Mark Fraser (ice hockey)

Mark Fraser
Mark Fraser
Born	September 29, 1986 (age 40); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Professional ice hockey defenceman (retired)
Years active	2006–2020
Known for	Playing in the NHL for New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers

Mark Alexander Fraser (born September 29, 1986) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) representing the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers.

Playing career

Fraser's junior career was with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League from 2004 to 2006, where he was appointed captain during his second year. Selected 84th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, he began his professional journey at the conclusion of the 2005–06 season with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). His first full professional season came in 2006–07 playing for the Lowell Devils, alongside a brief NHL stint of seven games that same year. Fraser primarily competed in the AHL until securing a spot on New Jersey’s NHL roster after training camp in 2009–10, marking his first NHL goal on October 24, 2009.

On December 12, 2011, Fraser was traded to the Anaheim Ducks along with Rod Pelley and a draft pick in exchange for Kurtis Foster and Timo Pielmeier. Subsequently, on February 27, 2012, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Dale Mitchell.

To avoid salary arbitration with Toronto, Fraser agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.275 million on July 30, 2013. Following a less impactful performance during the 2013–14 season, he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers on January 31, 2014, in exchange for rights to prospects Teemu Hartikainen and Cam Abney.

As an unrestricted free agent during the 2014–15 season, Fraser rejoined the Devils organization by signing a one-year AHL contract with Albany on November 2. He later secured an NHL contract with New Jersey on December 18 and returned to NHL action on January 3, 2015. After not receiving a contract extension from New Jersey, he accepted a professional try-out with Toronto but was released without securing a deal.

On September 28, 2015, Fraser inked a one-year two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators and spent time with their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. He signed a comparable deal returning to Edmonton on July 1, 2016.

Seeking opportunities overseas as an unsigned free agent late in 2017, Fraser joined Finnish Liiga team HC TPS on a try-out basis. After completing a second international season in Slovakia with HKm Zvolen, he signed a one-year agreement for the 2019–20 campaign with Germany’s Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Personal

Fraser is the son of Hugh Fraser—a former sprinter and Ontario Court of Justice judge—and Ann Kennedy, a retired educator.

Following retirement from professional play, Fraser joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in February 2021. His role focuses on player development within their Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.

Career statistics

| 2010–11 AHL season | Albany Devils | AHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2011–12 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | — | 2011–12 AHL season | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 35 | — | 2011–12 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 2012–13 AHL season | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 30 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 114 | — | 2012–13 NHL season | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 45 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 85 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2013–14 NHL season | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33 | -

Regular season

Playoffs

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