San Jose Sharks sign RFA defenseman to one-year deal

The San Jose Sharks have signed restricted free agent defenseman Ty Emberson to a one-year, $950,000 contract

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks have signed restricted free agent defenseman Ty Emberson to a one-year, $950,000 contract, avoiding arbitration.

Emberson was one of 13 NHL players to file for arbitration by the July 5 deadline.

“Ty is a solid stay-at-home defenseman who uses his body to be hard on pucks and out-work opponents in his own zone,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “He is effective in penalty kill situations and is disciplined in his on-ice play.”

Emberson, 24, had 10 points in 30 games in his rookie year last season, averaging 18:33 in ice time, after the Sharks claimed him off waivers from the New York Rangers on Sept. 30, 2023.

Emberson is entering his fourth full professional year and per PuckPedia, could become a Group 6 free agent next summer if he doesn’t play at least 50 games this upcoming season. Per the collective bargaining agreement, for a skater to be Group 6 UFA eligible, he must have played less than 80 career NHL games and be at least 25 years old when his contract ends. Emberson turns 25 next May.

Emberson’s 2023-2024 season was largely beset by injuries. He missed significant time in both December and January and had his season end on Feb. 29 when he suffered a lower-body laceration in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. At that point, he had only played 14 of the previous 34 games.

When Emberson played, though, he showed he could be an effective skater and puck mover.

Emberson, Matt Benning, and Jan Rutta are projected to be the Sharks’ three right-shot defensemen to start the season. Benning had hip surgery in December, but it was believed at that point that he would be ready for the start of training camp in September.

The only restricted free agents the Sharks have left to sign are forward Thomas Bordeleau and defenseman Henry Thrun. Bordeleau and Thrun do not have arbitration rights.