Comments from San Jose:

Sharks GM Doug Wilson: “Rob is a tremendous competitor that has been one of the top defensemen in this league for many years. While he has enjoyed mentoring the young guys, great players need the ability to win in order to thrive and his sole purpose here is to focus on winning.”

Sharks coach Todd McLellan: “Rob’s skill set and intangibles speak for themselves. … I coached Nicklas Lidstrom for the last three years and Rob is the same age as him. Rob, like Nicklas, has proven to be a leader on a championship-winning team and any coach would be lucky to have a player of his caliber.”

Sharks center Joe Thornton: “I’ve gotten to play with Rob at several international tournaments and we’ve built a friendship over the years. He’ll fit right into our group and more importantly will help us win. He is extremely talented and can play, and excel, in every situation.”