The Sharks have signed former Ottawa 67s defenseman, Jacob Middleton, to a three year, entry-level contract. The 6’3”, 210 pound defenseman tallied nine points and 56 penalty minutes in 50 games with the San Jose Barracuda last season. He added another four points and ten penalty minutes during the Barracuda’s Calder Cup run, bringing them to the Western Conference Final.
“Jacob really took a big step forward this past season in his first year of professional hockey and we’re excited with his progress with the Barracuda,” said Sharks Assistant General Manager and San Jose Barracuda General Manager, Joe Will. “He signed with the Barracuda prior to last season despite the fact he still had junior eligibility, and his development really took off under Barracuda Head Coach Roy Sommer and his staff. His skill set, coupled with an impressive work ethic made him an integral piece on the blueline in our AHL playoff run and we’re excited to see him take his game to the next level again next season.”
Middleton was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, 210th overall. He played two regular season games with the Kings’ ECHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, as well as five playoff games in 2016. He was invited as a free agent to the Sharks’ development camp and rookie camp last year before joining the Barracuda.
He is expected to return to the Barracuda for the 2017-18 season.
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