Moderator: Morris_Shatford
Rangers Sign Defenseman Paul Mara
8th July, 2008 - 11:40 am
RealGM Staff Report - New York Rangers' President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent defenseman Paul Mara.
Mara, 28, appeared in 61 games with the Rangers this past season, registering one goal and 16 assists for 17 points, along with 52 penalty minutes. He finished third on the team among defensemen in assists (16), fourth in shots (80), and second in penalty minutes (52). He also ranked fifth on the team with 74 blocked shots, posted two multiple-point efforts, and recorded a three-game assist-streak from January 12 vs. Montreal to January 16 vs. Buffalo (three assists). Mara collected his 150th career assist at Toronto on December 29. He missed 15 games this past season with a shoulder injury and facial fractures. In addition, Mara registered one assist with 20 penalty minutes and a plus-three rating while appearing in all 10 of the Rangers’ post-season matches.
In 2006-07, Mara ranked third among Rangers’ defensemen in goals (five), points (23,) and hits (72) and finished second in shots (100) and fourth in assists (18). He ranked second on the club in average icetime (22:08). He also ranked third on the team with 120 blocked shots and fourth with 113 penalty minutes. In 19 games with the Rangers, he recorded two goals and three assists, along with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-six rating after being acquired from Boston on February 27, 2007, in exchange for defenseman Aaron Ward. The Rangers posted a 12-3-4 record with him in the lineup. Mara skated in his 500th career game on April 3, 2007 at Long Island, and registered his 200th career point on March 17, 2007 vs. Boston. In the 2007 playoffs, Mara tied for second on the team in power-play goals (two), and registered four points (two goals and two assists) in 10 contests.
