SAN JOSE, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- After missing 24 regular season games in a contract dispute, Mike Rathje ended his holdout Thursday by signing a four-year, $8.25 million contract.
Rathje, who has been skating and working out throughout the negotiations, returned to San Jose Thursday, but is not expected to play tonight against Pittsburgh.
"We want him to do what he's always done, but he's capable of more," said Dean Lombardi, San Jose's general manager. "He can add some other dimensions. He just has to continue what he showed us in the playoffs."
When Rathje does return he could find himself with a defense partner other than Marcus Ragnarsson.
"I don't foresee them together," said Sharks head coach Darryl Sutter. "They are great tandem defensively, but maybe it we mix them up we can make it better."
The first three-year of the contract will take Rathje to the end of the current collective bargaining agreement. The final year would fall under a new CBA.
