Sharks Sign Mat Pelech, Re-Sign Thomas Greiss

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have signed defenseman Matt Pelech to a one-year contract and re-signed goaltender Thomas Greiss to a two-year contract worth $1.175 million. His deal will average out to $587,500 per season, while the financial terms of Pelech's contract were not disclosed. In 59 games last season with Abbotsford of the AHL, Pelech had three goals and two assists for five points and 198 penalty minutes. He last appeared in the NHL with the Calgary Flames during the 2008-09 season. Greiss spent all of last season with Brynas of the Swedish Elite League, posting a 2.92 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 32 games. These are really just depth signings for the Sharks, as both players will likely spend most of next season in the minors. If they see any NHL action in 2011-12, it will likely be as injury replacements.

Flames Re-Sign Sutter, Keetley, Chucko, Baldwin, Pelech

The Calgary Flames have announced a slew of minor-league signings over the past few days. The team has re-signed left wing Brett Sutter, goaltender Matt Keetley, right wing Kris Chucko, and defensemen Gord Baldwin and Matt Pelech to one-year contracts. The financial terms of all five deals were not disclosed. These aren't bad depth signings for the Flames. Sutter and Chucko both have a little offensive skill and play with some toughness. Pelech and Baldwin are both physical defensemen who play with lots of grit and toughness, while Keetley has some skill to become a backup goaltender at the NHL level one day. However, given the all the depth on the Flames roster, all five players are likely to spend most of next season in the minors.