Blue Jackets Recall Konopka; Reassign LaCosta

[Thrillhouse]

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have added center Zenon Konopka (pronounced ZEHN-uhn kuh-NAHP-kah) to the roster on emergency recall from the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch and re-assigned goaltender Dan LaCosta to Syracuse, club General Manager Scott Howson announced April 1.

Konopka, 27, has registered four goals and three assists for seven points with 68 penalty minutes in 29 career NHL games, including 20 penalty minutes in six games with the Blue Jackets in 2006-07. He was acquired by Columbus from Anaheim with Curtis Glencross and a seventh round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft for Joe Motzko, Mark Hartigan and a fourth round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft on January 26, 2007. He made his NHL debut with the Ducks in 2005-06 and collected 4-3-7 and 48 penalty minutes in 23 games.

The 6-foot-1, 213-pound native of Niagara Falls, Ontario has tallied 22-29-51, 168 penalty minutes, a +8 plus/minus rating and nine power play goals in 59 games with Syracuse this season. The Crunch's captain, he is second on the club in points and power play goals, while ranking third in goals, assists and penalty minutes and fourth in plus/minus rating. He has appeared in 277 career AHL games, registering 84-124-208 and 811 penalty minutes since the 2002-03 campaign.

LaCosta, 22, was added to the roster on emergency recall on March 17 and made his NHL debut at Nashville on March 25. He stopped all five shots he faced in 13:09 of action in relief of Fredrik Norrena. He has compiled a 7-2-3 record with a 2.16 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and one shutout in 12 games with Syracuse this season. In 31 career AHL games, he has gone 12-9-4 with a 2.51 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and four shutouts.

[Podollan]

I am a big Fan of Konopka, I always tell my friend what an great Leader he is and that I would love to see him on my Team here in Germany. #

[AVALANCHE FAN]

Originally Posted by Podollan

I am a big Fan of Konopka, I always tell my friend what an great Leader he is and that I would love to see him on my Team here in Germany. #

I agree 100% he`s a great player and leader thats why he wears the C ,Hopefully it wont be to much longer before they call him up full time!

[yatyas]

Boy the Jackets need this right now, good move!

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by yatyas

Boy the Jackets need this right now, good move!

so that he can be back down in the cuse for the playoffs. should have done it a long time ago.

[McDonald19]

Zenon could be the 4th line center for any team in the NHL. I don't understand why the CBJs haven't seen it that way.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

Trust me they do but right now he`s running the show in Syracuse,His leadership roll their is far from going unoticed by the powers that be!

Gotta love his passion for the game though 3 fights in 2 games and lastnight was a real barn burner!

Brule was saying that during his stent in Syracuse Konopka came into the locker room one night and threatoned physical harm to anyone who didnt put more effort into their game next period and ment every word of it.