UPDATE (5:48 PM PST): A previous version of this article stated Sandberg would make $925,000 per season. The story has been changed to reflect an updated report from NBC Sports California’s Kevin Kurz.
The San Jose Sharks signed Swedish forward Filip Sandberg to a two-year entry-level contract, the club announced today. Sandberg will make $742,500 in the first year of the deal, and $792,500 in the deal’s second year, a source told Friend of the Blog Kevin Kurz.
“Filip is a very creative player who sees the ice well and can create offense in limited space,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “He plays a high-pressure, puck-pursuit game and his battle level is something we have been impressed with, especially against older players. We are excited for him to join our organization.”
Sandberg, much like recently-signed defenseman Radim Simek, whose deal was also announced today, fits the profile of San Jose’s recent European signings. Sandberg won the Swedish Hockey League title with HV71 this season, scoring 25 points in 52 regular season games and 14 in 16 postseason games.
His scoring numbers also compare favorably to San Jose’s Swedish signings of late, as Sandberg scored at a higher rate in the SHL (0.35 points/game) than Melker Karlsson (0.31 pts/game) but lower than Marcus Sorensen (0.65). According to Rob Vollman’s most recent translation factors, Sandberg’s estimated NHL scoring rate is 0.20 points/game, which would put Sandberg in the range of a bottom six forward.
With the expansion draft a month away and the futures of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau up in the air, there’s a chance that Sandberg can crack next year’s lineup. I would, however, expect him to go the Marcus Sorensen route, and begin the season with the Barracuda.
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