I guess the Sharks weren’t done. San Jose signed forward Mikkel Boedker to a four-year, $16 million contract which just about fills all the skater holes the Sharks had entering the offseason.
San Jose Sharks have signed Mikkel Boedker to a four-year, $16-million contract
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2016
Boedker is a solid winger who played his entire career with Arizona before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche at the deadline last season. He tallied 51 points in 80 games last year and is a .49 points per game player over his career.
Here’s a look at his HERO chart:
Boedker is a solid depth forward, as you can see in the chart above. He’s not going to set the scoresheet on fire but he’s very quick and would (in my opinion) be great on a line with Patrick Marleau and Tomas Hertl.
With this signing, the Sharks have plugged the second of three holes they had entering the offseason. Now all they need is a backup goalie.
Press release:
SHARKS SIGN FORWARD MIKKEL BOEDKER
SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed unrestricted free agent forward Mikkel Boedker (MIH-kehl BAWD-kuhr, @Mikkelboedker) to a four-year contract.
“Mikkel’s tremendous speed is his best attribute and he has the ability to back off defenders with his combination of quickness and soft hands,” said Wilson. “His creativity and puck-handling abilities make him a threat in the transition game and he is a positive contributor in all three zones. We think he will thrive with our group and look forward to him joining our team.”
“I’m very familiar with Mikkel having coached him in juniors with Kitchener,” said Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer. “He has world class speed but is also a world class person and teammate.”
Boedker, 26, tied a career-high with 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists) last season with both Arizona and Colorado. His 34 assists marked a career high while he posted his second-highest goal total of his career in 2015-16. Despite being traded to Colorado on Feb. 29, Boedker still finished ranked 6th amongst Coyotes skaters in points and shots on goal (144 w/Arizona, 166 total) and his four game-winning goals were good enough for second on Arizona (he recorded five total game-winners between both teams).
In 463 career NHL games with Arizona and Colorado, Boedker has recorded 225 points (84 goals, 141 assists) and 88 penalty minutes. Among his 2008 draft class, the forward ranks 7th in games played and 9th in goals, assists and points. He has added nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) and two game-winning goals in 20 career playoff games.
Boedker has represented Denmark in several international tournaments, including the World Championships (2014, 2013, 2011, 2009), the World Jr. Championships (2008), and the World Jr. Championships D1 (2007, 2006). He has been selected to represent Team Europe in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, set to take place this September.
In addition, Boedker played his junior hockey at Kitchener during the 2007-08 season under current Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer and Assistant Coach Steve Spott. He helped the Rangers win the OHL Championship and was named to the CHL Top Prospects Game that season.
The six-foot, 210-pound native of Brondby, Denmark, was originally selected by Arizona in the 2008 NHL Draft (1st round, 8th overall).
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