Coyotes Sign Korpikoski to Two-Year Deal

[Thrillhouse]

GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed left wing Lauri Korpikoski to a two-year contract.

The 22-year-old Korpikoski, who was acquired by the Coyotes from the New York Rangers on Monday in exchange for Enver Lisin, appeared in 68 games with the Rangers last season as a rookie, recording 6-8-14 and 14 penalty minutes (PIM). He also collected two assists while appearing in all seven of the Rangers’ playoff games last season.

Korpikoski spent the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons with Hartford of the American Hockey League (AHL) where he registered 34-54-88 and 94 PIM in 157 games. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward also played in five games for Hartford in 2005-06, collecting 2-1-3. A native of Turku, Finland, Korpikoski represented Finland at the 2005 and 2006 World Junior Championship tournaments. He helped lead Finland to the bronze medal in 2006 while ranking T-5th in assists (5) among all players in the tournament.

Korpikoski was originally selected by the Rangers in the first round (19th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to his North American career, Korpikoski played two seasons of professional hockey in Finland.