Sharks Re-Sign Vesce, Sign Four Others to One-Year Deals

The San Jose Sharks have added several depth players to their team by re-signing center Ryan Vesce to a one-year contract and signing right wing Jed Ortmeyer, center Dwight Helminen, and defensemen Joe Callahan and Danny Groulx to one-year contracts. Terms of all five deals were not disclosed. Vesce played in 10 games last season with the Sharks, scoring no points. He also appeared in 67 games with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate in Worcester, scoring 24 goals and 47 assists for 71 points. Ortmeyer played in only two games last season with the Nashville Predators, scoring no points. He also appeared in 55 games with the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points. He also missed 24 games last fall with a knee injury. In 23 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Helminen scored one goal and one assist for two points. He also played in 54 games with the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Albany, scoring 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points. Callahan appeared in 18 games with the New York Islanders last season, scoring two assists. He also played in 56 games with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 points. Groulx played in 80 games for Rockford of the AHL last season, scoring six goals and 34 assists for 40 points and 58 penalty minutes. He has never appeared in an NHL game.

These are all really just depth signings for the Sharks. Vesce gives the team lots of offensive depth for their minor league team, and will likely spend most of next season in Worcester. Ortmeyer gives the Sharks plenty of offensive fourth line depth on the wing. Helminen gives the Sharks plenty of depth at center for the fourth line, as well as plenty of scoring depth for Worcester if he should spend most of the season there. Callahan could see time on the Sharks next season as a sixth or seventh depth defenseman if he makes the team at training camp or if there are any injuries. With Groulx being 28-years-old and never having played in the NHL will probably keep him in the minors for the duration of the 2009-10 season. However, his toughness and offensive skill on the blueline should help keep Worcester competitive defensively in the AHL next season.