In Saturday’s “Headlines” segment on Sportsnet, Damien Cox reported that it sounds like Dainius Zubrus will sign a contract with the San Jose Sharks this week.
Zubrus was bought out of the final year of his contract with the New Jersey Devils this summer. The buyout came during the second buyout window that opens up when a team has a RFA file for arbitration.
Zubrus said over the summer that he felt he could still play and wanted to get a contract. The contract didn’t come. But at the start of November, Zubrus took a professional tryout (PTO) with the St. Louis Blues alongside fellow veteran without a team, Martin Havlat.
After the PTO ran its course, Havlat had a contract and Zubrus didn’t. Not long after being released by the Blues, he took a PTO with the Sharks and that’s where we stand now, prior to any deal coming through.
In all likelihood, because of the situation this is taking place in, Zubrus will be signed to a one-year, two-way deal. No source on that, just how mid-season PTOs often go, giving the team flexibility and the player a contract.
The 37-year-old winger scored four goals and six assists through 74 games with the Devils last season.