Jeff Halpern will join the Kings from Tampa Bay in exchange for Teddy Purcell and a third-round pick.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have acquired center Jeff Halpern from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Teddy Purcell and a third round selection in the 2010 NHL Draft, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Wednesday. Halpern will wear No. 22 with the Kings.

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Halpern, 33, has recorded 17 points (9-8=17) and 27 penalty minutes in 55 games with the Lightning this season. The 5-11, 190-pound native of Potomac, Maryland has played 704 career games in the NHL (with Washington, Dallas and Tampa Bay), posting 314 points (131-183=314) and 542 penalty minutes. Halpern, who has also served as an alternate captain with the Lightning, has registered 12 points (6-6=12) and 23 penalty minutes in 24 career NHL postseason games.

The veteran centerman began his career with Washington in 1999-00 and spent six seasons with the Capitals (1999-00 through 2005-06). Halpern’s career high in goals (21) came in 2000-01, while his career high in points (46) and assists (27) came in 2003-04. Halpern signed as a free agent with Dallas in 2006-07 and was traded by the Stars to Tampa Bay on February 26, 2008.

Internationally, Halpern has represented the United States at the 2008 World Championships, where he recorded one assist in three games before suffering an injury. He also skated for Team USA at the 2005 World Championships (one goal in seven games) and the 2004 World Cup.

Purcell, 24, played in 41 games with the Kings this season, recording six points (3-3=6) and four penalty minutes. The 6-2, 198-pound native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, signed with the Kings as a free agent on April 27, 2007, and he has 25 points (8-17=25) and eight penalty minutes in 91 career NHL games, all with the Kings.

The third round draft selection traded to Tampa Bay today was one of three picks the Kings have in the third-round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, which will be held at STAPLES Center. The selection involved in today’s trade with Tampa Bay was originally Florida’s selection, which was acquired by the Kings on June 27, 2009, when the Kings traded the 107th overall selection and the 138th overall selection in the 2009 Draft in Montreal.

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
1994-1995	Stratford Cullitons-OHA-B	44	29	54	83		43
1995-1996	Princeton University Tigers-ECAC	29	3	11	14		30
1996-1997	Princeton University Tigers-ECAC	33	7	24	31		35
1997-1998	Princeton University Tigers-ECAC	36	28	25	53		46
1998-1999	Princeton University Tigers-ECAC	33	22	22	44		32
1998-1999	Portland Pirates-AHL	6	2	1	3		4
1999-2000	Capitals	79	18	11	29	21	39	4	4	1	108	16.7
1999-2000	United States-WC-A	7	1	1	2		4	0	0	0	14
2000-2001	Capitals	80	21	21	42	13	60	2	1	5	110	19.1
2000-2001	United States-WC-A	9	1	1	2		8
2001-2002	Capitals	48	5	14	19	-9	29	0	0	4	74	6.8
2002-2003	Capitals	82	13	21	34	6	88	1	2	2	126	10.3
2003-2004	Capitals	79	19	27	46	-21	56	7	0	2	114	16.7
2003-2004	United States-WC-A	9	2	2	4		4
2004-2005	United States-W-Cup	4	0	0	0	-1	7
2004-2005	HC Ajoie-Swiss-2	15	5	12	17		52
2004-2005	Kloten Flyers-Swiss	9	7	4	11		6
2004-2005	United States-WC-A	7	1	0	1		6
2005-2006	Capitals	70	11	33	44	-8	79	6	0	1	151	7.3
2006-2007	Stars	76	8	17	25	-7	78	1	0	4	106	7.5
2007-2008	Stars	64	10	14	24	-2	40	1	1	0	86	11.6
2007-2008	Lightning	19	10	8	18	2	14	3	0	2	46	21.7
2007-2008	United States-WC-A	3	0	1	1		4
2008-2009	Lightning	52	7	9	16	-13	32	1	1	1	60	11.7
2009-2010	Lightning	55	9	8	17	-14	27	2	0	1	65	13.8
	NHL Totals	704	131	183	314	-31	542	28	9	23	1,046	12.5