West Notes: DeSimone, Canucks, Strait, Couture

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported on Tuesday that Nick DeSimone of Union College was headed to the San Jose Sharks, and now CapFriendly has the details on the contract. It will be a two-year, entry-level deal worth the maximum $925K each season. The contract will kick in for next season, meaning DeSimone will become a restricted free agent after the 2018-19 season, at the age of 24.

DeSimone had a solid season for Union scoring 19 points in 38 games, but lacks some of the high-end offensive upside of his free agent contemporaries. Instead, he’ll need to focus on improving his d-zone work and try to carve out a niche as a two-way defenseman in the AHL. Former NHLer Matthew Barnaby had this to say about him: “Great kid , Elite skater with good hockey sense.” 

• The Vancouver Canucks will welcome both Loui Eriksson and Troy Stecher back into the lineup tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Kings. Eriksson, signed to a six year, $36MM deal this offseason has been a bitter disappointment this season between injuries and ineffectiveness. With 24 points through 65 games, he will likely register his lowest total since his rookie season (when he played just 59 games) and end the season with fewer than 15 goals (he currently has 11).  Those are numbers the Canucks can’t be happy with, as Eriksson will enter his age-32 season next year looking for a big bounce-back. If he can’t, that contract will hang around their necks for the next several years, as it is very much buyout-proof due to front loading and signing bonuses.
• Winnipeg has loaned Brian Strait to the Manitoba Moose after playing five games for the club. The former New York Islander recorded two assists during that time, but won’t be needed now that Dustin Byfuglien is back in the lineup and Nelson Nogier looks to finish the season with the NHL club.
• Kevin Kurz of CSN reports that Logan Couture will miss at least three more games after getting hit in the mouth with a puck on Saturday night. That means Couture will miss the entire road trip through Western Canada, as the Sharks look to reclaim that top spot in the Pacific Division. Now tied with the Oilers and just three points ahead of the Flames, the Sharks could legitimately fall to a wildcard spot before the end of the season and possibly even have to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. It’s been a rough run for them lately, going 3-7 in their last ten.