Defenseman Colin White signs with San Jose Sharks a day after contract buyout –NHL offseason Update
A day after New Jersey Devils bought out the contract of veteran defenseman, Colin White, in order to remove him from the team, San Jose Sharks picked him up from the free agency, which he entered less than 24 hours ago, and signed the defender to a one-year
contract, worth an estimated $1 million.
According to analysts, this deal was done for a single purpose, and that was for the San Jose Sharks who are focusing on pumping up their defence and power-play killing, in which they ranked miserably last season at 24 in the National Hockey League (NHL).
San Jose Sharks general manager, Doug Wilson, was not slow in announcing the news along with its reason.
"Colin is a tough, veteran defenseman with two Stanley Cups on his resume", GM Wilson said while making the announcement. "He plays a physical style of hockey and is an excellent penalty killer who is known for his strong leadership qualities. You can never
have enough quality defensemen".
White, a 33-year-old defenseman from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada, was picked up as the 49th overall selection during round-two of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by New Jersey Devils and had been on their roster for the past 11 seasons.
The attacking defenseman might not have had a 20 plus point season as of yet, but provides extraordinary toughness to a team. His physical play is more focused at stopping the other team in their tracks, rather than making game-plays, which is the duty of
forwards.
"I'm not going to have to go in and do anything special", White said, adding that San Jose is a team he will enjoy very much. "I'll just come in and play my game, help them on the penalty kill and complement the veteran group that is already there. ... I
think they're a great blue-line”.
Having won two Stanley Cup Championships during his career, White can certainly provide San Jose Sharks with much needed guidance, as they look to reach their first Stanley Cup Final, after making the Western Conference finals two years in a row.
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