Defensemen Demers, Doherty sign with Sharks

Defenseman Jason Demers and the San Jose Sharks agreed to terms Wednesday on a two-year contract. Financial terms were not released but the contract is worth $3.4 million per season, according to Elliotte Friedman of "Hockey Night In Canada."

"I want to be in San Jose as long as I can. I love the organization," Demers said, according to CSN Bay Area. "They did a lot for me, and I owe a lot to them."

Demers, 26, had career highs of five goals and 34 points in 75 games last season. He had one assist in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"My main goal last year was to stay healthy. If I'm healthy, I’m going to be effective," Demers said. "I felt I could never get into a rhythm the two years before because I kept getting little injuries. It's kind of hard to get your feet dug into the ground when you’re always getting hurt."

A seventh-round pick (No. 186) by the Sharks in the 2008 NHL Draft, Demers has 16 goals and 95 points in 280 regular-season games.

"I think it was a really important year for him last year," general manager Doug Wilson said. "Looking at how we want to play the game, finding a right-shot defenseman with offense to his game is important. He stepped up."

Demers credited the Sharks coaching staff with his development.

"Working with [assistant coaches] Larry Robinson and Jim Johnson was huge for me," Demers said. "That's helped me a lot over the past few years. I really felt like my game has grown, and I still think I can grow it a little more."

The Sharks also signed defenseman Taylor Doherty to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Doherty, 23, was a second-round pick (No. 57) in 2009 and had four goals, 15 points and 111 penalty minutes in 69 games last season for the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League.

"Taylor is a big body who has developed his game over the last several years," Wilson said. "We look forward to watching him compete to make our club this coming season."