MINNESOTA WILD REASSIGN FOUR PLAYERS TO HOUSTON

HOUSTON --- The Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL) today announced that Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher has reassigned defenseman Drew Bagnall, left wing Matt Kassian, goalie Anton Khudobin and forward Casey Wellman to the Aeros from the National Hockey League (NHL) club.

Bagnall, 26, collected 12 points (2-10-12) and 113 PIM in 58 games and served as team captain for Manchester of the AHL last season.  The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder played college hockey at St. Lawrence University and was named ECAC Player of the Year and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in his senior season. Bagnall was selected by Dallas in the sixth round (195th overall) of the 2003 Entry Draft.

Kassian, 23, notched six points (2-4-6) and 149 PIM in 59 games with Houston last season and set AHL career-highs in games played and PIM. The 6-foot-4, 232-pound winger was originally signed by Minnesota on May 14, 2007, after playing junior hockey for Kamloops (WHL).

Khudobin, 24, went 2-0-0 in two NHL appearances with Minnesota last season. He made his first NHL start and stopped 38 of 39 shots in 2-1 win vs. Philadelphia on Feb. 6. He made his NHL debut vs. Edmonton on Feb. 4 and earned the win in relief, playing the shortest amount of time in NHL history to record his first career win (9:33 TOI). With the Aeros last season, he posted a 14-19-4 record with a 2.43 GAA and four shutouts in 38 games. He represented the Aeros at the AHL All-Star Classic and stopped 20-of-23 shots in 20 minutes of play for the PlanetUSA All-Stars. Khudobin was selected by Minnesota in the seventh round (206th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.

Wellman, 22, totaled four points (1-3-4) in 12 games last season with the Wild after registering 78 points (34-44-78) and 70 PIM in 75 games with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst over two seasons. The 6-foot-0, 173-pound center also appeared in one game this season with the Wild. Wellman recorded his first NHL goal and skated a career-high 16:09 TOI vs. Dallas on April 10 after signing with Minnesota as a free agent on March 16.

The Aeros visit Oklahoma City next Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The team begins the home half of the schedule on Saturday, October 16, at 7:35 p.m. when they host the Peoria Rivermen at Toyota Center. 

Follow the Aeros all season long on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O’Donnell providing the play-by-play call.

For ticket information, visit AEROS.COM or call 713-974-PUCK (7825).

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