The Sharks have signed prospect forward Noah Rod to a standard three-year entry-level contract, the club announced on Friday. The Sharks drafted Rod (pronounced like road) in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
The 20-year-old has five goals, nine assists and 22 penalty minutes with a plus-five rating in 27 games with Geneve-Servette in Switzerland. In 137 career games in the Swiss league from 2013-17, Rod has 37 points (14g, 23a) and 64 penalty minutes. The native of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland has represented his country in each of the last two World Junior tournaments, playing with fellow Sharks prospects Timo Meier and Mirco Mueller.
He is expected to join the AHL Barracuda shortly, once the immigration paperwork goes through.
"Noah plays with a tenacious, feisty edge which makes him a difficult player for opponents to play against," general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. "He has continued to grow his overall game the past few seasons, playing against men in Switzerland's top professional league, and we think his combination of grit and skill will translate well in North America. We are excited for him to make the move."
In February, Sharks director of hockey operations Doug Wilson, Jr. told The Hockey News that the six-foot, 200-pound Rod has "taken huge strides this year" and was hopeful that he would join the organization by the end of this season.
Wilson, Jr. said: "[Rod] was a 17-year-old shut down guy in a men's league, that's crazy. He's taken huge leaps. They've got him playing top six minutes, and he's producing as an offensive guy now.
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"He's one of those guys, he would fit perfect in Pete [DeBoer's] system – pressure all over the ice, agitator who can score. He fits really well for us. We're excited about him."
