NEWBURY COMING BACK 

After arriving from Detroit in the trade that sent the popular Jordan Owens out west, Kris Newbury demonstrated that he could be a key contributor to the Hartford Wolf Pack and potentially to the NY Rangers by playing a hard, aggressive style with the ability to put the puck into the net or help others do the same.

Newbury was rewarded for his efforts today as the New York Rangers signed the 28-year old to a contract extension. As is the policy of the team, no terms were announced.

The 5-10” 205-pounder will battle for a fourth line position in training camp and if not will find himself back in Hartford where he had terrific chemistry with Dale Weise and Dane Byers. Weise is expected to make the Rangers squad out of camp.

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Kris Newbury on a contract extension.

Newbury, 28, skated in 18 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering four goals and 14 assists for 18 points, along with 61 penalty minutes.  He tied for the Wolf Pack lead in scoring with 18 points in 18 games after joining the team on March 6 at Hamilton, following his trade to the Rangers from Detroit, in exchange for Jordan Owens, on March 3.  Newbury, who ranked 11th in the AHL with 205 penalty minutes, registered 10 multi-point performances on the season, including five as a member of the Wolf Pack.  He also posted a season-high, eight-game point streak from March 21 vs. Providence to April 7 vs. Worcester, registering 11 points (one goal and 10 assists) over the span.  Prior to his trade, Newbury appeared in 52 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points, along with 144 penalty minutes.  He led the Griffins in penalty minutes at the time of his trade, and ranked third on the team in points, tied for third in assists, fifth in power play goals (three) and ranked eighth in goals.  In addition, Newbury registered one goal in four NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings this season, tallying a goal in his season debut on December 14 vs. Phoenix.

The 5-10, 205-pounder has skated in 48 career NHL contests with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, registering four goals and three assists, along with 64 penalty minutes.  He made his NHL debut with Toronto on December 23, 2006 vs. Washington, and notched his first NHL point with a goal in his fifth game on January 1, 2007 vs. Boston.  Newbury has also appeared in 395 career AHL contests with Hartford, St. John’s Maple Leafs/Toronto Marlies and Grand Rapids Griffins, recording 80 goals and 172 assists for 252 points, along with 936 penalty minutes.  He established AHL career-highs in games played (74), goals (22), assists (38), points (60) and penalty minutes (215) during the 2005-06 season.

Prior to turning professional, Newbury appeared in 306 games over five seasons with the Belleville Bulls and Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), registering 122 goals and 184 assists for 306 points, along with 621 penalty minutes.  He enjoyed his best OHL season in 2001-02, leading Sarnia with 62 assists, 104 points and 141 penalty minutes and finishing second on the Sting with 42 goals en route to being named as an OHL Second Team All-Star.

The Brampton, Ontario native was originally selected as San Jose’s fifth round pick, 139th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

(While it may look like it, this isn’t a police mug shot, it’s actually Kris Newbury’s profile photo via sbnation.com)