The San Jose Sharks have made a move to reinforce their goaltending pipeline, officially signing unrestricted free agent netminder Jakub Skarek to a one-year contract valued at $775,000. The agreement, announced Thursday, brings a 25-year-old professional goaltender with recent, albeit limited, NHL experience into the Sharks` system.
Skarek, a product of Jihlava, Czechia, spent the majority of the past season navigating the challenges of the American Hockey League (AHL). Playing for the Bridgeport Islanders, he appeared in 22 games, finishing with a record of 5-13-1. His statistical line in the AHL included a 3.52 goals-against average (GAA) and an .884 save percentage (SV%), along with one shutout. These numbers reflect a season that presented its share of difficulties in the minor league crease.
Despite his primary focus being the AHL, Skarek did earn a brief call-up to the NHL with the New York Islanders. In his two games at the sport`s highest level, he registered an 0-1-0 record, a 3.94 GAA, and an .872 SV%. While a minuscule sample size, it provided Skarek with his first taste of NHL action and presumably gave the Sharks scouting staff something specific to evaluate.
Skarek was originally a third-round selection (72nd overall) by the Islanders in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He has since developed within their organizational structure before becoming available on the open market this summer. His signing with San Jose represents an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to compete for playing time in a different environment.
Sharks General Manager Mike Grier offered his perspective on the new acquisition. “Jakub has a plethora of professional experience in net at just 25 years old,” Grier stated in the team`s release. He further described Skarek as “a big, athletic goaltender with a lot of compete in his game.” This paints a picture of the type of physical and mental attributes the Sharks` management values in a goaltender.
The $775,000 cap hit on Skarek`s one-year deal places it squarely in the realm of a standard depth or minimum-level NHL contract. This structure typically signifies a low-risk investment for the club. For Skarek, it`s likely a `prove-it` deal, offering him the chance to impress during training camp and potentially compete for a spot with the Sharks` AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. Strong performance there could certainly put him in contention for future NHL call-ups should injuries or performance issues arise with the main roster goaltenders.
In essence, the signing of Skarek appears to be a prudent move to add another professional option to the Sharks` goaltending depth chart. It ensures competition within the organization and provides necessary coverage to navigate the demands of a full season across both the NHL and AHL.
