GM Jim Rutherford announced Tuesday evening that the Penguins have signed college free agent Forward Drew O'Connor. His contract will begin during the 2020-2021 season and run thru 2022.
“Drew is a powerful skater with good hands, which helped him have a very good year at Dartmouth. We are very happy Drew has joined the Penguins as we feel he can help our NHL club sooner rather than later.” - Penguins GM Jim Rutherford
See the official press release or PittsburghPenguins.com for more info.
Official Press Release
Penguins Sign College Free Agent Drew O’Connor to a Two-Year Contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed college free agent forward Drew O’Connor to a two-year, entry-level contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.
The contract will begin during the 2020-21 season and run through the 2021-22 campaign.
“Drew is a powerful skater with good hands, which helped him have a very good year at Dartmouth,” said Rutherford. “We are very happy Drew has joined the Penguins as we feel he can help our NHL club sooner rather than later.”
O’Connor, whose season at Dartmouth ended on March 7 with an ECAC Hockey First Round loss to Princeton, will report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the season.
The 21-year old forward recently completed his sophomore season, recording a team-leading 21 goals and 33 points in 31 games. His 21 goals ranked fifth in the entire NCAA.
This season, O’Connor was named the NCAA Ivy-League Player of the Year and was also selected to the All-Ivy League First Team. In 2018-19, the forward was named to the All-Ivy League Second Team after leading Dartmouth with 17 goals in 34 games.
In 65 career games with Dartmouth, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward collected 38 goals, 21 assists and 59 points.
Prior to Dartmouth, the Wayne, NJ native played the 2017-18 season with the Boston Jr. Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference in the U.S. Premier Hockey League. In 49 games, O’Connor ranked fourth on his team with 39 points (13G-26A).