Three players ink new deals with Kings
July 20, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Kings, the parent club of the Manchester Monarchs, have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with restricted free agent right wing Teddy Purcell, a multi-year entry-level contract with center Justin Azevedo and a one-year contract with restricted free agent defenseman Drew Bagnall, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.
Purcell, 24, recorded 16 points (4-12=16) and four penalty minutes in 40 regular season games with the Kings and 38 points (16-22=38) and 12 penalty minutes in 38 regular season games with the Monarchs this past season. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound native of St. John's, Newfoundland, led the Monarchs in goals and ranked second on the Monarchs in points when he was recalled to the Kings on Feb. 23, 2009 (his second recall of the season). Purcell was named to the 2009 Canadian AHL All-Star Team on Jan. 6, 2009, and later that same month made his second consecutive appearance in the AHL's annual All-Star Classic.
Purcell recorded three points (1-2=3) and zero penalty minutes in 10 regular season games with the Kings during the 2007-08 season. He made his NHL debut with the Kings at Edmonton on Jan. 15, 2008, notched his first career point with an assist vs. Anaheim on Jan. 24, 2008, and scored his first career NHL goal vs. Calgary on Feb. 15, 2008. Additionally, Purcell recorded 83 points (25-58=83) and 34 penalty minutes in 67 regular season games with the Monarchs that same season. His 83 points and 58 assists led all AHL rookies (and ranked third and fourth overall respectively in the AHL) and his 25 goals tied for second among AHL rookies. Purcell was named a starter for the Canadian AHL All-Star Team in January of 2008 and following the game, he was honored as the MVP of the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic after collecting a hat trick during regulation play and then scoring the decisive winning goal in a shootout. Purcell was also named AHL Rookie of the Month for November of 2007 after recording 17 points (5-12=17) in 12 regular season games and he appeared in four playoff games with Manchester, recording three points (0-3=3) during the postseason.
Originally signed by the Kings as an unrestricted free agent on April 27, 2007, Purcell has recorded 19 points (5-14=19) and four penalty minutes in 50 career NHL regular season games - all with the Kings.
Purcell played in 40 games as a freshman at the University of Maine in 2006-07, and he recorded 43 points (16-27=43), seven power play goals, five game-winning goals and 34 penalty minutes while being named Hockey East Rookie of the Month three times. His 27 assists led the Black Bears and his 16 goals and 43 points both ranked third on the team. Purcell helped lead his squad all the way to the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four Tournament in St. Louis before losing to the Michigan State (the eventual NCAA Champion) in the National Semifinals.
Purcell played for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders (USHL) prior to attending the University of Maine. While with the Roughriders (200406), he helped lead his team to back-to-back Eastern Championships and a Clark Cup in 2004-05. An assistant captain in 2005-06, Purcell led the USHL in assists that season with a franchise-record 52, and he was named to the USHL All-Star Second Team for the second consecutive year.
Azevedo, 21, recorded 36 points (12-24=36) and 31 penalty minutes in 49 regular season games with the Monarchs this past season. The 5-foot-7, 180-pound native of West Lorne, Ont., finished seventh on the Monarchs in scoring even though he missed a significant part of his rookie season in the AHL because of two injuries.
Prior to his stint with the Monarchs, Azevedo spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kitchener Rangers. During his last season there, he was named the OHL's Most Outstanding Player after posting a league-high 124 points, 81 assists and 56 power-play assists in 2007-08. Additionally, he was seventh in the OHL with 43 goals, had an overall rating of plus-24 and was named to the OHL All-Star Team that same season.
Azevedo also had a strong 2008 postseason with the Rangers as he led the OHL with 36 playoff points (10-26=36) and tied for first with 26 playoff assists. Azevedo was at his best during the 2008 Memorial Cup as he led all scorers in the tournament with 11 points (4-7=11) in five games.
Kitchener lost to the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Spokane Chiefs in the 2008 Memorial Cup Finals.
Bagnall, 25, recorded six points (0-6=6) and 150 penalty minutes in 79 regular season games with the Monarchs this past season. His penalty minute total ranked second on the Monarchs as did his total of 79 games played.
Bagnall, a 6-foot-3, 222-pound native of Oakbank, Manitoba, made his professional debut with Reading of the ECHL in the 2007-08 season, totaling three points (1-2=3) and 32 penalty minutes in 10 regular season games. After the 10-game stint, he was recalled to Manchester where he recorded 12 points (1-11=12) and 115 penalty minutes in 54 regular season games. Bagnall also appeared in four postseason games with the Monarchs that same season, going scoreless with four penalty minutes in the four games.
Bagnall, who originally signed with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 23, 2007, turned pro after four seasons with St. Lawrence University (NCAA). He was a first-team All America, ECACHL Player of the Year, ECACHL Outstanding Defensive Defenseman award winner and Hobey Baker award finalist during his senior season there (2006-07), recording 25 points (6-19=25), a team-leading 74 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating in 39 games. He also led all club defensemen in goals, assists and points while serving as captain of the team, helping the Saints win the 2006-07 ECACHL regular season title before advancing to the NCAA Northeast Regional Semifinals. Bagnall closed his amateur career at St. Lawrence University by earning ECACHL All-Academic honors for the third straight season.
American Hockey League Stories from July 20, 2009
- Three players ink new deals with Kings - Manchester Monarchs
- Coyotes re-sign Spina, Hoggan, and Sullivan - San Antonio Rampage
- Canadiens Sign Goaltender Sanford - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Wolf Pack Sign Forward Ryan Garlock - Connecticut Whale
- Blues Sign Fletcher and Richmond - Peoria Rivermen
- Sharks Re-sign Fowards DaSilva and Desjardins - Worcester Sharks
- Right Wing Danny Bois Signs with Blackhawks - Rockford IceHogs
- Moose Sign Pair of Goaltenders - Manitoba Moose
- Moose Sign Maxwell to AHL Contract - Manitoba Moose
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