Former Victoria Grizzlies and Burnaby Express defenseman Lee Baldwin has joined a growing list of British Columbia Hockey League graduatess to sign their name to a National Hockey League contract this week.
The New York Rangers snatched Baldwin during what has become a college hockey signing frenzy for many teams. The 6’4″, 205-pound blueliner, who suited up for the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves as a freshman this season, will join the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack.
“He certainly has the package,” says Seawolves head coach Dave Shyiak. “Everybody is looking for a defenseman with some size and skill and he has that pro-body build and the skill set to go with it.”
In three BCHL seasons, Baldwin played in 150 games in Burnaby and Victoria – last suiting up with the hometown Grizzlies for the 2008/09 campaign. The Victoria native turned in an All-Star season in his final year as an assistant captain with the RBC Cup hosts, notching 13 goals and 54 points along with seven power-play goals (all career-highs). Baldwin led all BCHL defensemen in points to earn the Team MVP and Top Defenseman honours.
In 33 BCHL playoff games, Baldwin registered five goals and 14 assists for 19 points between Burnaby and Victoria. He finished his Junior A hockey career with 20 goals and 74 assists for 94 points before heading north to join the Seawolves.
The 21-year-old played in 32 games this season, registering one goal and nine assists for 10 points. He ranked second among team freshman in assists and tied for third in points. Baldwin finished sixth on the team in assists and fourth amongst defencemen in points.
“He’s a player we recruited that has the potential to be a very good two-way defenseman. He’s got some offensive skills, he’s got some size and decent skating ability,” notes Shyiak.
Following his rookie season of NCAA hockey, the Rangers saw Baldwin’s upside as a young 6’4″ defenseman that will continue to develop.
“That’s the nature of the game right now,” Shyiak says. They’re signing guys based on their potential and he has potential. They’re trying to fill their minor-league system with guys that have a chance to be NHL players. The Rangers decided they wanted to take a chance on him and see where develops in the next two or three years.”
Baldwin was one of two BCHL graduates on the Seawolves to be signed by an NHL team. Coquitlam native and former Chilliwack Chiefs forward Josh Lunden is now property of the Phoenix Coyotes after reaching an entry-level deal yesterday.
