Sharks come to terms with key RFA on two-year contract

SJ signs goalie Hill in big move

SAN JOSE >> The Sharks got a big piece of their offseason business done Wednesday, coming to terms with goalie Adin Hill on a new two-year contract and avoiding salary arbitration.

The average annual value of the contract is not yet publicly known. Hill was a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and had filed for salary arbitration on Sunday.

“We’re pleased to get Adin under contract solidifying our goaltending position for the coming season,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement.

The Sharks acquired Hill, 25, and a 2022 seventh-round draft pick from the Arizona Coyotes last month for goalie Josef Korenar and a 2022 secondround pick.

Last season, Hill, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 202 pounds, went 9-9-1 record with a .913 save percentage. In 49 career NHL games, all with the Coyotes, Hill is 1921-4 with a .909 save percentage and a 2.79 goalsagainst average.

Hill has never been a No. 1 goalie for a full NHL season, but the Sharks are bullish about his potential.

“Just a guy that’s in that right age group, that is up and coming. He’s going to be able to take this opportunity I think and run with it,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said last week of Hill. “He big, he’s quick, athletic, all the things that you want in a goaltender.”

With the deal, the Sharks now have their goalie tandem under contract for the next two seasons.

The Sharks signed James Reimer to a two-year, $4.5 million contract on July 28, the first day of NHL free agency. The day before, the Sharks bought out the final three years of Martin Jones’ contract. Jones then signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It’s going to be a competition every night for everybody in any position,” Boughner said. “Both (Hill and Reimer) are going to see plenty of ice and have great opportunities. (We’ll) see how training camp goes and the preseason goes, but we’re looking forward to both these guys coming in and strengthening that position.”

This past spring, Hill played at the World Championships where he and Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro helped Team Canada win the gold medal. In three games at the World Championships, Hill went 1-1-0 with a 1.73 goalsagainst average and a .909 save percentage.

The Sharks have one restricted free agent remaining in forward Noah Gregor, who is not yet eligible for arbitration. The Sharks announced July 26 that they had extended a qualifying offer to Gregor to retain his negotiating rights.