TOM KOSTOPOULOS RE-SIGNS WITH WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced today that they have re-signed forward Tom Kostopoulos to an American Hockey League contract for the 2016-17 season.

Kostopoulos enters his 18th season of professional hockey and 10th year with the Penguins organization. The 37-year-old native of Mississauga, Ontario had his most productive season in a decade in 2015-16, appearing in 75 games last year for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and racking up 52 points (19G-33A). His 52 points were good enough for the second-highest total on the team.

A five-time captain for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Kostopoulos is the club’s all-time leader in games played (553), goals (157), assists (239) and points (396). He is also first in the Penguins’ postseason rankings with 86 games played, 23 goals, 42 assists and 65 points.

Since beginning his pro career in 1999-2000 as a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins inaugural team, Kostopoulos has played in 1247 regular season matches between the AHL and National Hockey League. On Mar. 6, 2016, Kostopoulos played his 600th career AHL game, making him the fourth player in hockey history to reach both 600 NHL games and 600 AHL games.

In 630 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Montréal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils, Kostopoulos has totaled 61 goals, 96 assists, 157 points and 723 penalty minutes.

Kostopoulos was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.