Kings Acquire Parrish and Sopel From Islanders

[Gym Class Hero]

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.

[oldtimegoodtime]

Are they making room for a big name or what?

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by oldtimegoodtime

Are they making room for a big name or what?

i assume they are, or then the islanders are stupid because i havent heard of any of the people they're getting from the kings. now, i think that the kings will definitly make the playoffs and go pretty far, at least 2nd round.

[KingsFan1980]

awesome kings will defntly make the playoffs now:

[DaleHunter32]

Grebeshkov= former 1rst rounder, and puck moving d-man who has pretty good numbers for Manchester... (maybe a gonchar in training... old gonchar that is)

Tamballini= former 1rst rounder from Michigan ( i believe) was one of the best players in college hockey while he was there and also has pretty good manchester numbers.

+plus a 3rd round conditional.... if this was a salary dump by NYI i think it was a good one b/c parrish and sopel had to re-signed at years end anyways and neither have really played up to their numbers so-far this year. NYI get younger for Bridgeport, but we all know what they do with ALL their prospects.... trade'm ala Luongo and Joikinen

[IhateLindros]

Ill miss Mark, but not Sopel!

[forsberg21]

I think that down the road this should prove to be steal, as for now Los Angeles should greatly benefit there playoff chances.

[CAIRNS HITSHARD]

Well this pretty much answers the question if we gave up on the season...

I'm a bit pissed im going to have to spend some $$ since I'm the only fan in the barn who wore a #3 jersey...

[StockWillCrushU]

Good trade, Sopel and Parrish will fit in just right on the LA team.

LA also might have a shot at the cup now, not that it matters because Florida is going to win the cup!

[Isles4life]

I'm very sad to see Parrish go, but at least it's out of the conference. Good riddance to that piece of trash Sopel. Hopefully those 2 first rounders don't turn into flops. I've read good things about both.

[scrapper62]

The Isles get 2 more softees. Just great. I'm glad Parrish and Sopel are gone.

[bengino]

seems to me like the Kings are overpaying in this one, the two kids could be great NHL'er... maybe Mad Mike actually pulled off a good one now.

[Thrillhouse]

I think Mad Mike pull off a good one.

The playoffs seem pretty far away for the Isles. They decided to tank. But man, Mike got 2 wicked prospects.

Parrish should really help the Kings do a lot in the post-season.

[scrapper62]

Mad Mike must go!

[IhateLindros]

Originally Posted by CAIRNS HITSHARD

Well this pretty much answers the question if we gave up on the season...

I'm a bit pissed im going to have to spend some $$ since I'm the only fan in the barn who wore a #3 jersey...

I wear a #3 also, but it says AUCOIN on the back!