Kraken Moves On
Not a bad “back-up”.
Martin Jones went 27-13-and-3 last season for the Seattle Kraken, much of the time filling in for projected number-one goalie Philipp Grubauer who missed a month of the early season due to injury.
Jones was the winning goaltender in six of the seven games in early January when the Kraken tore through a road trip and set an NHL record with a perfect 7-and-0 roadie.
Grubauer finished the season 17-14-and-3.
As of Wednesday morning, unrestricted free agent “Jonesy” has officially moved on, per this press release:
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed goaltender Martin Jones to a one-year contract worth $875,000.
Jones, 33, has collected a 225-163-35 record with a 2.71 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage and 28 shutouts through 444 career regular season NHL games split between Seattle, Philadelphia, San Jose and Los Angeles while also posting a 32-27 record alongside a 2.36 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 63 career playoff games.
Jones won a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings as a rookie back-up to Jonathan Quick in 2014.
The Maple Leafs goaltending situation is a bit convoluted. Ilya Samsonov just earned a one-year arbitration deal, 25-year-old Jason Woll has two seasons left at the league minimum, while Matt Murray remains a long-term injured reserve candidate. Jones appears to be a veteran security blanket.
Meanwhile, as it stands, the Kraken will be relying on the winner of the Joey Daccord – Chris Driedger training camp competition to serve as “back-up” to “Grooby” for this season.
Firebirds Fun
Occasionally we like to check into social media at all Kraken hockey levels and see what the boys are getting after. This time it’s the Coachella Valley Firebirds with their version of a quarterback challenge.
Meanwhile, the Firebirds re-upped with lefty defenseman Jake McLaughlin, who played just two games in the Valley last season after appearing in 32 with the ECHL Kansas City Mavericks. The 27-year-old Hinsdale, Illinois native is a product of the USHL junior league and four years of college hockey at UMass-Amherst. He was undrafted by an NHL team.
Misc. NHL
Speaking of announcements, the Arizona Coyotes made one on Wednesday:
“We can confirm that Coyotes Owner, Chairman & Governor Alex Meruelo has executed a Letter of Intent to purchase a parcel of land located in Mesa, Arizona to be the potential site for a sports arena and entertainment district for the Club. The Coyotes remain committed to building the first privately funded sports facility in Arizona history and ensuring the Valley as the Club’s permanent home. In addition to this property in Mesa, the Club will continue to explore other potential sites in the East Valley.”
Alrightee then. We’ll just leave that there for now. I’m sure there’s more to come.
The Coyotes presently play in the 5,500 seat Mullett Arena, home to the Arizona State Sun Devils college hockey team in Tempe.
Recent Joy Joy:
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Andre Burakovsky
— Simmer’s Sunday: 9 Kraken, NHL, World Hockey Tidbits
