Andy Welinski

Andrew Welinski
Born	(1993-04-27) April 27, 1993 Duluth, Minnesota, United States
Occupation	Professional ice hockey defenseman
Years active	2010–present

Andrew Philip Welinski (born April 27, 1993) is a professional American ice hockey defenseman currently an unrestricted free agent. His latest team was Löwen Frankfurt competing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Selected 83rd overall by the Anaheim Ducks during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Welinski has developed his career playing for various teams across both the NHL and AHL.

Playing career

Welinski’s hockey journey started at Duluth East High School in Minnesota before he advanced to play for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL beginning in 2010. In his sophomore season, he played a pivotal role in capturing both the Anderson Cup and Clark Cup, earning accolades such as Defenseman of the Year, selection to the All-USHL First Team, and receiving the prestigious Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award.

In 2012, he matriculated at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he earned a spot on the 2012–13 Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie team. Serving as team captain during his senior year (2015–16), Welinski was honored with placements on the College Hockey News Preseason All-America Team as well as the All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference Preseason Team. He twice secured All-NCHC Second Team recognition, concluding his collegiate tenure having appeared in 154 games while recording 24 goals and 53 assists.

Welinski inked a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks on April 4, 2016, subsequently joining their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, under an amateur tryout agreement. He made his AHL debut on April 6, 2016, and later appeared in his first NHL game on December 11, 2017, facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Following the conclusion of the 2018–19 season and entering free agency, Welinski agreed to a one-year contract worth $750,000 with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2019. During his assignment to their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, he tallied eight goals and twenty-one points but did not earn a call-up to the NHL roster.

Welinski returned to Anaheim by signing a one-year $750,000 contract on October 10, 2020. Throughout the pandemic-shortened season, he participated in thirteen NHL contests serving as a depth defenseman. Upon reaching free agency again, he secured a one-year two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on July 29, 2021.

After spending one season with Calgary, Welinski signed another one-year two-way deal with the New York Rangers on July 14, 2022. After clearing waivers following training camp, he competed for their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, contributing four goals and sixteen points over forty games.

On February 28, 2023, Welinski was involved in a three-team trade that sent him from the Rangers to the Chicago Blackhawks, a transaction that also included star player Patrick Kane.

In September 2023, Welinski accepted a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the St. Louis Blues but was released shortly thereafter. Subsequently, he joined the AHL’s Iowa Wild on a PTO in October 2023, bringing veteran leadership across twenty-seven games before concluding his tryout period. On March 14, 2024, he signed another PTO agreement with the Charlotte Checkers, who serve as primary affiliate to the Florida Panthers.

Most recently, on September 16, 2024, Welinski agreed to a PTO with the New Jersey Devils. He commenced the 2024–25 AHL season playing for their affiliate team, the Utica Comets, appearing in eight contests prior to being released on November 26, 2024.

International competition

He took part as a member of the US Select Team during the 2011 World Junior A Challenge.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008–09	Duluth East High School	USHS		19	4	11	15	10		5	0	4	4	2
2009–10	Duluth East High School	USHS		19	3	12	15	16		6	2	7	9	2
2010–11	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL		51	6	8	14	14		11	2	0	2	4
2011–12	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL		54	15	22	37	37		12	2	2	4	14
NCAA totals (University of Minnesota Duluth)				168	24	53	77	144
2015–16	San Diego Gulls	AHL		5	0	1	1	2		8	0	2	2	4
2016–17	San Diego Gulls	AHL		63	6	23	29	16		10	0	3	3
2017–18 AHL season | San Diego Gulls | AHL |51 |10 |24 |34 |22 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"	2017–18 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | NHL |7 |0 |2 |2 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"	2018–19 AHL season | San Diego Gulls | AHL |27 |8 |11 |19 |16 |16 |3 |7 |10 |12 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"		2018–19 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | NHL |26 |1 |3 |4 |8 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"	2019–20 AHL season | Lehigh Valley Phantoms | AHL |42 |8 |13 |21 |10 | — | —  —  —  — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"   2020–21 NHL season  Anaheim Ducks NHL 13  00  00  00  —  —  —  —  — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2021–22 AHL season Stockton Heat AHL39                                                                                                                              |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2022–23 AHL season Hartford Wolf Pack AHL40                                                               |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2022–23 Rockford IceHogs AHL14                  - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2023–24 Iowa Wild AHL27           - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2023–24 Charlotte Checkers AHL8        - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2024–25 Utica Comets AHL8        - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2024–25 Löwen Frankfurt DEL24        - bgcolor="#e0e0e0"	NHL totals !46 !1 !5 !6 !8 !3 !۰ !۰ !۰ !۰ |

Awards and distinctions

Award title	Year received
NCAA Division I men's ice hockey#College career
All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association#All-Rookie Team selections Rookie Team	2012–13