Andy Welinski Bio
Andrew Philip Welinski is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Löwen Frankfurt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany. Welinski was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his professional career, he has suited up for several organizations across the National Hockey League (NHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL).
Early Life and Background
Andrew Philip Welinski was born on April 27, 1993, in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. He grew up in a region with deep roots in the sport of hockey, and the cold winters of northern Minnesota provided a natural training ground for the young defenseman. Welinski attended Duluth East High School, where he began to develop the physical and technical tools that would eventually carry him to the professional ranks.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing roughly 205 pounds, Welinski built a sturdy frame suited for the modern NHL game. His upbringing in a hockey-centric community gave him early access to quality coaching and competitive leagues, which helped him progress steadily through the youth ranks. These formative years in Duluth laid the foundation for his transition into junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
Following his time at Duluth East, Welinski joined the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2010, where he spent two seasons developing his game. During his second year with the Gamblers, he helped the club capture both the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup while earning USHL Defenseman of the Year honors and a place on the All-USHL First Team. He was also recognized as the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year during that standout campaign.
In 2012, Welinski enrolled at the University of Minnesota Duluth, joining the Bulldogs of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). He was named to the 2012–13 Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team and, prior to his senior season in 2015–16, was selected to the College Hockey News Preseason All-America Team. Serving as team captain that year, he was also named to the All-NCHC Second Team for the second consecutive season. Over the course of his college career, Welinski appeared in 154 games for the Bulldogs, recording 24 goals and 53 assists. He also represented the US Select Team at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge.
Andy Welinski Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
On April 4, 2016, Andrew Philip Welinski signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL and was immediately assigned to the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, on an amateur tryout agreement. He made his AHL debut on April 6, 2016, beginning his professional journey on the West Coast. Welinski developed steadily within the Ducks’ system, refining his game as a mobile, two-way defenseman.
He earned his first taste of NHL action on December 11, 2017, when he made his debut against the Carolina Hurricanes. The appearance marked a significant milestone in Welinski’s career and validated the years he had spent working through the college and minor-league ranks.
Anaheim Ducks Era (2016–2019)
Welinski spent his initial NHL seasons primarily with the Anaheim Ducks organization, splitting time between the parent club and the San Diego Gulls. After his entry-level deal expired, he became a restricted free agent following the 2018–19 season, which set the stage for his first major move in free agency.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2019–2020)
On July 1, 2019, Welinski signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. After attending training camp, he was waived and assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL for the 2019–20 season. He responded with 8 goals and 21 points from the blue line for the Phantoms, though he was unable to earn a recall to the Flyers during that campaign.
Return to Anaheim (2020–2021)
On October 10, 2020, Welinski returned to the Anaheim Ducks organization on a one-year, $750,000 contract. During the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, he served as a depth defenseman and appeared in 13 regular-season NHL games, providing a steady veteran presence on the Anaheim blue line.
Calgary Flames Era (2021–2022)
As a free agent, Welinski left the Ducks for a second time on July 29, 2021, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames. He spent the 2021–22 season within the Flames organization before again hitting the open market.
New York Rangers Era (2022–2023)
On July 14, 2022, Welinski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers. After clearing waivers, he was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL for the 2022–23 season. He posted 4 goals and 16 points through 40 games while serving as a veteran leader on the Wolf Pack blue line.
On February 28, 2023, Welinski was part of a notable three-team trade that sent him, along with two draft picks from the New York Rangers, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Patrick Kane and minor-league defenseman Cooper Zech. The deal was a memorable moment in his career, as it involved one of the league’s most prominent stars.
Recent Career (2023–2024)
During the 2023–24 preseason, Welinski signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the St. Louis Blues on September 18 but was released on September 29. He later signed a PTO with the Iowa Wild of the AHL on October 24, 2023, recording 3 goals and 10 points in 27 games. On March 14, 2024, he joined the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, on a PTO. On September 16, 2024, he signed a PTO with the New Jersey Devils, then was assigned to the Utica Comets, where he appeared in 8 games before being released on November 26, 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Welinski’s career came on February 28, 2023, when he was included in the three-team trade that sent Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New York Rangers. His NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks in December 2017 and his two USHL trophies with the Green Bay Gamblers also stand out as major career milestones.
Andy Welinski Career Highlights
Andrew Philip Welinski has compiled a journeyman résumé that spans multiple NHL organizations and AHL affiliates, highlighted by consistent offensive production from the blue line. His career is marked by perseverance and the ability to contribute at multiple levels of professional hockey.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
With the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, Welinski captured both the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup in 2011–12, while earning USHL Defenseman of the Year and a place on the All-USHL First Team. He was also presented with the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award that same season. At the University of Minnesota Duluth, he was named to the 2012–13 WCHA All-Rookie Team and to the All-NCHC Second Team in both 2014–15 and 2015–16, while serving as team captain in his senior year.
Professional Performances
In the AHL, Welinski has produced several strong seasons, including 8 goals and 21 points with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2019–20, 4 goals and 16 points with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2022–23, and 3 goals and 10 points in 27 games with the Iowa Wild in 2023–24. At the NHL level, he appeared in 13 games with the Anaheim Ducks during the 2020–21 season.
Andy Welinski Family
Personal Life
Andrew Philip Welinski was raised in Duluth, Minnesota, where he attended Duluth East High School before pursuing his hockey career. He has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye, and details about his immediate family, marital status, or children are not widely documented in publicly available sources.
2025 Outlook
Heading into the 2025 calendar year, Andy Welinski remains an unrestricted free agent after being released by the Utica Comets in late November 2024. His most recent engagement was a PTO with the New Jersey Devils organization, which gave him a chance to showcase his veteran experience on the blue line. Given his track record of producing offense from the defense position in the AHL, Welinski should draw interest from teams seeking a reliable depth defenseman for the 2025–26 season.
Welinski’s combination of size, skating ability, and power-play upside makes him a useful option for NHL clubs in need of third-pairing depth or AHL veteran leadership. With more than 150 games of college experience and stints across nearly every division of the professional ranks, he offers organizational flexibility. His next move will likely depend on which teams need an experienced right-shot defenseman heading into training camp.