Sharks Sign Tomas Plihal, Alexei Semenov

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SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has re-signed Group VI unrestricted free agent left wing Tomas Plihal and Group III unrestricted free agent defenseman Alexei Semenov to one-year contracts. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

In 2007-08, Plihal, 25, played 22 games with the San Jose Sharks scoring three points (two goals, one assist). He finished with a plus - +4 rating and took 34 shots on goal. He also played in four Stanley Cup Playoff games, all against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Semi Finals. Plihal registered a total 52:25 of on ice time and took nine shots on goal.

“Tomas is a very responsible player and has put a lot of work into his game,” said Wilson. “He was patient and continued to work and has developed into a solid two-way performer.”

In 2006-07, Plihal earned 15 points (six goals, -nine assists) and 28 penalty minutes with the Worcester Sharks, the top development AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks. Plihal also made his NHL debut with San Jose on Jan. 26 at Edmonton. In three games with San Jose, Plihal posted 10 shots on goal.

In 234 career AHL games with Worcester and Cleveland, and 22 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks, the native of Frydlant, Czech Republic has scored 92 points (40 goals, 52 assists) and 127 penalty minutes.

The six-foot-one, 190-pound left wing from Frydlant, Czech Republic was selected by San Jose in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

In his first season with San Jose, Semenov tallied four points (one goal, three assists) and racked up 36 penalty minutes in 22 games. Semenov’s lone goal came during a power-play against Detroit on Oct. 26. He took 23 shots on goal this season.

The four-year veteran has played in 164 NHL games, posting six goals, 19 assists and 192 penalty minutes for Edmonton, Florida, and San Jose.

He participated in the 2003-04 NHL YoungStars game representing Edmonton and clocked his hardest shot at 105 mph. In addition to his NHL totals, Semenov posted nine goals and 14 assists and 125 penalty minutes in 122 American Hockey League games with Hamilton and Rochester as well as 30 goals and 80 assists and 269 penalty minutes in 159 Ontario Hockey League games with Sudbury.

The six-foot-six, 235-pound native of Murmansk, Russia was originally selected by Edmonton in the second round (36th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.