Kings sign first round draft pick Kopitar
September 6, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - The Los Angeles Kings, the parent club of the Manchester Monarchs, have agreed to terms on a multi-year entry-level contract with center Anze Kopitar -- the club's first-round selection (11th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft -- Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced today. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
Kopitar, 18, is expected to make his Kings debut during this week's "Pacific Division Shootout," a four-team rookie tournament hosted by San Jose from September 7-11.
"We are definitely very happy to have this deal done with Anze and we are looking forward to seeing him compete this week and during our training camp later this month," said Taylor.
This past season, Kopitar collected 49 points (21-28=49) and 26 penalty minutes in 30 games with Sodertalje of the Swedish Junior League. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Jesenice, Slovenia, also finished the season with a plus/minus rating of plus-29. In addition, Kopitar appeared in five games with Sodertalje of the Swedish Men's League (5 GP, 0-0=0, 2 PIM), represented Slovenia at the 2005 World Junior Under-18 Championships (5 GP, 6-5=11, 14 PIM) and played for Slovenia at the 2005 World Championships (6 GP, 1-0=1, 2 PIM).
Prior to the NHL Entry Draft this past July, Kopitar was rated by Central Scouting as the number one European skater, and both The Hockey News and Red Line Report ranked him as the sixth best Draft-eligible prospect. Kopitar is expected to re-join Sodertalje (Swedish Men's League) in time for the start of their 2005-06 season.
"We are aware of Anze's desire to play at least one more year in Europe this coming season," said Taylor. "He has a very good development situation in Sodertalje and it is quite probable he will be assigned back to Sweden."
Kopitar is also one of eight first-round selections scheduled to participate in the club's 2005 training camp, which begins on Tuesday, September 13, at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. Other first-round selections on the Kings training camp roster include: Jeremy Roenick (Chicago's 8th overall selection in 1988); Alexander Frolov (Kings' 20th overall selection in 2000); Tim Gleason (Ottawa's 23rd overall selection in 2001); Denis Grebeshkov (Kings' 18th overall selection in 2002); Dustin Brown (Kings' 13th overall selection in 2003); Jeff Tambellini (Kings' 27th overall selection in 2003); and Lauri Tukonen (Kings' 11th overall selection in 2004).
Are you a resident in Monarchs Country? Season tickets for the Monarchs fifth anniversary season are on sale now. Visit www.monarchshockey.com or call (603) 626-7825 for more information on the team's Full-Season, Half-Season and 10-Game ticket packages.
Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey this season with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter; WTSL-AM 1400, Lebanon) and at www.monarchshockey.com.
American Hockey League Stories from September 6, 2005
- Rivermen Open House Postponed - Peoria Rivermen
- Rampage sign Layne Ulmer to AHL contract - San Antonio Rampage
- Sharks sign three - Cleveland Barons
- Kings sign first round draft pick Kopitar - Manchester Monarchs
- Barons announce 2005 training camp schedule - Cleveland Barons
- Knights announce sale of individual game tickets - Abbotsford Heat
- Falcons single game tickets on sale soon - Springfield Falcons
- Wolves single-game tickets on sale Friday morning - Chicago Wolves
- Penguins sign Brent Henley - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Panthers to Rochester, Training camp right around the corner - Hershey Bears
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