The San Jose Sharks addressed the first of their off-season free agent issues on Tuesday, when veteran forward Jeremy Roenick announced via video that he'd be returning to the team next season.
Roenick didn't announce the terms of the deal but TSN.ca reported it was expected to be around $1 million for next season, nearly doubling his salary from this past year.
"JR Superstar" isn't the great offensive forward he once was, but he provided depth and leadership experience to the Sharks last season. In 69 games he scored 14 goals and 33 points, but ten of those goals were game-winners, tops on the Sharks and second overall in the league only to Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, proving that Roenick could still come through in the clutch.
One of those goals was also Roenick's 500th career regular season goal, and his 503rd goal later in the season placed the outspoken star behind only Mike Modano for most career regular season goals scored by an American-born player, numbers which should pave the way to a future Hall of Fame induction.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks announced they'd reached terms on new contracts with forwards Adam Burish and Dustin Byfuglien and defenseman James Wisniewski. Terms have yet to be released.
Byfuglien, 23, was a pleasant surprise for the Blackhawks this season, as the versatile winger/defenseman notched 19 goals in 67 games, his first full season in the NHL. Burish, 25, led the Blackhawks in penalty minutes with 214 in this, his first NHL season.
Wisniewski, 24, played his second full NHL season with the Blackhawks in 2007-08, notching 26 points and a plus-minus of +12.
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