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Andy Welinski

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Andy Welinski
Welinski at the 2018 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1993-04-27) April 27, 1993 (age 31)
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
team
Former teams		 Free agent
Anaheim Ducks
NHL draft 83rd overall, 2011
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2016–present

Andrew Philip Welinski (born April 27, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played on a professional tryout (PTO) with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

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Welinski attended Duluth East High School in his native Minnesota and then spent two years with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL starting 2010, capturing the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup his second season, while receiving Defenseman of the Year and All-USHL First Team recognition. He was also presented with the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award that season.[1]

He enrolled at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2012 and was named to the 2012–13 Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie team.[2] Prior to his senior season (2015–16), in which he served as team captain, Welinski made the College Hockey News Preseason All-America Team and the All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference Preseason Team.[3] Following the season, he was named to the All-NCHC Second Team (for the second straight year).[4] He made 154 appearances for the Bulldogs throughout his college career, amassing 24 goals and 53 assists.

On April 4, 2016, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL and joined the Ducks' AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls on an amateur tryout agreement.[5][6] He made his debut in the American Hockey League on April 6, 2016.[7] He made his NHL debut on December 11, 2017, against the Carolina Hurricanes.[8]

As a free agent from the Ducks following the 2018–19 season, Welinski left to sign a one-year $750,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2019.[9] After attending the Flyers training camp, Welinski was waived and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the 2019–20 season. He registered 8 goals and 21 points from the blueline for the Phantoms, however was unable to earn a recall to the Flyers.

At the conclusion of his contract with the Flyers, Welinski returned to the Anaheim Ducks organization as a free agent, securing a one-year, $750,000 contract on October 10, 2020.[10] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Welinski remained on the Ducks roster as a depth defenseman, returning NHL action in featuring in 13 regular season games.

As a free agent, Welinski left the Ducks for a second time in securing a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on July 29, 2021.[11]

Following a lone season within the Flames organization, Welinski left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers on July 14, 2022.[12] After attending the Rangers 2022 training camp, Welinski upon clearing waivers was re-assigned to play in the 2022–23 season with AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Providing a veteran presence, Welinski posted four goals and 16 points through 40 games with the Wolf Pack.

On February 28, 2023, as part of a three-team deal, Welinski was traded by the New York Rangers (along with two Rangers' draft picks) to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Patrick Kane and minor league defenseman Cooper Zech.[13]

During the 2023–24 preseason, Welinski was signed to the St. Louis Blues to a PTO on September 18 but was released on September 29.[14][15] Remaining as a free agent heading into the 2023–24 season, Welinski was belatedly signed to a PTO with the Iowa Wild of the AHL on October 24.[16] Adding a veteran presence on the Blueline for Iowa, Welinski made 27 appearances posting 3 goals and 10 points, before he concluded his try-out with the club. On March 14, 2024, he was signed to a PTO to join the Charlotte Checkers, primary affiliate to the Florida Panthers.[17]

On September 16, 2024, Welinski signed a PTO with the New Jersey Devils.[18] He joined AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, on a PTO to begin the 2024–25 season, appearing in 8 games before he was released on November 26, 2024.

International play

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He represented the US Select Team at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge.[19]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Duluth East High School USHS 19 4 11 15 10 5 0 4 4 2
2009–10 Duluth East High School USHS 19 3 12 15 16 6 2 7 9 2
2010–11 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 51 6 8 14 14 11 2 0 2 4
2011–12 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 54 15 22 37 37 12 2 2 4 14
2012–13 University of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 38 4 14 18 24 — — — — —
2013–14 University of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 36 5 14 19 51 — — — — —
2014–15 University of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 40 9 12 21 24 — — — — —
2015–16 University of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 40 6 13 19 45 — — — — —
2015–16 San Diego Gulls AHL 5 0 1 1 2 8 0 2 2 4
2016–17 San Diego Gulls AHL 63 6 23 29 16 10 0 3 3 0
2017–18 San Diego Gulls AHL 51 10 24 34 22 — — — — —
2017–18 Anaheim Ducks NHL 7 0 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 0
2018–19 San Diego Gulls AHL 27 8 11 19 16 16 3 7 10 12
2018–19 Anaheim Ducks NHL 26 1 3 4 8 — — — — —
2019–20 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 42 8 13 21 10 — — — — —
2020–21 Anaheim Ducks NHL 13 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2020–21 San Diego Gulls AHL 3 0 0 0 9 — — — — —
2021–22 Stockton Heat AHL 39 3 16 19 18 13 1 5 6 0
2022–23 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 40 4 12 16 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Rockford IceHogs AHL 14 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 0 2
2023–24 Iowa Wild AHL 27 3 7 10 6 — — — — —
2023–24 Charlotte Checkers AHL 8 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0
2024–25 Utica Comets AHL 8 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 46 1 5 6 8 3 0 0 0 0

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2012–13 [20]

References

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  1. ^ "Awards Galore". Minnesota Hockey Journal. 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  2. ^ "Camaranesi, Welinski on WCHA All-Rookie Team". KBJR 6 & Range 11 | KDLH 3. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  3. ^ "Andy Welinski – 2015–16 Men's Hockey". Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  4. ^ "SCSU, UND Lead 2015–16 NCHC All-Conference Teams". National Collegiate Hockey Conference. 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  5. ^ "Ducks Sign D Welinski to Two-Year Entry-Level Contract". ducks.nhl.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  6. ^ "SAN DIEGO GULLS ANNOUNCE ROSTER ADDITION – San Diego Gulls". San Diego Gulls. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  7. ^ "Gamesheet: Bakersfield at San Diego – Apr 6, 2016". theahl.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  8. ^ Kaczur, Korey (December 11, 2017). "Former UMD captain, Duluth native Welinski makes NHL debut with Anaheim". week.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  9. ^ "Flyers free agency tracker". Philadelphia Flyers. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Ducks sign De Leo, Welinski, Poturalski and Lettieri to contracts". Anaheim Ducks. October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Flames sign Andy Welinski". Calgary Flames. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Andy Welinski gets deal with Rangers". CBS Sports. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  13. ^ "RELEASE: Blackhawks Trade Patrick Kane to Rangers in Three-Team Deal". NHL.com. February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Bitten, Welinski join Blues on pro tryouts". nhl.com. September 18, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  15. ^ "Blues release Nick Ritchie, Andy Welinski from professional tryouts". sportsnet.ca. September 29, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "Iowa Wild signs defenseman Andy Welinski to PTO". Iowa Wild. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Checkers sign Andy Welinski". Charlotte Checkers. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Lazary, Spencer (2024-09-16). "Devils Add Welinski on a PTO". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  19. ^ "Lucia to lead U.S. at World Junior 'A' Challenge – NHL.com – News". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  20. ^ "WCHA All-Rookie Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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