San Jose Sharks sign Nico Sturm, Matt Benning, and Markus Nutivaara

Mike Gould
Mike Gould
San Jose Sharks sign Nico Sturm, Matt Benning, and Markus Nutivaara
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The San Jose Sharks have put pen to paper with a trio of players on the opening day of the 2022 free agency period.

According to multiple reports, the Sharks have signed forward Nico Sturm and defensemen Matt Benning and Markus Nutivaara. Both Sturm and Benning have agreed to terms on multi-year deals; Nutivaara has signed a one-year contract.

Sturm, 27, is a 6’3″ center from Augsburg, Germany who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche this season. According to The Athletic‘s Pierre LeBrun, Sturm’s deal carries a $2 million cap hit for three years.

Sturm scored nine goals and 20 points in 74 games split between the Avalanche and Minnesota Wild during the 2021–22 regular season. In 13 playoff games with Colorado, Sturm notched two assists.

Benning, 28, is a 6’1″ right-handed defenseman who scored 11 points (all assists) while averaging 16:20 in 65 games with the Nashville Predators in 2021–22. The Edmonton product also picked up an assist in three 2022 playoff games with Nashville.

The Sharks announced Benning’s new contract as a four-year deal. It carries a $1.25 million annual cap hit.

Nutivaara, 28, signed a one-year deal carrying a $1.5 million cap hit to join the Sharks, according to PuckPedia. The 6’1″ left-handed defenseman played just one game with the Florida Panthers in 2021–22 while dealing with a long-term injury.

A veteran of 275 NHL games with Florida and Columbus, Nutivaara will be eligible to collect a maximum of $250,000 in games played bonuses with San Jose this season.

With Benning and Nutivaara in the fold, the Sharks now have nine defensemen with NHL experience signed for 2022–23: Erik Karlsson, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Nikolai Knyzhov, Radim Simek, Ryan Merkley, Santeri Hatakka, Jaycob Megna, Benning, and Nutivaara.

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