SAN JOSE
– San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager
Dean Lombardi announced today that the club has acquired centers
Alyn McCauley and Brad Boyes (BOIZ) and Toronto’s first round pick
in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft from the Toronto
Maple Leafs for right wing Owen Nolan.
SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today that the club has acquired centers Alyn McCauley and Brad Boyes (BOIZ) and Toronto’s first round pick in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs for right wing Owen Nolan.
McCauley, 25, posted 15 points (six goals, nine assists) and 15 penalty minutes in 64 games this season with the Maple Leafs. A veteran of 304 career NHL games, the six-foot, 190-pound native of Brockville, Ontario has tallied 82 points (33 goals, 49 assists) and 52 penalty minutes, all with Toronto. Currently in his second full season in the League, McCauley played in a career-high 82 games in 2001-02, registering 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) and appearing in all 20 of Toronto’s postseason games with 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists), ranking second on the team in playoff assists and points and leading the team in game-winning goals.
McCauley was acquired by Toronto via trade from New Jersey on Feb. 25, 1997 after originally being drafted by the Devils in the fourth round (79th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. In four years of junior hockey with Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League from 1993-97, McCauley was named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player twice (1995-97). He was also named the Canadian Junior Hockey Player of the Year following his final season in Ottawa (1996-97) when he led the OHL with 56 goals in 50 games and finished third in the League in scoring with 112 points. He served as the 67’s team captain during his final two seasons of junior hockey. In addition, McCauley captured consecutive gold medals with Team Canada at the 1996 and 1997 World Junior Championships, serving as the team’s assistant captain in 1997.
Boyes, 20, leads the St. John’s Maple Leafs, Toronto’s top development affiliate of the American Hockey League, with 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) in 65 games this season. The six-foot-one, 187-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario, currently in his first professional season, ranks third among AHL rookies in both goals and points, while leading all League rookies in shots (177).
Originally selected by Toronto in the first round (24th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Boyes was twice named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player (2001 and 2002) in four seasons with the Erie Otters from 1998-02. In his final junior season, Boyes was named the OHL playoff’s most valuable player after scoring 41 points (22-19=41) in 21 postseason games. In addition, he represented Team Canada twice at the World Junior Championships from 2000-02. In 2002, he finished tied for second on Team Canada in scoring with nine points (five goals, four assists) in seven games, helping Team Canada to a Silver Medal and being named to the tournament’s Second All-Star Team.
“Our performance this season, among other variables, was a factor in this decision and our evaluation of our team. This deal helps us address some concerns while providing us with key players and assets that will help us get back on track,” said Lombardi. “Both McCauley, who is a provenNHL player, and Boyes, one of the top prospects in hockey, will help maintain our competitive level of play while improving our team as we move forward.”
Nolan, 31, leaves San Jose as the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (206), assists (245) and points (451) over 568 games in teal. The six-foot-one, 215-pound native of Belfast, Northern Ireland also made four career NHL All-Star Game appearances in a Sharks uniform (2002, 2000, 1997 and 1996).
“Owen Nolan was a major part of this franchise during his time here and certainly was a huge part of our progress over the last six years,” said Lombardi.
Originally acquired by San Jose from Colorado for Sandis Ozolinsh on Oct. 26, 1995, Nolan posted 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 61 games this season with the Sharks. He also holds the Sharks single season records for goals (44), points (84), power play tallies (18) and shots (258), all set in 1999-00.
