RANGERS ACQUIRE FORWARD WOJTEK WOLSKI
New York sends defenseman Michal Rozsival to Phoenix
New York, NY – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forward Wojtek Wolski (pronounced VOY-teck VOHL-skee) from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Michal Rozsival.
Wolski, 24, was originally selected as Colorado’s first round pick, 21st overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He has registered six goals and 10 assists for 16 points, along with 10 penalty minutes in 36 games with Phoenix this season. Wolski registered 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his first 19 games to begin the season from October 9 at Boston to November 23 vs. Edmonton. He has registered three multi-point performances this season, including a two-assist effort vs. Carolina on October 23. Wolski has recorded seven of his 16 points against Eastern Conference opponents (three goals, four assists in 11 games).
Last season, the Zabrze, Poland native established career-highs in goals (23), assists (42), points (65), games played (80), and plus/minus rating (plus -21) while splitting the season between Colorado and Phoenix. He registered 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 18 games with the Coyotes, and finished the regular season on a five-game assist streak. Wolski led the Coyotes in points and assists, while his plus-21 rating ranked first on the team and tied for 23rd in the NHL. He tallied his 200th career point with a two-point effort (one goal, one assist) vs. Chicago on March 20, and recorded his 100th career assist at Vancouver on November 20. The six-year NHL veteran skated in his 300th career game vs. Phoenix on February 12 as a member of the Avalanche. Wolski also led the Coyotes in goals (four) and tied for second in scoring with five points while skating in seven playoff contests.
The 6-3, 215-pounder has skated in 356 career regular season contests with Colorado and Phoenix, registering 85 goals and 142 assists for 227 points, along with 97 penalty minutes. He tied the NHL record for most shootout goals in a single season during the 2008-09 season, originally set by Jussi Jokinen in 2005-06, converting 10 of 12 shootout attempts (83.3%) with Colorado. In 2006-07, Wolski registered 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) in 76 games to rank fourth in the NHL among rookies in points, and fifth in goals, assists, power play goals (seven), power play assists (10), and power play points (17). He tallied his first career point with a goal, and added two assists vs. Calgary on October 10, 2005, just three games after making his NHL debut at Edmonton on October 5, 2005. In addition, Wolski has registered seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 22 career NHL playoff contests with Colorado and Phoenix.
Rozsival, 32, has registered three goals and 12 assists for 15 points, along with 22 penalty minutes in 32 games this season. In 10 NHL seasons, Rozsival has registered 60 goals and 181 assists for 241 points, along with 535 penalty minutes in 669 career regular season games with the Rangers and Penguins. The Vlasim, Czech Republic native signed as a free agent with the Rangers on September 6, 2005. He was originally Pittsburgh’s fourth round choice, 105th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
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