Westgarth Eating Duck Photo: insidehockey
By Paul Armbruster | KingsNewsDaily.com
I can confirm Kevin Westgarth was in El Segundo this morning, preparing for his first post-cup practice as a member of the LA Kings. It didn’t last long. Fans relayed first hand accounts of Westy leaving the facility moments before practice began. While signing autographs, he informed fans he indeed was traded from LA to Carolina. Best of luck Westy. You are a class act and great teammate.
Chip Alexander | The Charlotte Observer
The Canes have obtained forward Kevin Westgarth, the son-in-law of former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, from the Los Angeles Kings.
In exchange for Westgarth, Carolina has traded forward Anthony Stewart, its 2013 fourth-round draft pick and a sixth-round selection in the 2014 draft to the Kings.
“We were looking for a character, team guy who can play a gritty role for our team,” general manager Jim Rutherford. “Kevin is a good addition to fill that spot.”
Westgarth, 28, is entering his seventh professional season. In 2011-12, he played 25 games with Los Angeles, notching one goal, earning one assist (2 points) and accumulating 39 penalty minutes.
In 90 career NHL regular-season games with the Kings, the Amhurstberg, Ont., native has earned five points (1g, 4a) while totaling 153 penalty minutes. Westgarth appeared in all six of the Kings’ 2011 postseason games, recording two assists, 14 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.
Westgarth (6’4”, 234 lbs.) originally signed with Los Angeles as a free agent on March 16, 2007, after four seasons at Princeton University. In addition to his NHL experience, he has totaled 22 goals, 28 assists (50 points) and 580 penalty minutes in 224 American Hockey League (AHL) games with Manchester.