Tom Kostopoulos

Thomas Kostopoulos
Born	(1979-01-24) January 24, 1979 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)	Professional ice hockey player (retired), coach
Years active	1999–2018
Known for	National Hockey League player

Thomas George Kostopoulos (; born January 24, 1979) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. His career was predominantly spent in the National Hockey League (NHL), concluding with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins as the 204th overall pick in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Kostopoulos completed his 19th professional season during 2017–18.

Playing career

Kostopoulos advanced through youth hockey with the Toronto Marlboros and Mississauga Reps before spending one season with the Brampton Capitals in the OJHL. In the 1996 OHL Priority Selection, he was chosen 18th overall by the London Knights.

Following his junior tenure with London, Kostopoulos was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1999. He began his professional journey with their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and made his NHL debut in the 2001–02 campaign. His most productive NHL season occurred in 2003–04 with Pittsburgh. In 2005, he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings and played for their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. On July 3, 2007, Kostopoulos agreed to a two-year contract worth $1.8 million with the Montreal Canadiens.

Significant moments include achieving a Gordie Howe hat trick on January 22, 2008, as well as suspensions related to physical play: a three-game suspension in November 2008 for boarding Mike Van Ryn, accompanied by a $33,000 fine, and a six-game suspension in January 2011 following a hit that fractured Brad Stuart’s jaw.

On January 23, 2013, Kostopoulos signed a Professional Try Out contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The next month, Pittsburgh secured him on a one-year two-way deal; shortly thereafter, he was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils. On September 3, 2013, he returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a one-year AHL contract to continue serving as an experienced leader.

Coaching career

Kostopoulos announced his retirement on April 4, 2018, after completing the 2017–18 AHL season, marking his nineteenth year as a professional player. Upon retiring, he transitioned into a player development coaching role within the Penguins organization.

Personal life

Born in Mississauga, Ontario, on January 24, 1979, Kostopoulos attributes much of his hockey inspiration to his brother Chris, who coaches in Texas. He has three nephews residing in Texas and a half-sister named Laurie Bodley. The family spends their offseasons in Oakville, Ontario.

Kostopoulos and his wife Lisa are parents to two children. His mother, Cheryl Kostopoulos, has English roots while his father, George Kostopoulos, is of Greek heritage. Proud of his Greek background, he served as grand marshal for Montreal's Hellenic Community Greek Independence Day parade in 2008. Additionally, Kostopoulos supports charitable organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society and Garth Brooks' Teammates For Kids Foundation.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Brampton Capitals	OPJHL		24	9	9	18	28		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	London Knights	OHL		64	13	12	25	67		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	London Knights	OHL		66	24	26	50	108		16	6	4	10	26
1998–99	London Knights	OHL		66	27	60	87	114		25	19	16	35	32
1999–00	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		76	26	32	58	121		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		80	16	36	52	120		21	3	9	12	6
2001–02	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		11	1	2	3	9		—	—	—	—
2001–02	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		70	27	26	53	112		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		71	21	42	63	131		6	1	2	3	7
2002–03	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		8	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		21	7	13	20	43		24	7	16	23	3
2003–04	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		60	9	13	22	67		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		64	25	46	71	99		6	0	7	7	10
2005–06 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 8 14 22 100 — — — — —
2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 7 15 22 73 — — — — —
2007–08 Montreal Canadiens NHL 67 7 6 13 113 12 3 1 4 6
2008–09 Montreal Canadiens NHL 78 8 14 22 106 4 0 1 1 4
2009–10 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 8 13 21 106 — — — — —
2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 17 1 3 4 30 — — — — —
2010-11 Calgary Flames NHL 59 7 7 14 44 — — — — — -	2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 81 4 8 12 57 — — — — —
2012–13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 17 3 4 7 43 — — — — —
2012–13 New Jersey Devils NHL 15 1 0 1 18 — — — — —
2013–14 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 71 22 25 47 72 17 4 6 10 20
2014–15 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 72 16 28 44 62 8 3 2 5 12
2015-16 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 75 19 33 52 97 10 5 7 12 4
2016-17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 74 24 30 54 49 5 0 2 2 4
2017-18 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 31 5 14 19 31 3 0 0 0 6
AHL totals				722	211	329	540	980		100	23	51	74	101
NHL totals				630	61	96	157	723		16	3	2	5	10