Wild Sign Craig Weller
 

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed right wing Craig Weller to a multi-year contract.

Weller, 27 (3/17/81), totaled 11 points (3-8=11) and 80 penalty minutes in 59 games for the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007-08, his first NHL campaign. He spent the previous five seasons with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, including a career-best 34 points (12-22=34) to go along with 152 PIM in 2005-06.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound native of Calgary, Alberta, was St. Louis’ fifth-round pick (No. 167 overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Weller helped the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Kootenay Ice to a Memorial Cup title in 2002, and also appeared in six games with the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2000-01, picking up one assist.

Good for Craig. He deserves another shot with a different club. Obviously he'd be forced to sign a two way contract with Phoenix and with the additions of McGrattan and Fedoruk there simply wasn't any room (or need) for him.

Was really hoping he's stay in Phx... or detroit..

atleast weller found a nhl job

I honestly hopes he plays a lot games with the Wild. They need the toughness. He's a tough guy but is too inconsistent.

Weller can deal with the MW and leave Boogey to do the real dirty work with the HW.

So Todd Fedoruk and Craig Weller basically just switched places.

I'd say Phoenix got the better of that, but oh well.

Minnesota just desperately needs some toughness behind Boogaard, and Weller certainly adds some. He's a decent middleweight that the Wild were in need of after losing Voros (as well as Fedoruk and Simon but they are heavies).

So I like this pickup by Minny - although they could still use even more grit.

Its a 2 yr deal. Not sure how much hes signing for though.

Off the topic: Nick Ross WILL NOT be playing with the team next year.

We are not done with the free agent's yet.


Anyone else listening in?

I'm not so sure Weller wants to be fighting all the MWs. Just doesn't seem like a guy interested in always fighting, unless one of his teammates just got raped.

I believe I told you (or another Coyotes fan) that a few days ago. Ross is nowhere near NHL ready...

Hey is it too late to tune in?

Maybe they'll find a jewel in Houston next year like they did this year with Voros.

That would be me.

And just curious Scott, when you say "we", are you referring to the Coyotes? Or the rest of the league?

All done he was only on for about 15 mins.

That's right. Either way I'm still hoping for one more defenseman. I'm not comfortable with Jones being the #6 guy.