Kuparinen, 24, appeared in 32 games this season with Pensacola of the East Coast Hockey League, recording 11 goals, 12 assists and 18 penalty minutes. A native of Hameenlinna, Finland, Kuparinen was selected in the ninth round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning. He was traded to Atlanta on October 29, 1999, and reacquired from the Thrashers on March 11, 2000.
Kuparinen Returns to Finland
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned defensemen Mikko Kuparinen
to Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League, Senior Vice President & General
Manager Rick Dudley announced.
