Kings Sign John Zeiler to Multi-Year Contract

[Thrillhouse]

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Kings have signed right wing John Zeiler to a multi-year contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Zeiler, 24, played in 23 games with the Kings this past season and had three points (1-2=3) and 22 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut against Anaheim on February 17 and registered his first Kings/NHL goal on his first NHL shot versus Vancouver on February 22.

The 6-0, 196-pound native of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, also this past season appeared in 56 regular season games with the Manchester Monarchs, the King's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, and had 28 points (12-16=28), eight power play goals, 70 penalty minutes and a plus-15 rating. In 16 postseason games with the Monarchs, Zeiler recorded five points (3-2=5), two game-winning goals and 14 penalty minutes.

Originally selected by Phoenix in the fifth-round (132nd overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Zeiler made his AHL debut with the San Antonio Rampage on March 31, 2006 after completing his collegiate career. He appeared in eight games with the Rampage and collected an assist and 10 penalty minutes before being assigned to the Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League (CHL). Zeiler posted two goals and 16 penalty minutes in four games with the Cotton Kings.

Prior to turning pro, Zeiler played four seasons with St. Lawrence University in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC). While there, he compiled 123 points (40-83=123) and 140 penalty minutes in 144 games with the Saints from 2002-06, and was selected as an ECAC All-Rookie Team member in 2003.