Sharks add ex-Penguin Paul Martin in bid to strengthen defense

The Sharks signed free-agent defenseman Paul Martin to a $19.4 million, four-year contract Wednesday in a move to shore up a suspect blue line.

The move to sign Martin, who played the past five seasons in Pittsburgh, comes after San Jose acquired goalie Martin Jones in a deal with Boston and signed pending restricted free-agent defenseman Brenden Dillon with a $16.35 million, five-year contract this week.

Other notable players to sign with teams on a busy opening day of free agency were forward Michael Frolik ($21.5 million, five-year deal from Calgary), forward Brad Richards (who left Chicago for Detroit), forward Blake Comeau (three-year deal with the Avalanche), forward Daniel Winnik (two-year contract with Toronto).

Forward Artem Anisimov signed a $22.75 million, five-year contract extension with Chicago, and Calgary kept Kari Ramo with a $3.8 million, one-year contract.

The Penguins sent forward prospect Kasperi Kapanen, forward Nick Spaling, defenseman Scott Harrington and a 2016 third-round pick to the Maple Leafs for Kessel, forward Tyler Briggs and defenseman Tim Erixon.