Sharks Re-Sign Defenseman Radim Simek
by San Jose Sharks @SanJoseSharks / sjsharks.com
SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has re-signed defenseman Radim Simek (rah-DEEM SHIH-meck) to a four-year contract.
"Radim has been an integral piece of our team defense for the last two seasons," said Wilson. "His style of play blends a sound defensive game, coupled with a heavy physical ingredient and good puck-moving skills. His impact on our club when he is in the lineup is undeniable and we're pleased he will be part of our team's core moving forward."
In 88 career NHL games with San Jose, Simek, 27, has registered 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) and 22 penalty minutes. The Sharks record is 53-28-7 all-time with him in the lineup.
This season, Simek has played in 47 games, tallying nine points (two goals, seven assists) and 14 penalty minutes. He ranks fourth on the team in hits (91) and second amongst defensemen, despite having missed the team's first 22 games. Since he re-joined the lineup this season, the Sharks are 24-19-4.
Last season, he was named "Sharks Rookie of the Year" after leading all Sharks rookies in assists, points and games played.
Simek spent his first professional season of North American hockey with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2017-18, recording 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) and a plus-six rating in 67 games. Amongst Barracuda defensemen, he ranked second in points, goals, and assists, and first in plus/minus (+6) and shots (128).
Prior to arriving in North America, Simek helped Liberec win the 2015-16 Czech league championship and was named the league MVP after posting 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 14 games. He also posted the league's best plus/minus (+13)
Simek led his team in goals amongst defensemen for three consecutive seasons (2014-17), including leading all league defensemen in 2015 and 2017.
He also represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 and 2017 World Championships
The five-foot-eleven, 200-pound native of Mlada Boleslav,Czech Republic was originally signed by the Sharks as a free agent on May 23, 2017.