NEW YORK – The New York Rangers signed recently arrested Los Angeles Kings centre Jarret Stoll on Monday, a few months after he pleaded guilty in a felony cocaine case. There was no mention of the legal matter in the Rangers’ news release announcing the free-agent signing.
Contract terms were not immediately available.
Stoll, 33, gives the Rangers a top faceoff man and penalty killer. He has played in 792 NHL games over parts of 12 seasons with Edmonton and Los Angeles, with 140 goals and 239 assists.
He pleaded guilty in June to two reduced misdemeanour charges to resolve a felony cocaine case stemming from his April arrest at a Las Vegas Strip swimming pool. A felony charge of cocaine possession was dismissed.
READ MORE: Reduced guilty plea by Jarret Stoll
Stoll, who is from Melville, Sask., was sentenced to 32 hours of community service. He’s also starting a program to help others understand the dangers of using alcohol and controlled substances.
Security guards at MGM Grand’s Wet Republic pool found what police believed to be 3.3 grams of cocaine and several ecstasy capsules in Stoll’s pocket on April 17.
Stoll has won 55.4 per cent of faceoffs in his career, and he has posted a faceoff win percentage of 51 per cent or higher in every season. He has led his team in faceoff win percentage in nine consecutive seasons (2005-06 – 2013-14).
The six-foot one, 215-pounder played in three Stanley Cup finals, and won two with the Kings, in 2011-12 and 2013-14. In 93 NHL playoff games, Stoll has 10 goals and 16 assists.
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