by By Mark Emmons MediaNews staff , Contra Costa Times

"He just doesn't care," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "You can ask our players what they think of him but I'm not sure you can use the terms in the paper. And believe me, we take that as a compliment."

That's why Nichol, who has spent the past four seasons with Nashville, officially joined the Sharks on Wednesday by signing a one-year contract for $750,000.

He's expected to become San Jose's fourth-line center and fill a need on faceoffs and penalty-killing. Perhaps more importantly, he is a scrappy pest on the ice who might provide some sandpaper to a team that has endured withering criticism for its passive play in the first-round exit against Anaheim.

"He is ultracompetitive," Wilson added. "He is a Hockey rat. He will do whatever it takes to win. He brings a clear ingredient to our team."

The Sharks have parted ways with eight players forwards Claude Lemieux (who retired), Travis Moen, Mike Grier, Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal and Lukas Kaspar; defenseman Alexei Semenov and backup goalie Brian Boucher.

But Nichol, one of the NHL's noted agitators, is the first new face to join the Sharks in what so far has been a relatively quiet offseason considering the disastrous playoff performance.

"I try to bring a little in-your-face energy, and hopefully that can be contagious," Nichol said. "I'm not a big guy, so I scrap and claw for every inch I can get out there."

So, what is he thinking when he goes after much bigger players such as Thornton and Milan Michalek?

"Sometimes I bite off a little bit more than I can chew, and that gets me into trouble," he said. "Emotions get the best of me. But I try to channel it in a way that helps the team."

Nichol, 34, has recorded 44 goals, 48 assists and 686 penalty minutes in 417 NHL games.

He twice has been suspended for his rugged play a nine-game suspension in 2006 for a blindside hit to Buffalo defenseman Jaroslov Spacek, and in 2007 five games for cross-checking Montreal's Patrice Brisebois to the back of the head.

Nichol also has paid another price for his physical play two concussions. He missed 38 games last season.

But he returned for 16 games at the end of the season. Wilson said the Sharks did their due diligence on Nichol's health and believe he is symptom-free.

"If my head wasn't right, there's no way that I would put my family in that situation," Nichol said. "The style I play, you're bound to get knocked around a bit. But I'm healthy and ready to go."

Note: The Sharks are holding their summer development camp this week. Among the prospective rookies are center Logan Couture and defenseman Nick Peterecky, San Jose's two first-round picks in the 2007 draft. Both are expected to get a long look in training camp.

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