Bruins acquire Paul Mara from Phoenix for Nick Boynton
Monday, 06.26.2006 / 12:00 AM
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The Boston Bruins have acquired defenseman Paul Mara and Phoenix’s third round draft pick in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Drafts (Boston’s option) from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Nick Boynton and a 2007 fourth-round draft pick, it was announced today by Bruins Interim General Manager Jeff Gorton.
Gorton also announced that the team has agreed to terms with Mara on a two-year contract. Mara was scheduled to become a Group II (restricted) free agent, having been tendered a qualifying offer by Phoenix prior to the trade.
"Paul is an offensive defenseman who can also play against the top opponent players," said Gorton. "He plays a lot of minutes in all situations and his style of play fits today’s game.”
Mara, 26, is in his seventh NHL season and Boston becomes his third NHL team. He was originally drafted by Tampa Bay as their first pick, seventh overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons of junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves and Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League where he had 38-108=146 and 265 penalty minutes in 146 career junior games. Mara made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay at the end of the 1998-99 season, playing one game and scoring a goal and an assist.
The 6'4", 219 lb. defenseman was born in New Jersey but grew up in Belmont MA. He split his first two pro seasons between Tampa Bay and the Detroit Vipers of the IHL and was traded to Phoenix with Mike Johnson, Ruslan Zainullin and a 2001 second round choice for Nikolai Khabibulin and Stan Neckar on Mar. 5, 2001. He has played the last four full NHL seasons with the Coyotes and enjoyed his best NHL season with Phoenix this season, recording career season-highs in goals and points with 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 78 games.
His career NHL totals are 52 goals and 126 assists for 178 points with 381 penalty minutes in 424 games.
Gorton also announced that the team has agreed to terms with Mara on a two-year contract. Mara was scheduled to become a Group II (restricted) free agent, having been tendered a qualifying offer by Phoenix prior to the trade.
"Paul is an offensive defenseman who can also play against the top opponent players," said Gorton. "He plays a lot of minutes in all situations and his style of play fits today’s game.”
Mara, 26, is in his seventh NHL season and Boston becomes his third NHL team. He was originally drafted by Tampa Bay as their first pick, seventh overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons of junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves and Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League where he had 38-108=146 and 265 penalty minutes in 146 career junior games. Mara made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay at the end of the 1998-99 season, playing one game and scoring a goal and an assist.
The 6'4", 219 lb. defenseman was born in New Jersey but grew up in Belmont MA. He split his first two pro seasons between Tampa Bay and the Detroit Vipers of the IHL and was traded to Phoenix with Mike Johnson, Ruslan Zainullin and a 2001 second round choice for Nikolai Khabibulin and Stan Neckar on Mar. 5, 2001. He has played the last four full NHL seasons with the Coyotes and enjoyed his best NHL season with Phoenix this season, recording career season-highs in goals and points with 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 78 games.
His career NHL totals are 52 goals and 126 assists for 178 points with 381 penalty minutes in 424 games.
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