© Stan Szeto | 2019 May 19
The San Jose Sharks have re-signed defenseman Erik Karlsson to an 8-year deal worth more than $11 million per season, according to multiple reports. The contract makes Karlsson, 29, the highest paid defenseman in the NHL, just edging the eight-year, $88 million deal the Kings’ Drew Doughty signed last summer.Karlsson was acquired in September by the Sharks in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson’s made the All-Star Game six times in his 10 professional seasons, and is a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s best defensive player.After spending the first nine years of his career with Ottawa, Kalrsson played in just 54 regular season games in his first season with the Sharks while being limited with injuries. His three goals were the lowest of his career, and his 45 points the lowest since he played just 17 games in 2012-13. Until this season, Karlsson had posted at least 60 points in every season since 2012-13.
