Andy Welinski Signs In Germany
Unrestricted free agent defenseman Andy Welinski has signed a contract with Germany’s Löwen Frankfurt for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, per a team announcement.
Welinski, 31, hasn’t appeared in the NHL since a 13-game stint with the Ducks in 2020-21. He’s spent the last few seasons jumping around the AHL on NHL and minor-league contracts.
The Devils inked the Minnesota native to a PTO during training camp in September but subsequently released him and had him suit up for their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, on a tryout. He was released earlier this month after struggling with one assist and a -6 rating through eight games.
The former Minnesota-Duluth captain now heads overseas for the first time in his 10-year professional career. All of his 46 NHL appearances have come for the Ducks, who drafted him in the third round in 2011, posting a goal and five assists with a -2 rating.
His AHL resume is far more diverse. Aside from playing 149 games for Anaheim’s affiliate in San Diego in parts of five seasons, he’s spent time suiting up for the Flyers, Flames, Rangers, Blackhawks, Wild, and Panthers farm clubs before his brief run in Utica this season. In 327 AHL games over the last decade, he has 42 goals and 111 assists for 153 points (0.47 per game) with 121 PIMs and a -23 rating.
Welinski heads to a Löwen club that suits up in Germany’s top-flight league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The club is off to a 9-7-1-3 start and is on pace for their best record since being promoted from the DEL2 in 2022. He joins a squad headlined up front by former NHL grinder Carter Rowney and Blues 2018 first-rounder Dominik Bokk.
Devils Sign Andy Welinski To PTO
The Devils have signed defenseman Andy Welinski to a professional tryout, general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced Monday. The team also confirmed that former Sharks forward Kevin Labanc will be in camp, as initially reported Sunday by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
Welinski, 31, hasn’t seen NHL ice since he was a part of the Ducks organization in the 2020-21 season. The Anaheim 2011 third-round pick has 46 games of NHL experience – all in Orange County – with a goal, five assists, six points, and a -2 rating while averaging 15:46 per game.
The organizational depth defender has been an AHL fixture in recent years. After a PTO with the Blues last year proved unsuccessful, Welinski settled for an AHL contract with the Iowa Wild. He posted 10 points in 27 games with the Minnesota affiliate before being sent to the Panthers organization at the minor-league trade deadline. He went without a point in eight appearances for the Charlotte Checkers.
Welinski looks to earn his first NHL contract in camp with the Devils since inking a two-way pact with the Rangers for 2022-23. The native of Duluth, Minnesota, is still a capable veteran puck-mover at the AHL level and would benefit New Jersey’s affiliate, the Utica Comets, especially early on in the season. They’ll likely be without a regular for the first few weeks of the campaign with Luke Hughes out with a shoulder injury, creating a ripple effect that will have one of the Comets’ top names on the NHL roster as a reserve on opening night.
In parts of nine AHL seasons, Welinski has 42 goals, 110 assists, 152 points, 119 PIMs, and a -17 rating in 319 appearances.
Blues Notes: Captaincy, Welinski, Bitten
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic is reporting that the St. Louis Blues have released a notice that they will be having a press conference tomorrow morning to announce a new captain. The Blues have been without a captain since trading Ryan O’Reilly to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. Rutherford speculates that the frontrunners to be the new captain would likely be Brayden Schenn or Robbie Thomas given their status with the club and the leadership they provide.
While Rutherford does consider Schenn and Thomas to be favorites to land the captaincy, he also concedes that he doesn’t know definitively as to who it will be. The Blues could name anyone from their current roster to be their next captain and certainly have lots of options as they could also select from veterans Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, or even a younger veteran such as Pavel Buchnevich. Whoever the club ultimately selects will have the opportunity to lead a Blues team that will be looking to improve after a disappointing season last year in which they missed the playoffs. While they were sellers at the deadline, they did make a few low cost adds at the same time in Kasperi Kapanen and Jakub Vrana. The club also made additions this offseason trading for Kevin Hayes and bringing back Oskar Sundqvist in free agency.
In other Blues Notes:
- The Blues announced today that former Anaheim Ducks defenseman Andy Welinski will attend training camp with St. Louis on a PTO after spending last season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Rockford IceHogs. The 30-year-old put up four goals and 15 assists in 54 AHL games while tallying just 14 penalty minutes. In his short NHL career, the native of Duluth, Minnesota has posted just a single goal and five assists. St. Louis already has seven defensemen signed to NHL deals for next season meaning Welinski will be fighting an uphill battle to make the NHL squad.
- The Blues also announced today that forward Sam Bitten will also be joining the team for training camp on a PTO after playing for Plzen HC of the Czech league last season. The 23-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario dressed in 48 games last year posting a single goal. Sam’s older brother Will Bitten is a member of the Blues and dressed in four games last year for the Blues posting a single assist. Bitten is unlikely to make the Blues but could battle for a spot in the minor leagues within the Blues system giving him a chance to play in North America for the first time in his professional career.
New York Rangers Acquire Patrick Kane
Though it has been evident for a while that Chicago Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane would be joining the New York Rangers, what wasn’t so clear is the price they would be forced to pay for him. That price is now known as the trade has been finalized with Kane and defenseman Cooper Zech heading to the Rangers as part of a three-team trade that also involves Arizona. Chicago receives a 2023 conditional second-round pick and a fourth-round pick along with defenseman Andy Welinski from New York along with the rights to blueliner Vili Saarijarvi from Arizona while the Coyotes receive a 2025 third-round pick from the Rangers for brokering the deal by retaining 25% of Kane’s contract after Chicago held back the maximum 50% of his $10.5MM AAV.
The 2023 second-rounder can become a first-round selection if the Rangers make it to the Conference Finals. It would then be conveyed in either 2024 (top-10 protected) or 2025. The third-rounder going to Arizona will either be the Rangers’ own pick or the better of theirs and Dallas’ if defenseman Nils Lundkvist has 55 points combined this season and next which would transfer the Stars’ 2025 selection to New York.
Just as it played out with Claude Giroux last season, a franchise icon with full no-movement protection essentially dictated his destination, resulting in an underwhelming return. The Blackhawks were not able to land a guaranteed first-round pick in the deal, but will send Kane to his preferred team and still recoup some value.
When it became clear that the Blackhawks were tearing it down to rebuild through the draft, it made little sense for them to re-sign Kane in the offseason. If he was going to leave anyway, getting a second (or first) before he walked out the door only helps the efforts of general manager Kyle Davidson. Kane wasn’t forced out the door, but will now get another chance at the Stanley Cup this season with a loaded Rangers club.
After New York acquired Vladimir Tarasenko earlier this month, it appeared they were out of the running for Kane. They had a tight cap situation and had made their significant acquisition. Even Kane seemed to know he wouldn’t be headed to New York, telling reporters that it seemed like they had “filled their void” with the deal.
But now, with the help of some creative cap gymnastics, the Rangers have made enough room to land both star wingers, giving them a forward group that looks like an All-Star roster.
He also leaves Chicago with a legacy that will be hard to beat. While Kane sits second on the all-time Blackhawks scoring list, many will remember him as the most talented player in franchise history. His 1,225 regular season points came in just 1,161 games, numbers that will have him in the Hall of Fame one day.
Now 34, Kane will be an unrestricted free agent this summer unless he signs an extension with the Rangers. That certainly seems possible, though it will be difficult for New York to fit everyone in, giving some raises they own to some other players. For now, the focus will be on winning the Stanley Cup after loading up as much as they can.
Should they reach the third round, and fork over a first-rounder to Chicago, the Blackhawks would then own seven first-round selections over the next three years. After picking three players at the top of the 2022 draft, their system will quickly be loaded with talent that can mature together. Perhaps they’ll find the next star in that bunch, but simple probability suggests they won’t find another Kane.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli was the first to report the draft picks while ESPN’s Emily Kaplan was the first to report the conditional element on the second-rounder. PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan was the first with the return for Arizona’s involvement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Waivers: 09/30/22
After waivers opened yesterday, quite a few players have ended up on the wire today. Teams keep making cuts to their rosters, and any veteran player needs to clear before being assigned to the minor leagues. Here are the names on waivers today.
Dallas Stars
Riley Barber
Ben Gleason
Tanner Kero
Jerad Rosburg
Joseph Cecconi
Rhett Gardner
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
San Jose Sharks
Tampa Bay Lightning
Daniel Walcott
Darren Raddysh
Maxime Lagace
Trevor Carrick
Washington Capitals
Michael Sgarbossa
Riley Sutter
Mike Vecchione
Hunter Shepard
New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Three Players
The New York Rangers have finished some offseason business, agreeing to terms with three players (two of them which were previously reported). Turner Elson, Andy Welinski, and Austin Rueschhoff have all agreed to one-year contracts.
While Elson and Welinski were reported in the early part of free agency, it is Rueschhoff that will draw some attention. The 24-year-old forward was a restricted free agent this summer after his entry-level contract expired and is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The winger had 14 goals and 24 points in 59 games, offensive totals that aren’t that impressive even for an undrafted college free agent. It’s his size–6’7″ 230-lbs–that makes Rueschhoff so intriguing as an NHL prospect. Quite frankly, he doesn’t need to score very much to make an impact on the ice, and the fact that he is providing some offensive touch only makes him a more interesting package.
With this new deal, the Rangers are showing that they believe so too. It will be interesting to see if he gets a chance to suit up for an NHL game this season, as the New York front office has put importance on size and physicality in the bottom six. While he may never end up being a regular, this contract gives him another chance to serve as a call-up in case of injury as soon as this year.
New York Rangers Expected To Sign Andy Welinski
According to CapFriendly, the New York Rangers have signed defenseman Andy Welinski to a one-year, two-way contract (link). The contract is worth $750K at the NHL level and $400K in the minors. The right-handed defenseman will serve as veteran depth for a Rangers team that had to part with some of their’s earlier today.
A third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, Welinski has played parts of three NHL seasons, all with Anaheim. Welinski spent four years as a rock-solid defenseman for the University of Minnesota-Duluth before turning pro after the 2015-16 NCAA season. He would spend two full years with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, making his NHL debut during that second season in 2017-18. Welinski split 2018-19 between San Diego and Anaheim, returning to the AHL full-time in 2019-20, splitting 2020-21 once again, getting into just 16 games between both levels. The 29-year-old spent all of last season with the Stockton Heat in the Calgary Flames organization.
On a two-way contract, Welinski is a smart addition for the Rangers, who traded defenseman Patrik Nemeth away earlier today and lost Justin Braun in free agency as well. Though the organization has strong defensive depth between their stars and their prospects, the team did have to rely on depth this year at times too. Between yesterday’s Libor Hajek extension and today’s Welinski deal, the Rangers should have plenty of reserves should they deal with an abundance of injuries.
31 Players Clear Waivers
Oct 4: 31 of the 32 players placed on waivers have cleared. The Buffalo Sabres have claimed Jonsson-Fjallby from the Washington Capitals.
Oct 3: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that, originally, 13 names have hit the waiver wire today. PuckPedia reports an additional 19 names that have found themselves on waivers today. The 13 names are as follows:
D Trevor Carrick (ANA)
D Kodie Curran (ANA)
D Brendan Guhle (ANA)
F Vinni Lettieri (ANA)
F Danny O’Regan (ANA)
D Brogan Rafferty (ANA)
F Zachary Senyshyn (BOS)
D Nick DeSimone (CGY)
D Kevin Gravel (CGY)
F Matthew Phillips (CGY)
D Andy Welinski (CGY)
D Jalen Chatfield (CAR)
D Joshua Jacobs (CAR)
F Seth Griffith (EDM)
F Cooper Marody (EDM)
F Brandon Baddock (MTL)
F Laurent Dauphin (MTL)
F Jean-Sebastien Dea (MTL)
G Michael McNiven (MTL)
F Anthony Richard (NSH)
F Brian Flynn (NJD)
F Robbie Russo (NJD)
F Greg McKegg (NYR)
F Pontus Aberg (OTT)
D Dillon Heatherington (OTT)
F Kole Sherwood (OTT)
D Tommy Cross (STL)
D Sean Day (TBL)
F Gabriel Dumont (TBL)
F Charles Hudon (TBL)
F Darren Raddysh (TBL)
F Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (WSH)
More to come…
Calgary Flames Ink Andy Welinski
The Calgary Flames are adding some depth to the back end in the form of puck-mover Andy Welinski. The team has announced that they have signed the veteran defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract. CapFriendly reports that the deal will pay Welinski the minimum $750K in the NHL and $375K in the AHL, with $400K guaranteed.
A long-time Anaheim Duck, or more accurately San Diego Gull, who was also briefly a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization, Welinski has flown north and traded in his wings for flames. The 28-year-old defenseman has been a reliable two-way defenseman in the AHL for five years now, also appearing in 46 NHL games with Anaheim. While he isn’t an electrifying talent in either the scoring or checking game, he is a strong skater and handles the puck well. This makes him a dependable call-up option who can step in and play meaningful minutes in all situations. Hence the high guaranteed salary, as Welinski’s value is in the security he brings as a backup, not his upside.
In Calgary, Welinski will be playing behind a deep defensive group eventually, but right now is one of only four experienced NHL defensemen under contract, with returners Juuso Valimaki, Oliver Kylington, and Connor Mackey and newcomer Nikita Zadorov all as unrestricted free agents. With a lot of youth and some players with consistency concerns among the Flames defenders, it makes sense why having the reliable Welinski waiting in the wings is a smart addition for the team.
Large Group Of Players Placed On Waivers
With just a few days before the start of the regular season, a huge number of players have been placed on waivers. The full list includes:
Anaheim Ducks:
Anthony Stolarz
Andy Welinski
Christian Djoos
Andrew Poturalski
Chase De Leo
Vinni Lettieri
Sam Carrick
Andrew Agozzino
David Backes
Carolina Hurricanes:
Antoine Bibeau
Steven Lorentz
Spencer Smallman
Jeremy Bracco
Gustav Forsling
Drew Shore
Max McCormick
Colorado Avalanche:
Jacob MacDonald
Dan Renouf
Kyle Burroughs
Mike Vecchione
T.J. Tynan
Miikka Salomaki
Jayson Megna
Sheldon Dries
Toronto Maple Leafs:
These massive waiver placements are no different than the normal training camp cuts that would occur in late-September in a normal year. Should they clear, these players will be eligible to report to the taxi squad or AHL. There are a few names that stand out from the crowd though.
Backes, a veteran of 950 NHL games, still carries a $6MM cap hit on the final season of the five-year, $30MM contract he signed with the Boston Bruins in 2016. As Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports, this is not a move by the Ducks to try and rid themselves of Backes, but create some additional flexibility. At any rate, his contract basically makes him waiver-proof as no other team would want to take it on at this point in the season.
Bracco, a former top prospect that scored 79 points in 75 games for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL as recently as 2018-19, has seen his development stall and finds himself on the outside looking in for the Hurricanes once again. Djoos, once an up-and-coming defenseman in the Washington Capitals system, is now 26 and available to the whole league, should they want to take a chance.