Sharks Re-Sign Lukas Kaspar, Add Ryan Vesce

[Thrillhouse]

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed Group II restricted free agent forward Lukas Kaspar and right wing Ryan Vesce to one-year contracts.

In 2007-08, Kaspar, 22, appeared in 76 total games between the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and their top development affiliate, the AHL’s Worcester Sharks.

Kaspar made his NHL debut on October 29 at Dallas with San Jose and made two more appearances for San Jose on November 2 and 3, posting five shots on goal. In the remaining 73 games with Worcester, he posted a career-best 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists).

The six-foot-two, 220-pound native of Most, Czech Republic was selected by San Jose in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Vesce, 26, spent the 2007-08 season with HIFK Helsinki of the Finnish Elite League where in 56 games he led the team in goals (26) and points (26-18=44).

Prior to playing in Helsinki, Vesce was a part of the Ottawa Senators organization, playing in 80 games during 2006-07 with Binghamton of the American Hockey League. He posted 51 points (16 goals, 35 assists), while racking up 51 penalty minutes.

The five-foot-eight, 175-pound native of Lloyd Harbor, New York played his collegiate career at Cornell University from 2000-04, posting 128 points (46 goals, 82 assists) and 50 penalty minutes in 101 games.

[finnut]

do you expect either of these guys to get any significant minutes this season?

finnut

[pigfarmer]

I think Kasapar could get decent time, maybe bounce around between Worchester and SJ like a Rissmiller of 2 years ago, break into the club next year a little more. Don't know anything about the other dude.

[major league]

Vesce had some very good numbers in Finland I believe it was last season. Here is a highlight video on him.

YouTube - Ryan Vesce #19 HIFK