Rangers obtain Wellman from Minnesota

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forward Casey Wellman from Minnesota in exchange for forward Erik Christensen and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Wellman, 24, has registered four goals and nine assists for 13 points, along with four penalty minutes in 41 career regular season games over three seasons with Minnesota.  Wellman posted his first career multi-point performance with one goal and one assist in a 5-3 win on December 4 at Anaheim, and tallied a career-high, two assists in a 5-4 win on January 10 vs. San Jose.

He also recorded a career-high, three-game point streak from December 2 vs. New Jersey to December 6 at San Jose, registering two goals and two assists over the span.

An outstanding college player at UMass, Casey Wellman was a dominant force at the 2010 Traverse City Prospects Tournament and led the Wild to the tournament title.

Wellman has spent the majority of the season with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points, along with 21 penalty minutes in 26 games this season.  He is tied for the team lead in goals, ranks fourth in points and is tied for fifth in assists. He also leads the team and is tied for sixth in the AHL with nine power play goals.

Prior to his recall to Minnesota on November 28, Wellman ranked seventh in the AHL with 11 goals and led the league with seven power play goals.  He has posted five multi-point performances this season, including a season-high, three-point effort with two goals and an assist on January 22 vs. San Antonio.  Wellman also registered a career-high, six-game point streak from October 21 at Charlotte to October 30 vs. Charlotte, tallying four goals and two assists over the span.

The Brentwood, California native originally signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent on March 16, 2010.  He registered an assist while making his NHL debut on March 19, 2010, at Columbus, and notched his first NHL goal on April 10, 2010 vs. Dallas.

Christensen, 28, has registered one goal and four assists in 20 games with the Rangers this season.  He was acquired by the Rangers on December 2, 2009, claiming him off waivers from Anaheim.