Florida Panthers Agree to Four-Year Contract with C Tomas Kopecky
Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Joins Cats
Wednesday, 06.29.2011 / 12:16 PM
/ Transactions
Florida Panthers
SUNRISE, FLA– Florida Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the club has agreed to terms with C Tomas Kopecky (koh-PEHTS-kee) on a four-year contract.
“Tomas is a proven winner who we are pleased to have signed,” said Tallon. “He is a hard working player who is tough to play against, and recorded career highs in both goals and assists last season. He is a versatile player, who can play any forward position, has good vision at both ends of the ice and will immediately make an impact in our line-up.”
Kopecky, 29, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion (Chicago-2010 & Detroit-2008) has played in 338 National Hockey League games with Detroit (2005-09) and Chicago (2009-11) scoring 37 goals with 58 assists and 201 PIM. During the 2010-11 season, he recorded a career best 42 points (15-27-42) in 81 games with Chicago. Kopecky has also appeared in 30 post season games registering seven points (4-3-7) and 21 PIM.
The Slovakia native was drafted by the Detroit in the second round (38th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He also has played for his native country in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Florida acquired Kopecky’s rights on June 27 from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Florida’s seventh round draft choice in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
The Florida Panthers Offseason is presented by JetBlue. Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Home to more than 200 events annually and the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, the BankAtlantic Center was a finalist for Arena of the Year in annual awards given by trade publication Pollstar.
“Tomas is a proven winner who we are pleased to have signed,” said Tallon. “He is a hard working player who is tough to play against, and recorded career highs in both goals and assists last season. He is a versatile player, who can play any forward position, has good vision at both ends of the ice and will immediately make an impact in our line-up.”
Kopecky, 29, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion (Chicago-2010 & Detroit-2008) has played in 338 National Hockey League games with Detroit (2005-09) and Chicago (2009-11) scoring 37 goals with 58 assists and 201 PIM. During the 2010-11 season, he recorded a career best 42 points (15-27-42) in 81 games with Chicago. Kopecky has also appeared in 30 post season games registering seven points (4-3-7) and 21 PIM.
The Slovakia native was drafted by the Detroit in the second round (38th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He also has played for his native country in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Florida acquired Kopecky’s rights on June 27 from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Florida’s seventh round draft choice in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
The Florida Panthers Offseason is presented by JetBlue. Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Home to more than 200 events annually and the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, the BankAtlantic Center was a finalist for Arena of the Year in annual awards given by trade publication Pollstar.
