LOS ANGELES – The
Los Angeles Kings have acquired right wing
Mark Parrish and defenseman
Brent Sopel from the
New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Denis Grebeshkov, left wing Jeff Tambellini and a conditional third-round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Kings President, Hockey Operations/General Manager Dave Taylor announced today.
“We feel the addition of Mark and Brent will strengthen our team down the stretch as we battle for a playoff spot,” said Taylor. “Mark is a proven NHL scorer and will be a boost to our power play and Brent will solidify our defensive corps and has the versatility to play in all situations.”
Parrish, 29, has 41 points (24-17=41) and 16 penalty minutes in 57 games with the Islanders this season. The 6-0, 200-pound native of Bloomington, Minnesota, who ranks first on the Islanders in game-winning goals (5), and second on the club in goals (24) and power play goals (13) this season, has scored 20 or more goals (topped by his 30-goal output with the Islanders in 2001-02) in six of his seven seasons in the NHL and has finished fourth or higher on his NHL club in goals scored in each of his seven seasons in the League. A member of the United States Men’s Hockey Team at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and a 2001-02 NHL All-Star, Parrish has 295 points (168-127=295) and 186 penalty minutes in 499 career NHL regular season games with the Islanders and Panthers.
Parrish was originally selected by the
Colorado Avalanche in the third-round (79th overall) in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He was later acquired by the
Florida Panthers along with a third-round draft pick in exchange for center
Tom Fitzgerald on March 24, 1998, and then acquired by the Islanders along with left wing
Oleg Kvasha in exchange for goalie Roberto Luongo and center
Olli Jokinen on June 24, 2000.
Sopel, 29, has 27 points (2-25=27) and 64 penalty minutes in 57 games with the Islanders this season. The 6-2, 213-pound native of Calgary leads all Islander blueliners with 25 assists and is second on the squad among defensemen with 27 points and an average of 23:34 of ice time per game this season. Now in his seventh season, he has 152 points (34-118=152) and 193 penalty minutes in 359 career NHL regular season games with the Islanders and the Canucks.
Sopel was originally selected by the
Vancouver Canucks in the sixth-round (144th overall) in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He was later traded to the Islanders for a conditional draft pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft on August 3, 2005.
Grebeshkov, 22, has two assists (0-2=2) and 12 penalty minutes in eight games with the Kings this season. Additionally, the 6-1, 195-pound native of Yaroslavl, Russia has 27 points (2-25=27) and 59 penalty minutes in 48 games with the Kings American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, this season. The Kings originally selected Grebeshkov in the first-round (18th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Tambellini, 21, who made his NHL debut against Chicago on November 30, has no points and two penalty minutes in four games with the Kings this season. Additionally, the 5-11, 186-pound native of Calgary has 56 points (25-31=56) and 26 penalty minutes in 56 games with the Monarchs this season. The Kings originally selected Tambellini in the first-round (27th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
