Monday, July 21, 2008

Dallas Stars acquire right wing Lauri Tukonen from the Los Angeles Kings

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has acquired right wing Lauri Tukonen from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for left wing Richard Clune. Tukonen was Los Angeles’ first-round selection (No. 11 overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft and has skated in five career NHL games with the Kings.

“Lauri is a promising prospect with a good deal of upside and potential,” said Stars’ Co-General Manager Les Jackson. “He is a former high first-round draft pick with solid hands, skating ability and hockey sense, and we look forward to his continued development within our organization.”

Tukonen, 21, spent the 2007-08 season with the Manchester Monarchs in the American Hockey League, recording 35 points (9 goals, 26 assists) and 24 penalty minutes in 62 games. He also skated in one NHL game with Los Angeles last season, adding to the four NHL contests in which he appeared with the Kings during the 2006-07 season. He made his NHL debut on Feb. 22, 2007 vs. Vancouver.

The 6-2, 198-pound right wing played in 61 games with Manchester during the 2006-07 season, collecting 31 points (13 goals, 19 assists) and 30 penalty minutes. In 2005-06 with the Monarchs, he notched 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 62 games.

The native of Hyvinkaa, Finland, registered 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in seven games with Team Finland at the 2006 World Junior Championships. He also skated for Team Finland at the 2004 and 2005 World Juniors, earning a bronze medal in 2004, and he tied for the tournament lead in points (11) at the 2003 World Under-18 Championships.

Clune, 21, was Dallas’ third-round selection (No. 71 overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft. He split the 2007-08 season between the AHL Iowa Stars and the ECHL Idaho Steelheads. In 38 games with Iowa last season, the Toronto native posted three goals and five assists for eight points with 137 penalty minutes, good for second on the club.

Source: Dallas Stars

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