Newz Forum: HOCKEY: Dimitrakos among quartet signed by Sharks

San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - The San Jose Sharks signed four Group II restricted free agents on Tuesday, including forward Niko Dimitrakos, the club's assist leader in the 2004 playoffs. San Jose also locked up goaltender Vesa Toskala, forward Scott Parker and defenseman Matt Carkner. Terms of all four deals were not disclosed.

Just 24 years old, Dimitrakos set career highs in goals (nine), assists (15) and points (24) while skating in 68 games for the Sharks last season. In addition to leading the team in postseason assists with eight in 15 games, Dimitrakos also scored the game-winning goal in overtime of game one of the Western Conference quarterfinals versus St. Louis.

Dimitrakos, a product of the University of Maine, registered six goals and seven assists in 21 games for the Sharks in 2002-03, his first NHL season.

Toskala also had a career year in 2003-04 in San Jose, minding the net in 28 games. He won 12 decisions while posting a 2.06 goals-against average. The native of Tampere, Finland will represent his home country in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Parker originally came to San Jose in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche. He has produced four points in each of his last two NHL seasons, one each with the Avalanche and Sharks.

The final signee of the day was Carkner, the 2003-04 American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year. He played with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League in 2003-04, scoring 13 points in 60 contests.