Lauri Korpikoski

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Lauri Korpikoski
LauriKorpikoski1.jpg
Korpikoski with the Arizona Coyotes in 2014
Born (1986-07-28) 28 July 1986 (age 39)
Turku, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
Liiga team
Former teams
HC TPS
New York Rangers
Arizona Coyotes
Edmonton Oilers
Dallas Stars
Columbus Blue Jackets
ZSC Lions
EHC Biel
National teamFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
NHL draft 19th overall, 2004
New York Rangers
Playing career 2004present

Lauri Korpikoski (born 28 July 1986) is a Finnish professional ice hockey left winger who is currently playing for HC TPS of the Liiga. Korpikoski has previously played in the NHL for the Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers, the organization that drafted him in the first round, 19th overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Playing career

Korpikoski was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. He originally played for TPS' junior team in the SM-liiga before moving up to the main team for the 2004–05 season. He then played two seasons of professional hockey in Finland before joining the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, after TPS' 2005–06 season; he played five regular season games and 11 playoff games for Hartford for the team's 2005–06 season.

In 2006–07, Korpikoski had 11 goals and 38 points for the Wolf Pack, while in 2007–08, in his second year with the team, he bested his previous year's totals, scoring 23 goals and having 50 points, also scoring two points in five Calder Cup playoff games. Following Hartford's first round exit from the playoffs, Korpikoski was named to the Rangers' reserves squad for the team's 2008 Stanley Cup playoff run. On 4 May, he dressed for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and 2:03 into the game's third period, he scored his first career NHL goal on just his second-ever shot. The goal brought the Rangers to within one goal of tying (which they did), although the team eventually lost in overtime, eliminating them from the playoffs.

After scoring points in every pre-season game in which he played, Korpikoski survived cuts to make the Rangers' 23-man roster for the start of the 2008–09 season, the only rookie to make the team. He later scored his first career regular season NHL goal against Kevin Weekes of the New Jersey Devils on 12 November 2008.

On 13 July 2009, Korpikoski was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Enver Lisin. On 11 July 2013, the Coyotes re-signed Korpikoski to a four-year contract extension. [1]

On 30 June 2015, with two seasons left on his contract, Korpikoski was traded by the rebuilding Coyotes to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Boyd Gordon. [2] He scored his first career NHL hat trick on 11 December 2015 against the New York Rangers. [3]

After only one year in Edmonton, on 30 June 2016, Korpikoski was placed on unconditional waivers by the Oilers for the purpose of buying out the final year of his contract. [4]

Korpikoski during his tenure with the New York Rangers LauriKorpikoski.jpg
Korpikoski during his tenure with the New York Rangers

Before the start of the 2016–17 season, the Calgary Flames signed Korpikoski to a professional try-out contract to attend training camp on 22 September 2016. [5] Despite a successful pre-season with the Flames, Korpikoski was without a contract with the Flames. On 9 October, he was released at his request to pursue a contract offer. The following day he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Dallas Stars. [6] Korpokoski cemented his role within the Stars checking lines, scoring 8 goals and 20 points in 60 games before he was dealt with the Stars out of post-season contention, to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Dillon Heatherington on 1 March 2017. [7]

After ending his NHL career, as an unsigned free agent, Korpikoski joined Swiss club, ZSC Lions of the National League for the duration of the 2017–18 season. In helping the Lions capture the Swiss championship, Korpikoski produced 2 goals and 6 points in 16 post-season games.

Korpikoski left Switzerland after one season, and opted to return to his native Finland, securing a long-term 6-year contract with former club, HC TPS of the Liiga, on May 21, 2018. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2002–03 TPS FIN U1821741110
2003–04TPS FIN U20 36128202040224
2003–04TPSFIN U18453816
2004–05TPSFIN U2033030
2004–05 TPS SM-l 410661261010
2005–06TPSFIN U2011012
2005–06 TPSSM-l513471620110
2005–06 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 52130111012
2006–07 Hartford Wolf PackAHL781127382370000
2007–08 Hartford Wolf PackAHL792327507151120
2007–08 New York Rangers NHL 11010
2008–09 New York RangersNHL6868141470220
2008–09 Hartford Wolf PackAHL44260
2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes NHL7156111671012
2010–11 Phoenix CoyotesNHL791921402040112
2011–12 Phoenix CoyotesNHL8217203714110002
2012–13 TPSSM-l116111710
2012–13 Phoenix CoyotesNHL36651112
2013–14 Phoenix CoyotesNHL649162524
2014–15 Arizona CoyotesNHL696152112
2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL7110122210
2016–17 Dallas Stars NHL608122010
2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL90000
2017–18 ZSC Lions NL 192686162464
2018–19 TPSLiiga4000230000
2019–20 TPSLiiga4817163328
2020–21 TPSLiiga184131716
2021–22 EHC Biel NL110111210000
2022–23 TPSLiiga431113248
Liiga totals216416310492111120
NHL totals60986115201132302356

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Winter Olympics
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2014 Sochi
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2006 British Columbia
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2004 Finland WJC18 7th656112
2005 Finland WJC 5th52026
2006 FinlandWJCBronze medal icon.svg71564
2010 Finland WC 6th70000
2013 FinlandWC4th83254
2014 Finland OG Bronze medal icon.svg62242
2016 Finland WCH 8th30004
Junior totals188111912
Senior totals2454910

References

  1. "Coyotes trade Lisin to Rangers for Korpikoski". TSN. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  2. "Oilers get Korpikoski from Coyotes for Gordon". NBC Sports. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  3. "Korpikoski's hat trick leads Oilers to crazy win over Rangers". Sportsnet. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  4. "Boll, Carle, Seidenberg among those set to be bought out". Yahoo. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  5. "Flames open training camp on thursday". Calgary Flames. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  6. "Lauri Korpikoski signs one-year deal with Stars". Sportsnet.ca. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. "Blue Jackets making moves ahead of deadline". 10tv.com. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  8. "Lauri Korpikosko to TPS with a 6 year contract" (in Finnish). HC TPS. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by New York Rangers first round draft pick
2004
Succeeded by