BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Bruins have signed defenseman Milan Jurcina to a three-year contract.
The Bruins drafted Jurcina, 19, a native of Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia, in the eighth round of the 2001 NHL draft. He scored 19 goals and had 34 assists in three seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior League.
Bruins general manager Mike O’Connell described Jurcina as a strong, physical defenseman, whom he believes is ready to take the next step in his development as a player.
“We feel that Jurcina is a fine prospect who will definitely play in the National Hockey League,” O’Connell said. “He had a strong training camp last season, went back to his junior team in Halifax and had a fine year there.”
In other moves, the Bruins traded the rights to left wing Darren McLachlan to Phoenix for a fifth-round pick in the 2004 draft, and announced they will allow left wing Jiri Jakes, a 2001 draft choice, to become a free agent.
AP-ES-05-31-03 1639EDT
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