COLUMBUS, OHIO --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled forward Ryan Craig from the American Hockey League’s Springfield Falcons, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Columbus has also assigned defenseman Tim Erixon to Springfield.
Craig, 31, has served as the Falcons’ team captain since October of 2012. Last season, he scored 20 goals and dished out 27 assists for 47 points with 71 penalty minutes and an even plus/minus rating in 75 games with Springfield. The 6-2, 221-pound center also tallied 2-2-4 in eight Calder Cup Playoff appearances. Originally selected by Tampa Bay in the eighth round, 255th overall, of the 2002 NHL Draft, Craig has appeared in 190 career NHL contests with the Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, registering 32-31-63 and 148 penalty minutes. He has also recorded 117-131-248 in 459 career AHL appearances with Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Norfolk and Hershey. Erixon, 22, appeared in 31 games with the Jackets in 2012-13, tallying 0-5-5 with a +4 plus/minus rating, 20 hits and 21 shots on goal. The 6-2, 200-pound defenseman also skated in 40 contests with Springfield, recording 5-24-29 and a +9 rating. He was a member of Team East at the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic and was voted into the starting lineup by fans. Acquired by Columbus in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 23, 2012, Erixon has registered 0-7-7, +2 in 49 career NHL games and 8-54-62, +14 in 92 career AHL games. He was originally selected by Calgary in the first round, 23rd overall, of the 2009 NHL Draft.
