Sgarbossa gets deal with San Jose

The San Jose Sharks have signed Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Sgarbossa to an entry level contact.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sgarbossa is set to return to Saginaw this week in time for the team’s season opener in Kitchener on Friday.

“As an organization we are very happy for Michael as he worked very hard this summer,” stated Saginaw assistant GM Jim Paliafito. “Michael is a very talented young man and the San Jose Sharks see what we saw in him when we traded for him last fall. I expect this to be the beginning of many current Spirit players signing and being drafted by the NHL in the coming seasons.”

“Michael’s signing is a great indication of not only his skill level and dedication, but also of our league’s success in developing players for the next level”, stated Spirit president and partner Craig Goslin. “We are very proud of Michael and of his success at the Sharks’ training camp.”

From the San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed unrestricted free agent forward Michael Sgarbossa to an entry-level contract. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sgarbossa, 18, appeared in two of San Jose’s three games during the YoungStars Tournament in Penticton, B.C. from Sept. 12-16 and recorded three goals and one assist, including a hat trick on Sept. 15 vs. Edmonton. His four points were second overall in the tournament.

“We have been watching Michael for a while now and he showed a glimpse of what we feel he is capable of at the YoungStars Tournament,” said Wilson. “We really like the teaching he has received from Saginaw general manager and head coach Todd Watson and we hope to continue his development.”

Sgarbossa was a member of Team Canada’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2010 U-18 World Junior Championships, where he posted two points (one goal, one assist) and four penalty minutes in six games.

The Campbellville, Ont., native split time last season between the Barrie Colts and the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. In 67 games, Sgarbossa recorded 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) and 63 penalty minutes.

In six postseason games with Saginaw, Sgarbossa tallied two assists.

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images