Lauri Korpikoski

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.

Lauri Korpikoski
Born (1986-07-28) 28 July 1986
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
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 19th overall, 2004
New York Rangers
Playing career 2004present

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

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 Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03TPSFIN U1821741110
2003–04TPSFIN U2036128202040224
2003–04TPSFIN U18453816
2004–05TPSFIN U2033030
2004–05TPSSM-l410661261010
2005–06TPSFIN U2011012
2005–06TPSSM-l513471620110
2005–06Hartford Wolf PackAHL52130111012
2006–07Hartford Wolf PackAHL781127382370000
2007–08Hartford Wolf PackAHL792327507151120
2007–08New York RangersNHL11010
2008–09New York RangersNHL6868141470220
2008–09Hartford Wolf PackAHL44260
2009–10Phoenix CoyotesNHL7156111671012
2010–11Phoenix CoyotesNHL791921402040112
2011–12Phoenix CoyotesNHL8217203714110002
2012–13TPSSM-l116111710
2012–13Phoenix CoyotesNHL36651112
2013–14Phoenix CoyotesNHL649162524
2014–15Arizona CoyotesNHL696152112
2015–16Edmonton OilersNHL7110122210
2016–17Dallas StarsNHL608122010
2016–17Columbus Blue JacketsNHL90000
2017–18ZSC LionsNL192686162464
2018–19TPSLiiga4000230000
2019–20TPSLiiga4817163328
SM-l/Liiga totals 155 26 37 63 68 11 1 1 2 0
NHL totals 609 86 115 201 132 30 2 3 5 6

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
Winter Olympics
2014 Sochi
World Junior Championships
2006 British Columbia
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Finland WJC18 7th 6 5 6 11 2
2005 Finland WJC 5th 5 2 0 2 6
2006 Finland WJC 7 1 5 6 4
2010 Finland WC 6th 7 0 0 0 0
2013 Finland WC 4th 8 3 2 5 4
2014 Finland OG 6 2 2 4 2
2016 Finland WCH 8th 3 0 0 0 4
Junior totals 18 8 11 19 12
Senior totals 24 5 4 9 10

References

  1. "Coyotes trade Lisin to Rangers for Korpikoski". TSN. 13 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
Al Montoya
New York Rangers first round draft pick
2004
Succeeded by
Marc Staal
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