Lightning Sign Zenon Konopka to Two-Year Deal

[blackngold]

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent center Zenon Konopka to a two-year contract today, owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie announced.

“Zenon Konopka is a prime example of the type of player we want to have in our organization,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said. “He is a great leader in the dressing room and is one of those players that you love to have on your team, but hate to play against.”

Konopka, 6-foot-1, 213-pounds, played in 62 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League last season. He scored a career-high 24 goals and recorded a professional-best 55 points. Konopka ranked third on the team in goals and was second in points. He also ranked second on the team with 11 power play goals and tied for fourth among forwards with a plus-9 rating. Konopka also played in three games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording four shots on goal and 15 penalty minutes.

A native of Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Konopka has played in 32 career NHL games with Columbus and the Anaheim Ducks. He recorded a career-best four goals and seven points with two power-play goals in 23 games with the Ducks in 2005-06.

Konopka has played in 280 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Utah, Syracuse, Cincinnati and Portland. He has netted 86 career goals and recorded 212 points. He also played in 44 career Calder Cup Playoff games, recording 17 goals and 45 points. Konopka has also played in 91 career games in the ECHL with Wheeling and Idaho, recording 28 goals and 98 points.

The 27-year-old played in 242 games with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League during his junior career. Konopka scored 28 goals and recorded 98 points with Ottawa. He also played in 51 career playoff games, recording 16 goals and 37 points.

Undrafted out of juniors, Konopka served as the captain for the Crunch last season.

[blackngold]

Well deserved for Konopka.

He is exactly Barry's type of player.

[detroit4life]

Here is a quick look at Tampa's starting roster for 08/09

Prospal - Lecavalier - St. Louis
Malone - Stamkos - Vrbata
Jokinen - Halpern - Oullet
Roberts - Gratton - Hall
Roy - Konopka - Tarnasky
Smith - Craig - Ward

Carle - Kuba
Ranger - O'Brien
Smaby - Picard
Wishart - Lundin
Niskala

Kolzig
Smith


I don't know. They are looking a little thin up front. I think they better sign some free agents before they are all gone.

[Podollan]

Roy is not signed yet-
I wonder if he will be signed.. they have soo many forwards-
I hope they dont lack a heavyweight- Or will they play Koci as a defender like he used to play in the echl and some parts of ahl.

[Manimal]

I guess he'll be in Norfolk fo a year and then move up.
BTW, Gratton is unsigned UFA

[Isles4life]

Another nice pickup by Tampa Bay.

[blackngold]

But he was sold by the pitch of new Tampa Bay coach Barry Melrose, who promised a role for Konopka's grinding, agitating style.

"It was just the way he talked about the third and fourth lines," Konopka said. "He had that hockey talk, (wanting) guys that are tough to play against."

More...

[Phillyfan11]

Good move for Zenon. Hitch would never use him.

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by detroit4life

Here is a quick look at Tampa's starting roster for 08/09

Prospal - Lecavalier - St. Louis
Malone - Stamkos - Vrbata
Jokinen - Halpern - Oullet
Roberts - Gratton - Hall
Roy - Konopka - Tarnasky
Smith - Craig - Ward

Carle - Kuba
Ranger - O'Brien
Smaby - Picard
Wishart - Lundin
Niskala

Kolzig
Smith


I don't know. They are looking a little thin up front. I think they better sign some free agents before they are all gone.

Gratton and Roy are UFA's right now, as it stands Konopka could quite likely be Gratton's replacement, and that's great for Z.

[detroit4life]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

Gratton and Roy are UFA's right now, as it stands Konopka could quite likely be Gratton's replacement, and that's great for Z.

Thanks for the update. I looked up their payroll and seems like they still have around $9M+ to spend. Could we actually see more moves from Tampa?

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by detroit4life

Thanks for the update. I looked up their payroll and seems like they still have around $9M+ to spend. Could we actually see more moves from Tampa?

Quite possibly, they need to find an offensive defenseman to replace Dan Boyle.

[Humpzilla]

I'm very happy to have Konopka in the Bolts' system. He really impressed me last season when he was with the Crunch, and I think under Barry, he'll see some NHL action this year. All the better for fight-fans!

[Phillyfan11]

The Crunch were such a pleasure to follow from afar last year. Not a crunch fan by any means but i caught myself rooting for them b/c of their style of play. Z and Mirasty had a lot to do w/ it. Hitch probably was afraid that management would want those two to get a taste of the NHL.

[Humpzilla]

Zenon Konopka to the Bolts?
Posted By Erik Erlendsson at Jul 05, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Updated Jul 05, 2008 at 12:02 PM


Hat tip to Bolt Prospects for catching this one, but according to the paper in Syracuse former Anaheim farmhand and Syracuse Crunch captain Zenon Konopka has agreed to a two-year contract with Tampa Bay, with the first year at a two-way deal and the second year on a one-way deal.

I spoke with Oren Koules yesterday, and while he didn’t mention this move, he did say that Tampa Bay’s minor league affiliate was not going to be a last place team anymore. And while Konopka is not being ruled out of doing something to make the Lightning roster, this move is clearly a move to strengthen Norfolk. Konopka said it was a difficult decision to leave Syracuse (and Columbus, the parent organization) but was swayed after a conversation he had with new Tampa Bay coach Barry Melrose.

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sp...-to-the-bolts/

[Sukoshi84]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

Quite possibly, they need to find an offensive defenseman to replace Dan Boyle.

And we have to get rid of Kuba we should be looking for 2 more solid D man....jason smith perhaps. Zenon is more than likely gonna replace Gratton.