Tom Kostopoulos is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 15 seasons. He was born on January 24, 1979, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Kostopoulos began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights in 1995. He played for the Knights for four seasons, scoring 97 goals and 127 assists in 238 games.
In 1999, Kostopoulos was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 2001-2002 season, playing in 63 games and scoring 11 points. Kostopoulos played for the Penguins for three seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2004.
Kostopoulos played for the Kings for one season before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2005. He played for the Canadiens for three seasons, scoring a career-high 26 points in the 2006-2007 season. Kostopoulos then played for the Carolina Hurricanes for two seasons before being traded back to the Canadiens in 2009.
Kostopoulos played for the Canadiens for one more season before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 2010. He played for the Flames for three seasons, serving as an alternate captain for two of those seasons. Kostopoulos then played for the New Jersey Devils for one season before finishing his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2013-2014 season.
Throughout his NHL career, Kostopoulos was known for his physical play and his ability to play a defensive role on the ice. He was also a reliable penalty killer and a strong leader in the locker room. Kostopoulos played in a total of 630 NHL games, scoring 61 goals and 88 assists for 149 points. He also accumulated 1,264 penalty minutes.
After retiring from the NHL, Kostopoulos returned to his hometown of Mississauga, Ontario, where he became involved in coaching youth hockey. He also worked as a television analyst for Sportsnet, providing commentary on NHL games.
In conclusion, Tom Kostopoulos had a successful NHL career spanning over 15 seasons. He played for several teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, and New Jersey Devils. Kostopoulos was known for his physical play, defensive skills, and leadership qualities. After retiring from the NHL, he became involved in coaching and television commentary.
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