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Four weeks, 28 days, remain until the Phoenix Coyotes drop the puck for the opening of the 2013 preseason. Today's we look at the Yotes' number 28, Lauri Korpikoski.
Korpikoski was originally drafted 19th overall by the New York Rangers in 2004 and spent much of his time playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He played his first ever NHL game during the 2007-08 playoffs, where he scored a goal for the Rangers against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent the next season with the Rangers, along with playing in 4 Wolf Pack games, before being traded to the Coyotes during the offseason for Enver Lisin.
His first season with the Yotes wasn't terribly impressive, playing in 71 games going 5-6-11, but his next two years were stand out years. Korpi scored 19-21-40 in 2010-11 and 17-20-37 in 2011-2012. That, combined with his 36 game 6-5-11 season last year, managed to earn him a 4-year $10 million dollar contract with the Coyotes this offseason.
Korpikoski is a solid 3rd line left winger for the Coyotes. He was definitely a steal by the Coyotes, while Lisin played just one season with the Rangers before ultimately signing in the KHL playing with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk.