Erik Christensen

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size=
team=Atlanta Thrashers
former_teams = Pittsburgh Penguins
league = NHL
position = C/W
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 196
nickname = Crusher [cite news | url = http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=357326&page=NewsPage&service=page | title = What's In A Name? | last = Schwartz | first = Adam | publisher = NHL.com | date = 2008-03-17 | accessdate = 2008-04-24]
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1983|12|17|mf=y
birth_place = Edmonton, AB
draft = 69th overall
draft_year = 2002
draft_team = Pittsburgh Penguins
career_start = 2004

Erik Christensen (born December 17, 1983 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a current NHL hockey player for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Playing career

Christensen was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round (69th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. In the 2002–03 season, Christensen received the Bob Clarke Trophy for being the leading scorer of the Western Hockey League. He tallied 108 points (54 goals) in 67 games with the Kamloops Blazers.

The 2004–05 NHL lockout left the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL stacked with talent, but Christensen impressed Penguins management by scoring 27 points (14 goals) in his first pro season. In the 2005–06 season, he jumped out of the gate quickly, tallying 19 points (9 goals) in only 9 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins called him up on October 31, 2005.

Christensen scored his first NHL goal on November 3, 2005 against the New York Islanders (against goaltender Rick DiPietro) at 15:43 into the 2nd period. Another promising rookie for the Penguins in 2005–06 (along with Sidney Crosby, Colby Armstrong, Ryan Whitney and others), Christensen earned 13 points (6 goals) in 33 games with the Penguins during his rookie campaign. Christensen has also been seen as highly valuable in NHL shootouts where his quick stick-handling moves enable him to be successful.

On February 26, 2008 the Atlanta Thrashers acquired Christensen along with Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, and a 1st Round Draft Pick in a trade deadline deal that sent Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Penguins.

Career statistics

References

External links

Persondata
NAME= Christensen, Erik
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH= 1983-12-17
PLACE OF BIRTH= Edmonton, AB
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=