Gulls Agree To Terms With NHL Veteran Dave Karpa

[VodkaFish]

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Gulls have agreed to terms with NHL veteran Dave Karpa, head coach Martin St. Amour announced on Saturday. Karpa began skating with the team Wednesday, and played Saturday night against the Fresno Falcons.

Karpa, 33, has played 557 career games in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, notching 98 points (18g, 80a) and 1,374 penalty minutes. He’s also appeared in 19 playoff games in the NHL, registering two points (1g, 1a) and 39 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 203-pounder from Regina, Saskatchewan was a fourth round selection of Quebec in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the Nordiques during the 1991-92 season. Karpa was traded to Anaheim during the 1994-95 season, where he spent the majority of his NHL career.

His best season came with the Mighty Ducks in 1995-96 when he recorded an NHL career high 19 points (3g, 16a) and 270 penalty minutes. Karpa was traded to Carolina in 1998 for Stu Grimson and Kevin Haller, then signed as a free agent with the Rangers in 2001.

During his NHL tenure, Karpa ranked either first or second on his team in penalty minutes five times. He led Anaheim with 217 penalty minutes in 1997-98 and led Carolina with 159 penalty minutes in 2000-01. Karpa ranked second on Quebec with 148 penalty minutes in 1993-94 and was second on Anaheim with 270 penalty minutes in 1995-96 and 210 penalty minutes in 1996-97.

Karpa has also played professionally in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and Russia. Last season he split time with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Khabarovsk Amur in Russia. In 751 career games, which includes his time in the NHL, the veteran defenseman has racked up 159 points (26g, 133a) and 1,892 penalty minutes.