Kings Sign and Recall John Zeiler; Pushkarev Assigned to Manchester

[VodkaFish]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed right wing John Zeiler to a one-year contract and recalled him from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, and assigned forward Konstantin Pushkarev to Manchester, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Zeiler, 24, has played in 52 games with the Monarchs this season and ranks fifth on the team in scoring with 27 points (11-16=27) and second on the club with seven power play goals. In addition, the 6-0, 196-pound native of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, has a team-leading plus-16 rating and 68 penalty minutes. Zeiler was originally selected by Phoenix in the fifth-round (132nd overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He agreed to terms on a one-year (AHL) deal with the Monarchs on September 19, 2006. Zeiler, who has not played in the NHL, will wear jersey #73 with the Kings.

Pushkarev, 21, has played in 16 games with the Kings this season and has four points (2-2=4) and eight penalty minutes. Pushkarev, who scored his first NHL goal on January 8 against Edmonton at STAPLES Center, also has 15 points (4-11=15) and 25 penalty minutes in 31 games with the Monarchs this season. A 6-0, 180-pound native of Ust Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Pushkarev was originally selected by the Kings in the second-round (44th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He made his Kings/NHL debut last season, recording one point (0-1=1) and zero penalty minutes in one game.

[Podollan]

Zeiler is a good kid, will also drop them from time to time.

[oldtimegoodtime]

Zeiler is a feisty guy, a bit of an agitator that occasionally drops 'em.

[Steve Durbano]

Good to see another Pittsburgh boy make it to the show.

[Rullier#7]

Z is a high energy guy, goes all out entire shift,every shift.deals out some
good hits to.alot of fun to watch.popular guy in manchester.