Tierney signs two-year contract with Sharks

Chris Tierney signed a two-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.

Financial terms were not released.

The 24-year-old forward had NHL career highs in goals (17), assists (23) and points (40) in 82 games with the Sharks last season. He was a restricted free agent and was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing Friday.

"I'm glad that we could come to an agreement before (arbitration)," Tierney told The Mercury News. "San Jose is the place where I want to play and I want to be. I love the team, I love my teammates, the city. ... I'm glad we could get it done."

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Tierney had two assists in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season; San Jose lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the Western Conference Second Round.

"The year before, obviously, I got qualified and it was, like everybody's been saying, a 'show-me' year," Tierney said. "I really took it upon myself to go into the summer, work hard and try to prepare for (the season). ... I thought I had a good year and deserved this contract."

Tierney won 51 percent of his face-offs last season, the fourth-highest total among Sharks who took at least 100, and led them at 56.3 percent while shorthanded (58 of 103). He also led San Jose forwards in shorthanded ice time (128:04) and shorthanded ice time per game (1:34).

"Chris had his best season as a professional last year and stepped up his level of play in multiple areas," general manager Doug Wilson told the Sharks website. "We've always known he was a responsible, defensive-minded player, but he took his offensive game to the next tier and showed that he can be a productive player in all three zones. We look forward to watching him continue his evolution in 2018-19."