Connecticut Whale head coach Ken Gernander told the media following his team’s 6-3 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers that he thought it was “probable, but we’ll have to see” that Tim Erixon will be in the Whale lineup when the Providence Bruins return to the XL Center Saturday night after being returned by the New York Rangers.
Here’s the official release:
NEW YORK RANGERS TRANSACTION UPDATE
Tim Erixon Assigned to Connecticut
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that defenseman Tim Erixon has been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Erixon, 20, did not skate in the Rangers 4-1 loss yesterday at St. Louis following his recall from Connecticut on Wednesday. He began the season on the Rangers opening night roster, and skated in nine games with the Blueshirts before being assigned to Connecticut on October 29. Erixon posted a plus or even rating in six of his nine contests. He made his NHL debut on October 7 against Los Angeles in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Premiere.
The Port Chester, New York native returns to Connecticut where he has registered one goal and 11 assists for 12 points, along with 10 penalty minutes in 13 games this season. He currently has a three-game AHL assist streak, tallying four assists during the stretch which began with a two-assist effort on December 9 vs. Hershey. Erixon leads all Whale defensemen and is tied for sixth on the team in scoring with 12 points, and ranks second on Connecticut overall in average points per game (0.92) and is tied for third in assists (11). He registered seven points in a five-game span (one goal and six assists), beginning with his first career AHL goal on November 12 at St. John’s and culminating with a career-high, three assists on November 23 vs. Portland. Erixon tallied an assist while making his AHL debut on November 2 at Bridgeport.
Erixon was acquired by the Rangers along with a fifth round selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (Shane McColgan) from Calgary, in exchange for Roman Horak and two second round picks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (Markus Granlund, Tyler Wotherspoon) on June 1, 2011. He was originally selected by the Flames in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
