Kings Acquire Straka From Penguins
Published on November 30, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Kings, the NHL affiliate of the Manchester Monarchs, have acquired center Martin Straka from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Martin Strbak and left wing Sergei Anshakov, Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced tonight. Said Taylor: "Martin Straka will bring dynamic elements to our lineup with his speed, quickness and skill. We think his talents will fit in well with our other top offensive players and we are excited to bring his abilities into that mix."
Straka, 31, has played in 22 games with the Penguins this season and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 12 points and is second on the team in assists with eight. A four-time 20-goal scorer, Straka set career highs in points (95) and assists (68) during the 2000-01 season. That season Straka also tied for fourth overall in NHL scoring, ranked third in assists, tied for third in power play assists (33), tied for fourth in even strength assists (34) and tied for seventh in power play points (40).
Last season, Straka's 11th NHL campaign, he ranked second on the Penguins in scoring (46 points), second in goals (18 goals) and third in assists (28). In 698 career NHL regular season games with the Penguins, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators, Straka - and All-Star in 1999 - has 516 points (186-330=516) and 268 penalty minutes. In 82 career NHL post-season games he has 50 points (21-29=50) and 32 penalty minutes.
A native of Plzen, Czech Republic, the 5-foot-9, 178-pound Straka was originally selected by the Penguins in the first-round (19th overall) in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Straka is expected to join the Kings in St. Louis in time for Tuesday night's Kings-St. Louis Blues game (9 p.m. ET - Fox Sports Net). He is also slated to wear his familiar No. 82 jersey (no King has ever worn No. 82).
Strbak, 28, was selected by the Kings in the ninth-round (244th overall) in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. A 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of Presov, Slovakia, Strbak made his Kings/NHL debut this season and recorded two points (2-0=2) and eight penalty minutes in five games. In addition, in 12 games with the Manchester Monarchs, he had one point (0-1=1) and 25 penalty minutes.
Anshakov, 19, was selected by the Kings in the second-round (55th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound native of Moscow, Russia, Anshakov has played in 11 games this season with HC CSKA of the Russian Super League and has four points (2-2=4) and two penalty minutes.
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