SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson signed a one-year, $2.3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on Friday shortly before his arbitration hearing was set to begin.

Ragnarsson, a seven-year veteran who has spent his entire NHL career with San Jose, had five goals and 20 points last season while making $1.675 million as an anchor of the Sharks' defense.

"Our differences weren't enough to risk going through the process," Sharks general manager Dean Lombardi said. "Everybody knows Rags' role and the player he is. He's in our top four. Since I've been general manager, Rags and (defenseman Mike) Rathje are really the only players left, so he's a big part of us."

Niklas Sundstrom is the only other San Jose player waiting for arbitration. He's scheduled to appear before the arbitrator on Wednesday, but Lombardi will meet with Sundstrom's agent in an effort to reach a similar settlement.

Goalie Evgeni Nabokov declined arbitration last month and remains a restricted free agent, along with defensemen Brad Stuart and Scott Hannan.

Lombardi has made his defensemen a top priority in the absence of veteran Gary Suter, who said he was leaning toward retirement during a conversation with Sharks coach Darryl Sutter last week.

Lombardi also said the Sharks probably won't make an offer to unrestricted free agent wing Theo Fleury until Nabokov is signed and the Sharks' payroll structure is more clear. San Jose holds Fleury's rights after a trade with the New York Rangers, but doesn't expect to sign him.

The Sharks still don't know whether former No. 1 draft pick Alexandre Daigle will accept their offer of a tryout this fall. Daigle, out of hockey for two seasons, is interested in a comeback, and San Jose is among the teams interested.

Daigle's decision, hotly anticipated by Canadian media, is expected soon, Lombardi said.

"If I had to do this with every guy I gave a tryout to, holy smoke!" Lombardi said. "This is a bigger deal than signing (Teemu) Selanne."

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