The San Jose Sharks have re-signed their five restricted free agents, the Sharks announced Thursday afternoon. Center Dylan Gambrell, center Antti Suomela, defenseman Nick DeSimone, defenseman Kyle Wood and center Maxim Letunov will all be returning to the Sharks’ system this fall.
According to Sheng Peng, Gambrell’s contract is two years, with the first year being a two-way deal and the second being one-way. DeSimone has also signed for two years. Suomela, Wood and Letunov all signed one-year, two-way deals. Each player signed for the league-minimum yearly average annual value of $700,000.
All five players spent at least part of the 2018-2019 season with the San Jose Barracuda. Wood, an alternate captain for the Barracuda, recorded 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) in 68 games. DeSimone recorded 14 goals and 32 assists in 65 games, and Letunov recorded 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in his first season of professional hockey. Suomela and Gambrell were both recalled from the AHL during the course of the season and saw time with the Sharks. At the AHL level, Gambrell recorded 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 51 games, while Suomela recorded 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 47 games.
Suomela appeared in 27 NHL games and recorded eight points (three goals, five assists), while Gambrell recorded no points in eight NHL regular-season appearances. Gambrell suited up for two of the Sharks’ playoff games and recorded a goal in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final. He also recorded four points in four Barracuda playoff games.
Both Suomela and Gambrell are expected to compete for roster spots at the Sharks’ training camp this fall.
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