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The Sharks have started discussions with defenseman Justin Braun's camp on a contract extension, Braun’s agent indicated to CSNBayArea.com on Monday, although nothing is imminent at this point.
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“Nothing yet. We will be talking more later in the month after Justin’s wedding,” Neil Sheehy said via email.
Braun is getting married this weekend in the Atlanta area.
The 27-year-old defenseman is about to enter the last year of his current contract with a team-friendly $1.25 million cap hit ($1.5 million in salary for 2014-15), and would be an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’s coming off his best season in the NHL in 2013-14, finishing with 17 points (4g, 13a) and second on the team in ice time per game (20:59) paired mostly with Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Braun did not miss a single game in the regular season or playoffs.
Braun is one of several Sharks players routinely mentioned by general manager Doug Wilson as part of the young core that will get a bigger stake in the club next season.
In recent summers, the Sharks have signed several of their key pending unrestricted free agents before the beginning of the final year of their current deals. Vlasic inked a contract extension before the 2012-13 season, while last July it was Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski who were extended.
