Former Wild, Rangers and Sabres blue liner mounts comeback with PTO contract

Former NHL defensemen Justin Falk has signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

ROSTER ALERT: Eagles sign defenseman Justin Falk to a PTO agreement. Falk comes to Colorado with 269 games of NHL experience.

The 30 year old Falk has played 269 career NHL games split between the Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres. Last season he managed one goal and one assist in 46 games with the Sabres.

Read below for the full press release of this minor transaction courtesy of the Eagles’ official website:

WINDSOR, CO. – The Colorado Eagles, proud AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, have announced that the team has signed defenseman Justin Falk to a professional tryout agreement. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound blueliner comes to Colorado having played 269 games in the NHL with Minnesota, Buffalo, Columbus and the New York Rangers. Falk has notched three goals and 30 assists during that time and has also posted 42 points in 270 AHL games with Rochester, Lake Erie, Iowa, and Houston. He would go on to help Lake Erie capture an AHL Calder Cup Championship in 2016.

Originally drafted by Minnesota in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Falk appeared in 46 games with the Sabres last season, registering a goal, an assist and 28 penalty minutes. In addition to his time at the professional level, the 30 year-old generated 51 points in 191 games in the WHL with Spokane and Calgary. He also helped lead the Chiefs to a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup Championship during the 2007-08 campaign. He would be named to the CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team that same season.

In a separate transaction, defenseman Turner Ottenbreit has been reassigned to the Eagles ECHL affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies.