Rangers Ink Defenseman Matt Hunwick
Jul 1, 2014(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Matt Hunwick.
Hunwick, 29, skated in 52 games this past season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points, along with 33 penalty minutes and a plus-four rating. He established AHL career-highs in goals, points, and shots on goal (93), and tied an AHL career-high in assists. Hunwick led all defensemen and ranked fourth on the team in points, and finished second among Lake Erie defensemen in goals and assists. He tallied a point in six of seven games from December 28 vs. Chicago to January 12 at Milwaukee (three goals, seven assists over the span), and established single-game career-highs with three assists and four points on January 12 at Milwaukee. Hunwick also appeared in one game with the Colorado Avalanche this past season.
The 5-11, 190-pounder has skated in 292 career NHL games with Boston and Colorado, registering 16 goals and 51 assists for 67 points, along with 116 penalty minutes. Hunwick made his NHL debut with the Bruins on November 10, 2007 vs. Buffalo, and tallied his first career NHL point with an assist on December 8, 2007 at Toronto. During the 2008-09 season, the defenseman established career-highs in goals (six), assists (21), points (27), and plus/minus rating (plus-15) in 53 games with Boston. During the 2012-13 season, Hunwick ranked second on Colorado in average ice time (21:31), and tied for third on the team in plus/minus rating (plus-four). In the playoffs, Hunwick has recorded six assists in 14 career games.
Hunwick has also skated in 110 career AHL games, registering 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points, along with 82 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating. In his rookie season in the AHL, 2007-08, he established career-highs in games played (55), assists (21), and plus/minus rating (plus-16) as a member of the Providence Bruins.
Internationally, Hunwick has represented the United States at numerous tournaments. Most recently, he recorded two goals and two assists in 10 games at the 2013 World Championship, as he helped Team USA win the bronze medal. Hunwick led all skaters in the tournament with a plus-nine rating.
The Warren, Michigan native was originally selected by Boston in the seventh round, 224th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.