San Jose's forward signs a $10 million mega contract - has not even made it through the fourth line

The San Jose Sharks have signed a four-year extension with center Zach Ostapchuk, 23. The average annual salary of the contract is $2.35 million, with a total value of $9.4 million.

The contract is quite lucrative considering Ostapchuk’s performances. In the recently concluded season, the Canadian forward played 59 NHL games as the center of San Jose’s fourth line, with stats of 4+3=7. His plus-minus rating was 11 below zero.

San Jose fans were excited about the contract. Many consider Ostapchuk to be a very promising name.

– He is one of my favorite players on the Sharks! Great that he stays with the team, one fan writes on X.

– $2.35 million is a reasonable amount for a fourth-line center in his prime, especially as the salary cap rises. And if he continues to develop, he will fill his role wonderfully, another assesses.

– Ostapchuk developed last season, I love how he was consistently physical and defended his teammates. He is a super-fast skater, he really has untapped potential. He will likely continue to develop into a high-level fourth center and I think he could be one of the best fourth centers in the league.