BLUE JACKETS INK RYAN RUSSELL TO ONE YEAR DEAL

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 24, 2012

 

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS RE-SIGN CENTER RYAN RUSSELL

Russell inks one-year, two-way NHL-AHL contract for 2012-13 season

 

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way NHL-American Hockey League contract with center Ryan Russell, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

 

Russell, 25, was acquired by Columbus from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Mike Blunden on July 7, 2011. In his first season with the organization, he tallied two goals and two penalty minutes in 41 games with the Blue Jackets in 2011-12, while adding 9-6-15 and 15 penalty minutes in 31 games with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. He made his NHL debut on January 7 at the Los Angeles Kings and tallied his first career point with a goal on January 13 vs. the Phoenix Coyotes.

 

The Caroline, Alberta native was the New York Rangers ninth pick, 211^th overall, in the 2005 Entry Draft. Russell has appeared in 274 career AHL games, collecting 60-55-115, 99 penalty minutes and a +54 cumulative plus/minus rating. He split his first professional season in 2007-08 between Hamilton and Cincinnati (ECHL) and helped the Cyclones win the 2008 Kelly Cup. Prior to his professional career, he notched 98-118-216, 155 penalty minutes and a +61 cumulative plus/minus rating in 263 career WHL games with the Kootenay Ice from 2003-07.

 

RYAN RUSSELL, Center

Hgt.: 5-10, Wgt.: 174, Shoots: Left, Born: May 2, 1987 (Caroline, Alberta)

Career Statistics                                                  Regular Season                                        Playoffs

Year         Team                 League  GP      TOI      G       A   PTS     +/-  PIM          GP     G     A   PTS  PIM

2003-04     Kootenay            WHL       67        n/a       3       9      12      -7      27             4      0      0       0       0

2004-05     Kootenay            WHL       66        n/a      32      21      53      27      18            16      6      7      13      12

2005-06     Kootenay            WHL       72        n/a      33      42      75      17      30             6      3      5       8       2

2006-07     Kootenay            WHL       58        n/a      30      46      76      24      40             7      3      6       9       2

2007-08     Hamilton            AHL        25        n/a       2       1       3      -6       4            …    …    …      …      …

                 Cincinnati           ECHL      12        n/a       6       4      10       3       4            15      3      4       7       0

2008-09     Hamilton            AHL        79        n/a      20      19      39      27      24             6      1      3       4       2

2009-10     Hamilton            AHL        74        n/a      19      18      37      16       8            19      7      5      12       0

2010-11     Hamilton            AHL        65        n/a      10      11      21      17      48            20      7      2       9       0

2011-12     Columbus           NHL        41    11:40       2       0       2      -7       2            …    …    …      …      …

                 Springfield          AHL        31        n/a       9       6      15       0      15            …    …    …      …      …

NHL Totals                                       41    11:40       2       0       2      -7       2            …    …    …      …      …

AHL Totals                                     274         …      60      55    115      54      99            45    15    10      25       2

WHL Totals                                    263         …      98    118    216      61    115            33    12    18      30      16

 

The 2013 NHL All-Star Game is coming to Columbus Jan. 26-27, 2013. Fans can guarantee access to seats for both the game and Skills Challenge now by reserving a full or partial season ticket plan for the Blue Jackets’ 2012-13 season. Ticket plans start at less than $15 per game. In addition to guaranteed access to All-Star tickets, full and partial-season ticket holders receive a number of great benefits including significant savings versus single-game prices; the best available seat locations; exclusive access to events with players and coaches; and priority access to tickets for most other events at Nationwide Arena and the Jerome Schottenstein Center. For more information, call (800) NHL-COLS or visit BlueJackets.com.