Carpenter, Heed, and Ryan re-sign

Center Ryan Carpenter, as well as defensemen Tim Heed and Joakim Ryan, signed two-year contracts to return to the San Jose Sharks, the team announced today. Each deal is a two-way contract, according to the San Jose Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka.

All three players spent some time with the Sharks this season, although only Carpenter and Heed actually suited up in a game for the team. Ryan, a 2012 7th round pick, could make his NHL debut next season, according to Sharks Assistant General Manager and Barracuda General Manager Joe Will.

“Joakim served as an anchor on both sides of the puck for the Barracuda this past season,” Will said in a statement. “He continued his stellar play in the AHL playoffs and we’re very excited to see him compete for an NHL spot come training camp.”

Will praised Carpenter and Heed, too, saying Carpenter’s “offensive abilities are an asset to the San Jose Sharks” and referring to Heed’s “consistent play and production” as “a tremendous fit with our group of defensemen.”

Ryan scored a career-high 49 points in 65 regular season games, and led the team with 185 shots on goal. The 23-year-old led San Jose in postseason scoring with 11 points in 15 playoff games.

Carpenter scored four points in 11 games with the Sharks, in addition to his 39 in 54 regular season games and team-leading 17 in 15 postseason games with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL.

Heed was one of the AHL’s best defensemen this season, and led all defenders in points per game (1.02) in his first professional season in North America. He was a second-team AHL all-star, and added ten points in his first AHL postseason.

The Sharks have now brought back four players from the Barracuda’s first Western Conference Finals appearance. 12 days ago, the team re-signed goaltender Troy Grosenick, also to a two-year contract. Forwards Marcus Sorensen and Barclay Goodrow, both pending restricted free agents, are among the players unsigned.