Boston Bruins Trade Kobasew to Minnesota




Providence, RI – The Providence Bruins, in their 18th year in the American Hockey League, announced that the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins have acquired forward Craig Weller, the rights to unsigned draft choice Alexander Fallstrom and a second round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Chuck Kobasew. Weller was subsequently reassigned by Boston to Providence from the AHL’s Houston Aeros. With the move, the P-Bruins have 22 players on their roster, including 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.



Weller, 28, tallied one assist and totaled seven penalty minutes in five games this season for Houston. The veteran right wing previously spent the last two seasons in the NHL, appearing in 36 games for Minnesota in 2008-09 and 59 contests for the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2007-08 campaign. Prior to seeing any big league time, Weller enjoyed parts of five seasons in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Calgary, Alberta, native turned pro in 2002-03 with the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers, later receiving a promotion to Hartford that season. Weller was originally selected by the St. Louis Blues 167th overall in round five of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In his career, he has registered 113 points (45g, 68a) in 439 regular season games, plus another 10 points (4g, 6a) in 41 postseason contests. Weller has 14 points (4g, 10a) in 95 career NHL games.



Fallstrom, selected by Minnesota 116th overall in round four of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, began his freshman year for the Harvard University Crimson in September, 2009. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, he played for Brinken, Lindigo and Djurgarden in Sweden before moving to Minnesota, where he attended Shattuck St. Mary’s School from 2007-09. A senior captain at Shattuck St. Mary’s in 2008-09, Fallstrom led his team with 40 goals and 87 points in 52 games.



Kobasew was acquired by the Bruins along with Andrew Ference from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Brad Stuart, Wayne Primeau and a fourth round pick in 2008 on February 10, 2007. This season, he has appeared in all seven of Boston’s contests, tallying one assist. In total, Kobasew suited up in 158 games for the Bruins with 84 points (44g, 40a).