Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Free Agent Forward Kristian Huselius to a Four-Year Contract
July 3, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
Syracuse, NY (July 3, 2008) - The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed free agent forward Kristian Huselius to a four-year contract. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Huselius (pronounced hoo-SAY-lee-uhs) has scored 132 goals and added 177 assists for 309 points with 164 penalty minutes in 473 career NHL games with the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers. He has registered four 20-goal and one 30-goal seasons during his six NHL campaigns.
Huselius, 29, spent the past two-plus seasons with the Calgary Flames. After combining for 47 points (20g, 27a) and 40 penalty minutes in 78 games with Florida and Calgary in 2005-06, he set career highs for goals, assists and points in 2006-07 with 77 points (34g, 43a) and 26 penalty minutes in 81 games. Last year, he racked up 66 points (25g, 41a) with 40 penalty minutes in 81 games to record his third-straight season with at least 20 goals.
A native of Osterhaninge, Sweden, Huselius was Florida's second pick, 47th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played five seasons with Farjestad and Frolunda in Sweden, including 2000-01 when he led the Swedish League in goals (32), assists (35), points (67), power play goals (10), shorthanded goals (5) and game-winning goals (9). He was the first player to lead the Swedish League in all six categories.
He made his NHL debut with the Panthers the following season in 2001-02. That year, he tallied 45 points (23g, 22a) and 14 penalty minutes in 79 games, was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. The following year, he picked up 43 points (20g, 23a) and 20 penalty minutes in 78 outings and added 31 points (10g, 21a) and 24 penalty minutes in 76 games in 2003-04.
Huselius has represented Sweden at numerous international competitions, including the 1997 and 1998 World Junior Championships and at the 2000, 2001 and 2002 World Championships. In 2002, he helped Sweden capture its second-consecutive bronze medal at the tournament and was the second-leading scorer in the tournament with 11 points (5g, 6a) in 9 games.
Season tickets for the 2008-09 season are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Crunch office at (315) 473- 4444 or by stopping by the Crunch office in the War Memorial at Oncenter.
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