The New York Rangers, parent club of the AHL’s Connecticut Whale, announced Friday the acquisition of 24-year-old forward Casey Wellman from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Erik Christensen and a conditional seventh round draft pick in 2013.
Wellman had appeared in 14 games with the Wild this season, recording a career-best seven points with two goals and five assists. Over parts of three seasons with Minnesota, Wellman, a native of Brentwood, Calif., scored four goals, added nine assists, and totaled 13 points.
Wellman played 26 games with the AHL’s Houston Aeros in 2011-12, tallying 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. He also had 14-21-35 in 42 games as a rookie with the Aeros in 2010-11, and added 6-5-11 in 24 playoff games as Houston reached the Calder Cup Finals.
The six-foot, 173-pound Wellman was signed as a free agent by the Wild after attending the University of Massachusetts.
Christensen, 28, was in his third season with the Rangers after the team acquired him off waivers from Anaheim during the 2009-10 season. He notched two goals and an assist in five AHL games with Connecticut this season, as well as one goal and four assists in 20 games with the Rangers.
