|
The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with Colgate junior forward Kyle Baun on a two-year entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday. The 22-year-old Baun, who is 6-foot-4 and 202 pounds, had 14 goals, 15 assists and was a plus-14 in 38 games this season. He was named to the ECAC’s third team this season. He had 39 goals and 40 assists in 113 games over three seasons at Colgate. Baun received offers from 18 teams, according to Baun’s agent Brian Bartlett of Sports Consulting Group. Bartlett said Baun will report to the Blackhawks soon and will burn a year of his contract this season. Bartlett said the Blackhawks were an attractive team for Baun because of their length of interest in him, their ability to develop players and their future cap-space situation. “The Blackhawks have been following Kyle the last 3-4 years and understand his strengths and weaknesses and what type of player he can be,” Bartlett said by phone. “They weren’t just interested because others teams were, which was the case with some teams. The Blackhawks have shown an ability to develop players, even if not everyone can make it to the NHL. “Also look at the contracts of [Patrick] Kane, [Jonathan] Toews, [Marian] Hossa, [Brandon] Saad, they are going to need affordable players on the roster, especially in bottom-6 roles. Kyle understands that’s his future in the NHL and embraces it.” The Blackhawks have signed at least one college free agent the past three years. They signed Drew LeBlanc in 2013 and Matt Carey and Trevor van Riemsdyk in 2014.
|
