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Jones ready for bigger role after trade to Sharks

Tuesday, 06.30.2015 / 10:43 PM / News

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Jones ready for bigger role after trade to Sharks
The San Jose Sharks acquired goaltender Martin Jones from the Boston Bruins on Tuesday for forward prospect Sean Kuraly and a 2016 first-round pick

The San Jose Sharks added a potential No. 1 goaltender Tuesday by acquiring Martin Jones from the Boston Bruins, who traded for him on Friday.

"Martin was at the top of our list of players that we had targeted," general manager Doug Wilson told the Sharks website. "We're extremely excited to have him on board."

San Jose traded a first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and forward prospect Sean Kuraly to get Jones, who was traded by the Los Angeles Kings to Boston at the 2015 draft as part of the package for forward Milan Lucic.

"I've never been traded before, so this is all new to me," Jones said Tuesday, according to the San Jose Mercury News. "It's exciting. It's pretty sad when you're leaving a place like L.A. where I formed a lot of good relationships, but I'm looking forward to taking on a bigger responsibility and playing in San Jose."

The Sharks had a need for another goaltender after trading starter Antti Niemi to the Dallas Stars on Saturday. With Niemi signing in Dallas, and backup Alex Stalock and Troy Grosenick the only goalies under contract in San Jose for 2014-15, Wilson used the trade market to find a starting-caliber goalie.

"We obviously feel very strongly about him," Wilson said. "If you see something that you really want, we have no problem paying full value and going up and getting him. That's what we did."

Jones, 25, is 16-11-2 with a 1.99 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and seven shutouts in 34 NHL games as the backup to Jonathan Quick with the Kings the past two seasons. He will compete with Stalock for the starting spot in San Jose.

"Ultimately, that's the goal, to be able to go somewhere and play," Jones said. "Wherever I was at, I was going to work hard in practice and push for more ice time. I'm going to get that opportunity here and I'm going to go into camp and earn every start that I get."

TSN reported Tuesday that Jones has agreed to a three-year, $9 million that will keep him from becoming a restricted free agent on Wednesday.

"We've started some conversations today, and hopefully we'll make some progress there," Wilson said. "We acquired him because of how we feel about him. Do we think that we'll get a contract that works for all parties involved? We do. Yes.”

In 158 American Hockey League games from 2010-14, Jones was 84-57-10 with a 2.42 GAA and .920 save percentage. He had 12 shutouts and was named to the all-star team in 2011 and 2014.

Jones likely will be a big piece of the Pacific Division rivalry with the Kings and is excited for the opportunity.

"It's going to be fun,” Jones said of facing Los Angeles. “It's fun to play in those types of games.”

Kuraly, 22, was a fifth-round pick (No. 133) in the 2011 draft. He had 19 goals and 29 points in 40 games in his third season at Miami University.

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