A delicious new wrinkle has been added to the San Jose-Los Angeles rivalry.
Four days after being traded to the Boston Bruins as part of the Milan Lucic deal, former L.A. Kings backup goaltender Martin Jones has been flipped to the San Jose Sharks, quickly shifting him back to the Pacific Division.
Boston receives the Sharks’ first-round draft pick in 2016 and unsigned prospect Sean Kuraly in return.
“Martin was at the top of our list of players that we had targeted,” Sharks GM Doug Wilson said in a release. “We’re extremely excited to have him on board.”
The Sharks signed Jones to a three-year, $9 million contract on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old Jones played 15 games for the Kings in 2014-15, posting a .906 save percentage, 2.25 goals-against average and a 4-5-2 record. He is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.
Jones played for Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, posting a 2-0 record, a 1.50 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage, helping his country capture a gold medal. He also played for Canada at the 2010 world juniors, winning a silver medal.
With San Jose’s former No. 1, Antti Niemi, off to Dallas, Jones will join 27-year-old Alex Stalock in the sharks crease next season.
The Sharks also extended depth goaltender Troy Grosenick, 26, this off-season.
Kuraly, a fifth-round draft choice of San Jose in 2011, is a 22-year-old forward who has spent the past three seasons with Miami University (Ohio) of the NCHC. In 40 games last season, Kuraly scored 19 goals and added 10 assists.
