The San Jose Sharks, continually looking to add layers to their organizational depth chart, have officially signed unrestricted free agent goaltender Jakub Skarek to a one-year contract. The deal, announced on Thursday, carries a value of $775,000, which is the standard league minimum for a player of his experience level. This signing brings a 25-year-old netminder with recent, albeit brief, NHL experience and significant time spent developing in the American Hockey League into the Sharks` system.
Skarek was originally a third-round draft pick, 72nd overall, of the New York Islanders back in 2018. He spent the bulk of his tenure within the Islanders organization playing for their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, accumulating considerable professional games at that level.
During the past season, Skarek played 22 games for Bridgeport, posting a record of 5-13-1 with a 3.52 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage, along with one shutout. While those statistics don`t exactly scream `future Vezina candidate,` they should be viewed in the context of a challenging season for his AHL club. His limited opportunity in the NHL saw him feature in two games for the New York Islanders, recording an 0-1-0 record with a 3.94 GAA and an .872 SV%. It wasn`t a lengthy audition, but it provided valuable insight into the pace of the game at the highest level.
Sharks General Manager Mike Grier provided the standard organizational positive spin on the acquisition, highlighting Skarek`s attributes in the team`s official release. “Jakub has a plethora of professional experience in net at just 25 years old,” Grier commented. He further described Skarek as “a big, athletic goaltender with a lot of compete in his game.” This assessment suggests the Sharks are focusing on Skarek`s physical tools and disposition rather than solely his statistical output from the previous season. Size and athleticism remain highly sought-after traits in modern goaltending, and `compete` is the intangible every team covets.
The structure of the contract—one year at $775,000—clearly positions this as a low-risk transaction for San Jose. It offers Skarek a chance for a fresh start and an opportunity to compete for playing time, whether it`s pushing for a backup role in the NHL or providing stable goaltending for the Sharks` AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. For the Sharks, it adds another body to the goaltending depth chart, creating more internal competition and providing options in case of injuries or performance issues among other netminders in the organization.
At 25, Skarek isn`t necessarily a long-term prospect project in the traditional sense, but he is still young enough that further development is possible. Joining a new team with a different coaching staff and a potentially clearer path to proving himself could be exactly what he needs to take the next step in his career. It`s a practical move designed to bolster the goalie situation from the ground up.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow