 Korpikoski was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.He originally played for TPS' junior team in the SM-liiga before moving up to the main team for the 2004–05 season.He then played two seasons of professional hockey in Finland before joining the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, after TPS' 2005–06 season; he played five regular season games and 11 playoff games for Hartford for the team's 2005–06 season.