Joonas Donskoi, Gus Nyquist bolt Sharks as free agents

SAN JOSE — As expected, forwards Joonas Donskoi and Gus Nyquist signed with teams other than the Sharks on Monday.

Donskoi, author of one of San Jose’s most memorable playoff goals, signed a four-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. The deal reportedly carries an average annual value of $3.9 million, a raise from the $1.9 million he made each of the last two seasons with the Sharks.

Nyquist’s time with the Sharks lasted just three months, as the winger signed a four-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday with an average annual value of $5.5 million.

When the Sharks signed Erik Karlsson to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension two weeks ago, a deal that takes up over 14 percent of the $81.5 million salary cap limit for next season, it limited any chance they had of retaining Nyquist, Donskoi or Joe Pavelski, who is expected to sign with the Dallas Stars.

Donskoi, after four seasons in San Jose, was reportedly looking for a fresh start with another team as a pending unrestricted free agent. According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic, Donskoi had informed the Sharks, while not closing the door on a return to San Jose, that he was going to explore the free agent market last week and begin to speak with other teams.

Donskoi, 27, had 122 points in 283 regular season games with the Sharks, including a career-best 37 points this season even though he endured a goal-less streak of 34 games from Jan. 12 to April 6. He had nine goals and 12 assists in 50 career playoff games, including the overtime winner in Game 3 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh.

Donskoi was signed out of Finland by the Sharks in May 2015.

Nyquist, 29, was acquired by the Sharks from the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 25 for a second round draft pick this year and what is now a third round pick in 2020. Nyquist had to waive the no-trade clause in his contract to come to the Sharks, where he had a good friend in Karlsson.

It took some time for Nyquist to settle in with the Sharks as coach Pete DeBoer moved him from line to line. Nyquist, though, found a home alongside center Logan Couture, helping to form the Sharks’ top shutdown line once the playoffs began. Nyquist had one goal and 10 assists in 20 postseason games as the Sharks advanced to the Western Conference final.

In 81 games with the Sharks and Red Wings this season, Nyquist had 22 goals and 38 assists. Entering next season, Nyquist has 131 goals and 175 assists in 500 career NHL regular season games.