SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks have taken what they hope is a big step toward solidifying their blue line, signing free agent right-shot defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year, $33 million contract that carries an average annual value of $8.25 million.
Trouba’s AAV is the second-biggest on the team after fellow defenseman Darnell Nurse, whose contract carries a $9.25 million cap hit, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday afternoon. Winger Mason Marchment’s five-year deal with the Sharks, signed on Wednesday morning, carries a $6.75 million cap hit.
Trouba is coming off a seven-year, $56 million deal he signed with the New York Rangers in 2019.
Known as a punishing hitter, Trouba, 32, had 35 points in 81 games for the Anaheim Ducks last season, led the team’s defensemen in blocked shots (149), and was tied for first among the team’s blueliners with 10 goals.
Trouba was looking for a longer-term contract than what the Ducks were offering, and said he had other four-year deals on the table before he signed with San Jose, saying it was where he felt “most comfortable and wanted to be, and it worked for our family, and hockey-wise, and career-wise for my wife (a doctor).
“I think it all kind of fit in nicely, and we were very excited, and couldn’t say yes fast enough.”
The Sharks were expected to make roster changes during free agency, particularly to the defense corps.
Four defensemen who were with the Sharks last season, Mario Ferraro, Vincent Desharnais, Nick Leddy, and John Klingberg, became unrestricted free agents on Wednesday, as did forwards Ryan Reaves and Pavol Regenda. Desharnais signed a four-year, $16.8 million contract with the Washington Capitals.
The Sharks were in dire need of defensemen who could play in a top-four role, with Dmitry Orlov being the only one under contract who has that kind of experience. Other defensemen the Sharks have under contract are Michael Kesselring and Sam Dickinson, with Shakir Mukhamadullin a restricted free agent.
Right now, the Sharks’ defense corps has Trouba and Kesselring on the right side and Orlov, Dickinson, and Mukhamadullin on the left, although Mukhamadullin did play on the right at times this past season.
Last season with the Ducks, Trouba averaged close to 23 minutes of ice time per game. He has averaged over 22 minutes per game during his 13-year NHL career, which has included stops in Winnipeg, New York with the Rangers, and most recently Anaheim.
Considering that Trouba will be 36 by the time the contract expires in 2030, the Sharks built some protection into the deal. Per PuckPedia, Trouba’s deal carries a full no-trade clause for the first two seasons, a 16-team no-trade list in the third year and a 12-team list for the fourth year.
Between signing bonuses and salary, Trouba will be paid close to $20 in the first two years of the contract, and $6.6 million in each of the final two years. If his contract is bought out before the 2028-29 season, the Sharks would save close to $3 million under the cap both years.
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