San Jose Sharks Sign Key Players

The San Jose Sharks spent over $66 million on new contracts to three players, including defensemen Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse, on the first day of free agency.

What happened?

The Sharks, currently 11th in the Western Conference with a 39-35 record, added significant depth to their roster.

General manager Mike Grier is confident that the new signings will make the team better.

Why it matters for San Jose Sharks

The Sharks gave up 292 goals last season, the third-highest total in the NHL, and need to improve defensively to make a push for the playoffs.

Grier feels the additions, including the 6-foot-5 Michael Kesselring, will help address the issue.

The Sharks also signed veteran goalie Eric Comrie to a two-year, $2.3 million contract.

What comes next?

The new signings, including Trouba's four-year, $33 million deal and Nurse's eight-year, $74 million deal, signal the Sharks' intention to take another step forward.

Grier said the team's biggest priority this offseason was finding players who can help cut down on goals against.

The Sharks' defense corps is now bigger and more dynamic with the addition of Nurse and Trouba.

And the team's forward group is flush with young talent.

But the considerable outlay for veteran players also signals some risk.

So the Sharks will need to balance their newfound depth with the potential risks of the new contracts.

Grier is confident that the team has made the right moves to improve.

The Sharks are on a W1 streak and will look to build on that momentum.

As of July 3, the Sharks are still 11th in the Western Conference.

The team's new signings will be key to their success in the upcoming season.

Grier said the 31-year-old Mason Marchment doesn't have the "hard miles" of some other players his age.

And Grier doesn't have any concerns about Nurse's conditioning.

The Sharks' payroll has increased significantly with the new signings.

But Grier feels the additions will be worth it in the long run.

The team's fans will be watching closely to see how the new signings perform.

The Sharks' next move will be to integrate the new players into the team.

Grier will need to balance the team's lineup to get the most out of the new signings.

The Sharks are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.

And the new signings will be key to their success.