San Jose Sharks sign Kyle Burroughs to three-year contract with $1.1 million AAV

The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Kyle Burroughs to a three-year contract with a $1.1 million cap hit, along with winger Givani Smith to a two-year contract with an $800,000 cap hit.

Burroughs, 27, was an unrestricted free agent after the conclusion of his two-year contract with a $750,000 cap hit that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2021 offseason. He receives a $350,000 annual pay raise, and will have an AAV north of $1 million for the first time in his career.

Burroughs isn’t really known for his offense, with just two goals, three assists, and five points in 48 games for the Canucks this season. He does bring a solid defensive game to the table, not necessarily driving it but he doesn’t hinder his partner on his pairs. He was a seventh round pick of the New York Islanders in 2013, spending seven seasons in that organization before finally playing in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche in 2020-21, and then joining the Canucks the following season.

Smith, 25, was an unrestricted free agent following the conclusion of his two-year contract with a $750,000 cap hit, one that he signed with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 offseason. He receives a pay raise of $50,000 on his new deal, and it’s the first time he’ll have a cap hit of $800,000 or higher.

Smith played two games this season with the Red Wings and 34 with the Florida Panthers, with a goal, three assists, and four points on the year, all coming with the Panthers. He also played one playoff game for the Panthers on their run to the Cup Final, making his playoff debut in Game 1 of the first round against the Boston Bruins. He was a second round pick of the Red Wings in 2016, spending parts of four seasons with the Wings before he was dealt to the Panthers in a three-team trade that sent Danny O’Regan to the Wings and Michael Del Zotto to the Anaheim Ducks.