Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Zach Aston-Reese
The Pittsburgh Penguins have landed arguably the top NCAA free agent, inking Zach Aston-Reese to a two-year, entry-level contract. The deal will kick in for the 2017-18 season, and Aston-Reese will report to Wilkes-Barre Scranton for the remainder of this season on an amateur contract. 
Aston-Reese just finished up his final season at Northeastern University, where he led the nation in goals with 31 and points with 63. Those totals, amassed in just 38 games were a big improvement over previous seasons and showed just how physically dominant he was this season. His net-front presence was almost unstoppable as he scored from in tight seemingly at will. While not an imposing frame at just 6’0 180-lbs, Aston-Reese plays bigger than he is and competes for every inch in the offensive zone.
Though he is tough to control in front of the net and in the corners, his skating ability is still questioned and it will lead to some struggles as he tries to adapt to the professional game. The forecheck will be harder to get in on at the next level, with defensemen that can make quicker decisions and move the puck more adeptly. That’s not to say he can’t improve, as at 22 he is far from a finished product. The Pittsburgh development teams and coaching staffs are likely excited to work with him, as he’s shown nothing but work ethic and improvement during his amateur career.
There is a chance Pittsburgh will use him on the NHL roster as soon as next season as they may say goodbye to at least three key members of their recent squad. Matt Cullen, Chris Kunitz and Nick Bonino are all unrestricted free agents this summer, and the Penguins will likely wave goodbye to all three in order to re-sign their restricted free agents (like Justin Schultz, who will be in line for a big raise).
Aston-Reese will have an interesting opportunity in Pittsburgh, as his ability to bury rebounds and screen goaltenders could come in handy on a team that contains so many skilled players. If that scoring touch follows him to the professional ranks, it’s not out of the question that he could be a very useful player for an organization that spreads around the offense. Either way, we’ll keep an eye on the NCAA standout and see what he can do as the baby-Penguins hit the playoffs. WBS is in first place in the entire AHL, and has just seven games remaining before they try for the Calder Cup.
Vancouver Canucks Sign Jalen Chatfield To Three-Year ELC
The Vancouver Canucks have dipped into the 20-year old CHL free agent market, signing Jalen Chatfield from the Windsor Spitfires to a three-year, entry-level contract. The defenseman will stay with the Spitfires through their Memorial Cup run—the team is hosting the tournament this year and will get automatic entry. GM Jim Benning had this to say about his newest prospect:
Jalen is a good two-way defenceman that sees the ice well and makes good decisions in all three zones. He moves the puck well and can join the rush. Jalen is another addition to our young prospect pool and we look forward to his continued development playing in Windsor.
Indeed, Chatfield can contribute at both ends of the rink and he trails just (first-round pick) Mikhail Sergachev and (exceptional status) Sean Day in points among Spitfires defenders. The right-handed defenseman doesn’t have any standout skill, but plays a solid all-around game that will likely transition well to the AHL. He’s most definitely not a lock for the NHL, but does add another name to a prospect cupboard that is suddenly finding itself more full than expected.
After acquiring Nikolay Goldobin and Jonathan Dahlen at the deadline and looking like they’ll get another top-10 pick in this year’s draft, the Canucks rebuild could be off to a very quick start. Filling in the cracks with CHL free agents will help, and don’t count them out of the college sweepstakes either. Just today, Bob McKenzie linked them to Zach Aston-Reese, arguably the top prize among the college ranks this year.
College Notes: Hayden, Aston-Reese, Stevens
The Blackhawks announced that have signed center John Hayden to a two year, entry level contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hayden was Chicago’s third round pick (74th overall) back in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
The 22 year old posted career highs across the board offensively this year at Yale in his senior season. In 33 games with the Bulldogs, he had 21 goals and 13 assists.
Scott Powers of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Hayden is expected to report to the Blackhawks right away and will burn the first of the two years this season. That will allow him to get out of the entry level system and into restricted free agency in the 2018 offseason. Had Hayden waited until August to sign, he could have opted for unrestricted free agency and it’s likely that he was able to use that as leverage to play the first year of the deal now. As Hayden was a draft pick and not a free agent signing, he is eligible to participate in the postseason, adds Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times via Twitter.
Other news from around the college market:
- With Northeastern Universty being eliminated by Boston University yesterday in the college playoffs, the focus will quickly shift to undrafted forward Zach Aston-Reese. The 22 year old is widely perceived as the top college free agent available this year and it was reported earlier this week that as many as 15 teams are expected to be interested in his services. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the Senators, Oilers, Canucks, and Penguins are among the teams that are expected to go after the forward. It’s worth noting that Aston-Reese attended Edmonton’s summer development camp while he was teammates with defenseman Matt Benning, who the Oilers signed in the offseason. Given all of the expected interest, Aston-Reese should be able to land a contract that will allow him to play between now and the end of the season like Hayden did.
- Friedman adds via Twitter that Northeastern center John Stevens is expected to draw some interest on the open market as well. The senior played in just 25 games this season and passed the point per game mark for the first time with five goals and 23 assists. Stevens is the son of Kings’ associate coach John Stevens.