The first day of NHL free agency was a busy one for numerous Sharks players, many of whom now reside on different teams.
San Jose accomplished its most important remaining task of the offseason in signing Timo Meier to a four-year contract. In keeping him and defenseman Erik Karlsson, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson ensured two of the most talented players on the roster would remain for years to come.
The downside in keeping those high-salaried players, though, is that San Jose had to make cuts elsewhere. As a result, three significant contributors from last year's roster have found new homes.
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SIGN UP HERE Joe Pavelski signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars, leaving the Sharks' captaincy vacant. Gustav Nyquist went to the Columbus Blue Jackets on a four-year deal. And another San Jose winger -- Joonas Donskoi -- signed a four-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche.
Perhaps it's no surprise that Donskoi ended up in Colorado, as his goal in Game 7 of the second-round series between the Sharks and Avalanche proved to be the decisive goal in the contest, thereby ending Colorado's season. That was Donskoi's first goal in a span of 39 games, though, and his inconsistency was the main reason he was in and out of the lineup.
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Donskoi's contract with the Avalanche will pay him an average of $3.9 million per season, which simply was outside of San Jose's price range, given its other signings.
