San Jose has officially announced the signing of Erik Karlsson to an eight-year contract extension.

The Sharks did not disclose the terms of the deal, but according to CapFriendly it is worth $92 million for an average annual value of $11.5 million. “We are extremely pleased that Erik and his wife Melinda have committed to the San Jose Sharks and that they have done so prior to July 1,” said Sharks GM Doug Wilson. “Players with Erik’s elite level of talent are rare and when they become available, it’s important to be aggressive in pursuing them. He is a difference maker who consistently makes the players around him better. We are pleased that he has been proactive in addressing his injury from last season and are looking forward to him being part of our organization for a long time to come.” Karlsson was limited to 56 games in his first season with the Sharks, but he generated 45 points. He also had 16 points in 19 playoff contests.

Karlsson was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but decided to stay in San Jose, where he will try to win his first championship and the first for a franchise that has reached the conference final five times in the past 15 years without ever winning it all.

“I’m excited to continue the chase for the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup,” Karlsson said in a statement. “Last year was an unbelievable run but we didn’t achieve what we set out to do. But the dedication I witnessed from my teammates, coaches, staff, and organization showed me that we all have a great future ahead of us and that we are capable of fighting for that championship year in and year out.

The Sharks acquired the two-time Norris Trophy winner just before the start of last season from Ottawa as a one-year rental. Karlsson was hampered by groin injuries for much of his first season in San Jose but also showed flashes as he helped the Sharks reach the Western Conference final, where they lost to eventual champion St. Louis in six games.

Everyone in hockey knows the name: Erik Karlsson, So, the money should not surprise anybody. However, with his history of injury, his contract will be looked at very closely by everyone for years…

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