Sharks History: San Jose Signs Niklas Hjalmarsson To Offer Sheet

The NHL hasn't seen many offer sheets, but with the Edmonton Oilers having two RFA sign offer sheets with the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks fans are reminded of when the Sharks tried to sign Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.

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During the 2010 offseason, the Sharks were looking to get over losing in the Western Conference Final. San Jose looked closely at Hjalmarsson as the Blackhawks swept the Sharks in the WCF and would eventually go on to win the Stanley Cup over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hjalmarsson just completed his first full-time NHL season. In the 09-10 regular season, the Swede played 77 games and scored two goals and 15 assists. He wasn't known for his offense but is remembered as one of the best stay-at-home defensemen in the league.

The Sharks signed Hjalmarsson to a four-year contract worth $14 million, an AAV of $3.5 million. If the Blackhawks didn't match the Sharks offer, San Jose would've had to compensate Chicago with a first and third-round draft pick.

Chicago would be forced to decide whether to match Hjalmarsson and likely lose starting goalie Antti Niemi or let Hjalmarsson go. The former happened, and San Jose ended up signing Niemi on Sept. 2, becoming the team's new No. 1 goalie.

The St. Louis Blues caught the hockey world off guard yesterday as they signed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to offer sheets from the Edmonton Oilers.

Holloway and Broberg were key contributors during the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final. Edmonton has six more days to decide if they want to match either offer.

Offer sheets in the NHL have fallen by the wayside, but occasionally, they pop back up. Given the news about former Sharks forward Evander Kane likely starting the season on LTIR, the Oilers could have some more cap space open than initially expected.

Related: Former Polarizing Sharks Forward Could Miss Significant Time

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