Rangers get Erixon in deal with Flames

Press Release

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Tim Erixon and a fifth-round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft from Calgary in exchange for forward Roman Horak and two second round draft picks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

The Rangers also announced today that the club has signed Erixon to an entry level deal.

“Tim is an outstanding young defenseman with good size and mobility,” stated Sather. “He plays a complete, all-around game, and we feel he is an excellent addition to our developing, young defense corps.”

Defenseman Tim Erixon, rated as Calgary's top NHL prospect during the 2010-11 season, represented Sweden at the 2009, 2010, and 2011 World Juniors and was on the Swedish World Championship team that won the silver medal in Slovakia last month.
Erixon, 20, skated in 48 games with Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League (SEL) this season, registering five goals and 19 assists for 24 points, along with 40 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in games played, assists and points while skating in his third full season in Sweden's top league.

Erixon tied for fifth on the team in assists and eighth in points, and ranked fifth on the club in penalty minutes. He also tallied three goals and five assists in 18 playoff contests with Skelleftea. Erixon tied for fifth on the team in playoff goals and assists, and sixth in points while establishing playoff career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes (12).

The 6-3, 205-pounder has skated in 140 career SEL contests with Skelleftea, registering 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points, along with 96 penalty minutes. Erixon established a career-high with seven goals while appearing in 45 games during the 2009-10 season. He made his SEL debut as a 17 year old, skating in two games with Skelleftea in 2007-08. In addition, Erixon has appeared in 39 career playoff games, registering four goals and five assists for nine points, along with 24 penalty minutes.

Internationally, Erixon captured a silver medal with Team Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Championships in Slovakia, registering one assist and a plus-two rating in nine games. He also represented Sweden at the 2009 and 2010 World Junior Championships, winning the silver medal in 2009 and the bronze medal in 2010.

Erixon was originally selected by Calgary as their first round choice, 23rd overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Born in Port Chester, New York, he is the son of former Blueshirts forward, Jan Erixon, who played his entire 10-year NHL career with the Rangers from 1983-84 to 1992-93.

Jan Erixon, who was selected by the Rangers in the second round (30th overall) in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, registered 57 goals and 159 assists for 216 points, along with 167 penalty minutes in 556 career games. He is a two-time winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, including as the inaugural winner in 1987-88 and again in 1990-91.

Horak, 19, skated in 64 games with the Chilliwack Bruins of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, registering 26 goals and 52 assists for 78 points, along with 60 penalty minutes. He was originally the Rangers fifth round choice, 127th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)