The San Jose Sharks didn't see much of Ty Emberson last year, but they were clearly happy with his play.
On Thursday, the Sharks signed the 24-year-old RFA blue lineman, who played just 30 games in his rookie season, to a one-year, $950,000 contract.
In fact, Emberson missed 24 games over the final two months of the season because of a laceration in his right foot.
But either way, San Jose believes it may have found a diamond in the rough with its waiver claim last fall.
Emberson spoke Friday about his health status and what will be different under new San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Worsofsky.
“I'm just happy to be here,” Emberson said of his health after missing the final two months of the season.
It was a laceration on my lower leg. You all saw me running around the rink for two months. I ended up having surgery that night to repair the injury.
No limit [in training]I've been feeling good for a while now, and I'm heading back to training camp now so I'll be looking to get even better.
“I think it's just a matter of getting better,” Emberson said about what he wants to improve heading into his sophomore season.
It's just about consistency. Obviously, last year I made my debut and had to learn some adjustments. This year, I just came in and picked up where I left off last year.
Emberson said what stands out about new San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Worsofsky:
He has great communication skills to work with younger players and understand a bit about how the game has changed. [as] He's come up through the ranks, he's won at every level, and I think he'll win at this level again.
His ability to communicate helps us have a mutual understanding of what we're working on and how he's trying to develop us as players and as people, so just him being able to understand the younger generation, I think, helps a lot.
Emberson said of systemic changes Warsofsky might institute:
I think commitment to the system is going to be key for us this year, making sure everyone is accountable in the defensive zone, sticking to the game plan and being consistent.
