RoughRiders All-Decade Team: Teddy Purcell

Alec Martinez knows Teddy Purcell as well as anyone.

They were teammates during their junior days with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and roommates last season with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs. Last week, Martinez was one of the first Purcell called when Purcell was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Yeah, I talked to him,” Martinez said. “He was kind of surprised, but I think it'll be good for him. I think he needed that.”

Sometimes a fresh start gets a hockey career back on track, and Purcell is looking for just that. The 24-year-old native of Newfoundland was a regular healthy scratch the past month or so for the Kings, who signed him as a coveted amateur free agent in 2007 after a breakout freshman season with the University of Maine.

A player who showed well in two seasons in the AHL and is known for his skill and offense, Purcell had just three goals and six points in 40 games this season for Los Angeles. A change of scenery might be what it takes to get the once highly touted prospect's game back.

“In acquiring Teddy Purcell ... we were able to stick to our plan of getting younger and more skilled,” said Tampa Bay General Manager Brian Lawton.

Purcell has been named the right wing on the RoughRiders' All-Decade Team in a vote by fans.

He was terrific in two seasons in Cedar Rapids, setting the franchise's career scoring record and helping the Riders win the Clark Cup in 2005.

The Gazette was unable to reach Purcell in several attempts the past three weeks, but he did talk to the Tampa Tribune about being traded.

“It was a little strange,” he said. “It's the first time I've ever been traded, and it was a little awkward at first being there with all the guys. But then we started joking about it and had a good laugh.”

Purcell's goal with the Lightning came on a penalty shot. That goes back to the skill talk.

“At the beginning of the year, I was playing a lot of minutes (with the Kings) and playing a lot of power play and feeling comfortable,” Purcell told the Tribune. “For whatever reason, the points weren't coming. I'm an offensive type of guy.

“The chances were there. The points just weren't coming. The coach decided to mix some things up, and the last little while, I was bouncing around between the fourth line and not playing. Not playing a lot of power play, not a lot of minutes.

“This is a fresh start for me, so I'm looking forward to it."