Sharks Re-Sign Matt Nieto to One-Year Deal: Report

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed restricted free agent forward Matt Nieto to a one-year, one-way contract, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.

The deal will pay the 23-year-old $735,000 in 2016-17.

Nieto has skated in 205 games with the San Jose Sharks since turning pro in 2013. He has netted 28 goals and 68 total points in the NHL. In 13 AHL games with the Worcester Sharks, he has 11 points. He hasn’t played an AHL game since the 2013-14 season.

The Sharks drafted Nieto with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons at Boston University in the NCAA, logging 102 points in 115 games.

What the Matt Nieto Signing Means for the Sharks

Matt Nieto has stuck around in San Jose’s lineup over the past three seasons because of his high energy style of play and his ability to chip in sporadically on offense. He plays a solid two-way game, logging a 51.33 Corsi-for percentage since the 2013-14 season.

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Nieto is still very young and has impressive upside. He has already had good success in the NHL in his early 20’s and has been an impressive playoff performer with eight points in 25 games and a plus-five rating.

He should continue to improve going forward, and as a bottom-six player, the $735,000 salary is very friendly for the Sharks.