Penner in Purple: Hottest New King

in Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Trades Contracts and Transactions

28 Feb 2011

Anaheim Ducks, Brian Burke, Dustin Penner, Jarret Stoll, Los Angeles Kings, Matt Greene, Wayne Simmonds

Edmonton is becoming breeding ground for LA Kings. Dustin Penner, 28, along with the team’s alternate captain: Matt Greene, Jarret Stoll, and veteran scorer: Ryan Smyth have all made the move from Edmonton to the City of Angels.The Manitoba boy is no stranger to sunny California. In his rookie season he won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks (2007). Edmonton’s top scorer has just been re-routed to Los Angeles to contribute to their playoff run.

Dustin Penner started his college hockey career with two years in North Dakota at Minot State-University Bottineau, starting in 2000-01 followed by two years at the University of Maine.

Penner flipped from the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to the Portland Pirates before landing a spot with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2005-06 season where he scored four goals in 19 games.

The next year the Ducks changed their name and became the Anaheim Ducks, as they are today. Penner scored 29 goals in 82 games, contributing significantly to the Stanley Cup win for the Ducks that season. The Ducks then lost him to the Oilers.

Penner returned home to Canada where he suited up in Oil Country. His “grossly inflated” (as Ducks GM Brian Burke called it) salary of $21.25 million guaranteed Penner a home in Edmonton for five years (or until Edmonton got a better offer). Penner increased his assists while allowing his number of goals to decrease mildly. In his third season with the Oilers he scored 23 goals, 31 assists, for a combined 63 overall points in 82 games, one of just three Oilers to play all 82.

Penner has scored 105 goals in his NHL career with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Sixty-two games into the 2010-11 season, Penner has a respectable 21 goals and 18 assists.

Kings fans are excited to see Penner in purple, especially with Wayne Simmonds still on the team after rumors fluttered that Simmonds would be deported back to Canada in turn for Penner. The Kings are in an increasingly good position to make the playoffs and Dustin Penner is now part of a stronger team that will give him more offensive opportunities.