The Columbus Blue Jackets, parent club of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, announced today that they have signed defenseman Filip Novak.
Novak, 24, spent the past season with the Ottawa Senators and their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. In 64 games with Binghamton, he netted eight goals and 44 assists for 52 points with 58 penalty minutes and was named to the 2006 PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team. He also played made his NHL debut in 2005-06, appearing in 11 games with Ottawa and recording four penalty minutes.
The Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, native played three seasons in the AHL with Binghamton and San Antonio and recorded 19 goals, 73 assists and 221 penalty minutes in 192 career games. He was named a 2003 AHL All-Star and to the 2003 AHL All-Rookie Team.
Novak missed the entire 2003-04 season due to an ankle injury.
The New York Rangers’ second-round pick, 64th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Novak was traded as part of a multi-player deal to the Florida Panthers in 2002 in exchange for Pavel Bure.
