Craig Weller

Craig Weller
Born	March 17, 1981 (1981-03-17) Calgary, AB, CAN
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Right
EIHL team Former teams	Cardiff Devils Phoenix Coyotes Minnesota Wild Florida Panthers
NHL Draft	167th overall, 2000 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2002–present

Craig Weller (born March 17, 1981 in Calgary, Alberta) is a professional ice hockey defenseman/right wing.

Playing career

Weller was the St. Louis Blues 5th round choice, 167th overall, in the 2000 NHL Draft. After playing with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL and the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League, he was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes on July 19, 2007.

He scored his first career NHL goal on October 25, 2007 against the Anaheim Ducks; the goal turned out to be the game winning goal.

On July 1, 2008, Weller signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract with the Minnesota Wild. On October 18, 2009, he was traded to the Boston Bruins along with prospect Alexander Fallstrom and a second round draft pick in 2011 in exchange for Chuck Kobasew.

On March 3, 2010, Weller was traded from the Bruins to the Florida Panthers along with Byron Bitz and a second round draft pick in exchange for Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski.

On 1 November 2010, the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL in the UK announced they had signed Weller, who was a free agent at the time. He became the most experienced NHL player after Theoren Fleury to play in the Elite League, playing in his preferred position as a defenceman.

With Weller on board, the Cardiff Devils embarked on 22 game unbeaten streak, breaking the league record and coming close to the world record. However, the Devils narrowly missed out on the league title, finishing level on points with the Sheffield Steelers but having won 1 regulation game less, before being beaten in the Playoff final 5-4 to the Nottingham Panthers. After his first season in the UK Weller quickly established himself as a reliable, solid two way defenceman, drawing admiration from across the league, culminating in 3 awards - League Player of the Season (Journalist's Choice),Player of the Season (Voted by League GM's and Coaches) and Defenceman of the Season (Voted by League GM's and Coaches).

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997–98	Calgary AAA Flames	AMHL		33	2	10	12	65		3	0	1	1	2
1998–99	Calgary Canucks	AJHL		49	4	14	18	80		13	0	1	1	10
1999–00	Calgary Canucks	AJHL		53	3	14	17	100		4	0	0	0	4
2000–01	Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs	WCHA		6	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Kootenay Ice	WHL		30	1	5	6	40		11	0	2	2	26
2001–02	Kootenay Ice	WHL		69	5	13	18	127		22	3	7	10	27
2002–03	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		11	0	0	0	8		2	0	0	0	0
2002–03	Charlotte Checkers	ECHL		48	3	11	14	84		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		68	5	9	14	86		16	2	2	4	30
2004–05	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		76	10	9	19	182		6	0	1	1	6
2005–06	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		80	12	21	33	152		13	2	3	5	44
2006–07	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		56	11	6	17	96		4	0	0	0	4
2007–08	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		59	3	8	11	80		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Minnesota Wild	NHL		36	1	2	3	47		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Houston Aeros	AHL		5	0	1	1	7		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Providence Bruins	AHL		55	4	10	14	62		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Chicago Wolves	AHL		14	0	3	3	21		4	0	0	0	4
2010–11	Cardiff Devils	EIHL		41	16	36	52	52		2	1	0	1	4
NHL totals				95	4	10	14	127		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				365	42	60	102	614		45	4	6	10	88

Awards and honours

Award	Year
WHL
West Second All-Star Team	2002
EIHL
Defenseman of the season	2011
Player of the season	2011
League Player of the season	2011

External links

• Craig Weller's NHL player profile
• Craig Weller's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Craig Weller at TSN.ca
• Craig Weller's biography at Legends of Hockey