Sharks ex­tend Braun for five years, $19 million

The Sharks have locked up one of their top defensemen, signing Justin Braun to a five-year contract extension on Wednesday, the team announced.

Braun, whose current contract expires at the end of the upcoming season, is now signed through the 2019-2010 season.

Neil Sheely, Braun’s agent, says the deal is worth $19 million over five years. Braun will make an average of $3.8 million per year, making him the third highest-paid defenseman on the Sharks, behind Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brent Burns.

Said General Manager Doug Wilson in a press release:

“Justin has emerged as one of our most well-rounded and dependable defensemen. He’s an excellent skater who excels in matching up against the opponents top players on a nightly basis and fits in well with our core group of younger players. We feel Justin has just scratched the surface of his talent and we are excited to have him under contract for the next six seasons.”

Braun, 27, played in all 82 regular season games and all seven playoff games. He recorded four goals and 13 assists during the season, both career highs. Braun also ranked second on the team in ice time (20:59) and blocked 106 shots.

With the Sharks going through a rebuilding process, it’s no surprise they gave Braun the money that could have gone to Dan Boyle, who was traded this offseason to the New York Islanders. Boyle led all Sharks defensemen with 12 goals and 24 assists, but turned 38 years old in July.