It has been reported that 22 teams expressed varying degrees of interest in UMass sophomore center Casey Wellman, the undrafted 22-year-old free agent who yesterday signed a two-year contract with the Wild.
The Post can report that the Rangers were not among those teams.
“I don’t want to tell tales, but we did not get a call from the Rangers,” George Bazos, Wellman’s agent, said by phone yesterday, hours before the Blueshirts’ 3-1 Garden loss to the Canadiens. “I’m not disparaging them. They must have other priorities.”
An organization source told The Post that while the scouting staff was impressed with Wellman, the Blueshirts opted against making an offer to the California native who was being courted by several teams promising immediate roster spots.
Wellman was immediately placed on the Wild’s roster after signing his two-year, $1.8 million entry level contract. He participated in the morning skate but did not play in Minnesota’s home game last night against the Oilers.
If Wellman plays in more than nine of the Wild’s final 13 games, he would become a restricted free agent following next season. One GM told The Post that he has encountered several situations in which agents are “demanding” that college free agents be placed immediately on the NHL roster as a condition of signing.
“I told one agent, ‘You like our organization so much that you want me to sign the player to a contract that will allow him to become a free agent and leave our organization as quickly as possible,’ ” the GM said. “Exactly how does that work to my benefit?”
While not in on Wellman, the Blueshirts are paying close attention to defenseman Ryan McDonough and center Derek Stepan, two University of Wisconsin undergrads whose rights they own and who may opt out of school either after the season or the semester.
The Badgers are currently in the WCHA Tournament that will lead up to the NCAA’s. If McDonagh, the junior defenseman acquired from Montreal in the Scott Gomez trade, leaves school after the tournament, the Rangers will likely attempt to sign him to a contract so he can finish the season with the AHL Wolf Pack.
Rangers personnel regard McDonagh, selected 12th overall by the Canadiens in the 2007 Entry Draft, as a stay-at-home defenseman who could challenge for a spot next year. Currently on the Blueshirts’ reserve list, McDonagh would be eligible to play in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs if he is under contract.
If Stepan, the sophomore center who was captain of Team USA’s gold-medal 2010 World Junior tournament squad, leaves school, it is generally believed he would play junior hockey next season for the WHL Calgary Hitmen.
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Sean Avery picked up 17 minutes in penalties at 19:53 of the third for an episode with former teammate Scott Gomez, in which he was assessed a minor for roughing, a major for slashing and a game misconduct. The slash was to the back of Gomez’ legs.
Avery is likely to be fined.
A suspension would be interpreted as vindictive following decisions in the last week not to suspend, a) Matt Cooke for concussing Marc Savard; b) Daniel Carcillo for shoving linesman Greg Devorski; and, c) Steve Downie for slew-footing Sidney Crosby.
Gomez shrugged off the incident, which clearly had its roots in the relationship that he and Avery had at the end here. Avery did not speak to the press, but Montreal defenseman Hal Gill offered his take.
“[Avery] seems to do that a lot, so it gets frustrating at times,” Gill said. “You’re trying to play the game and there is a sideshow at times . . . he’s a treat.”
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Henrik Lundqvist was sharp in his 13th start in the last 14 games and 60th in 70 overall, with 32 saves . . . Olli Jokinen, pulled from the power play in the third, has failed to score in the nine games since scoring in OT in Pittsburgh on Feb. 12. Jokinen has two assists in the last six games, four in the last nine . . . Marian Gaborik, surprisingly ineffective for the second straight game, has registered just one goal with three assists in six games since returning from the groin pull he sustained in the Olympics.
Wade Redden, plus-one, has gone plus-eight in the last eight games. He is plus-eight on the season . . . Michael Del Zotto, minus-two (including the empty-netter), dipped to minus-22 for the season.
The Rangers, who have 12 games remaining, will play seven of eight on the road following tomorrow’s match at the Garden against St. Louis, with the lone home game in that stretch against the Islanders on March 24.
A six-game trip including matches at New Jersey (no limos), Toronto, the Island (no limos), Tampa Bay, Florida and Buffalo follows the Islander home game. Final three feature home game against the Maple Leafs before a home-and-home with the Flyers that commences here and concludes in Philadelphia on April 11.
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Montreal center Dominic Moore, reports that his brother, Steve Moore, is still experiencing intermittent post-concussion symptoms more than six years after being taken down by Todd Bertuzzi on Mar. 8, 2004.
“There are times over the summer where he’ll come on the ice with me to pass the puck, but then has a relapse and has symptoms,” Dominic Moore said prior to the match. “With some people, the symptoms last for a long, long time.”
The Canadiens acquired Dominic Moore from Florida on Feb. 12 for a second-round draft pick. The former Ranger has recorded eighth points (2-6) in 10 games with Montreal, including an assist on last night’s winner. The Canadiens are 7-3 with him in the lineup.