20:20TOI

Sharks sign Roenick

You've got to be kidding me. Back in the infancy of Bleed Teal (a whole two months ago), I reported that nine-time All-Star Jeremy Roenick was calling it quits, as per Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who received a text message from the former Blackhawk, Flyer, Coyote and King announcing his retirement. Weeks later came murmurs that Roenick spoke too soon and the inevitable rumors that he would return to Chicago to don a No. 27 jersey once more en route to reaching 500 goals (he currently sits at 495) ran rampant. Those fires were eventually quelled and most in the hockey world assumed that Roenick had, indeed, thrown in the towel. Well, apparently that isn't the case, as the San Jose Sharks, in an official press relase, stated that they have signed Roenick to a one-year deal, worth $500,000 as per TSN.

Doug Wilson has been mumbling for a good two weeks now that he was intending to bring in a player from "outisde the organization" to battle for a roster spot in training camp. Who could have imagined JR Superstar was that player? At this stage of his career, especially with his post-lockout statistics, Roenick isn't much more than a bottom six forward, but on a deep team like San Jose, that's all he needs to be. He will also become the first Shark to score 500 goals when he joins that club sometime during the season. A rough sketch of the Sharks' current depth chart:

Michalek--Thornton--Cheechoo
Clowe--Marleau--Bernier
Rissmiller--Brown--Grier
Goc--Roenick--Setoguchi
Pavelski

This signing likely signals that the Sharks will not be signing Mark Smith, although it doesn't necessarily rule it out entirely. And in celebration of the signing, I managed to unearth from the gallows of YouTube a TSN Top 10 featuring some of JR's most unforgettable antics.

Report: Roenick to retire

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, forward Jeremy Roenick, he of 495 goals and 1170 points in 1252 games played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings is set to announce his retirement later today.

And so ends the career of one of the most talented American-born players this sport has ever seen. Although known almost as much for his various off-ice antics (i.e., dancing on Staples Center ice after Luc Robitaille's final game in Los Angeles, embracing Comcast chairman Ed Snider after signing with the Flyers in 2001, often singing along with music playing on arena sound systems and much, much more), Roenick's career was stellar, highlited by his eclipse of the 100-point barrier in three consecutive seasons with the Blackhawks and it's regrettable that such a great player was never able to win a Stanley Cup. Although his final two seasons were largely forgettable, there's no doubt in my mind Roenick should, if not as a first-balloter, enter the Hall of Fame at some point in the future.