Prospect Signings 3/1/2012

Prospect Signings: March 1st, 2012

-Minnesota Wild Sign Charlie Coyle To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract

-Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Adam Payerl To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract

-Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Cory Conacher To A 2-Year Entry Level Contract
-Montreal Canadiens Sign Morgan Ellis To A 3-Year Entry Level Contract

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Minnesota Wild Sign Charlie Coyle To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract

RW. Charlie Coyle Age: 19 Height: 6-2 Weight: 205 Drafted: Selected In The First-Round (28th Overall) Of The 2010 NHL Entry Draft By The San Jose Sharks 2011-12 Statistics: Boston University (HE): 16 GP | 3 G | 11 A | 14 PTS | E +/- Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL): 16 GP | 12 G | 12 A | 24 PTS | plus-15 +/- USA (WJC): 6 GP | 4 G | 1 A | 5 PTS  CONTRACT: 3 Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Acquired by the Minnesota Wild from the Sharks in the deal that sent Brent Burns to San Jose. -Was named the Rookie Of The Year by Hockey East for 2010-11. -On December 16, 2011 decided to leave BU for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.

Thoughts: 

Charlie Coyle has a great NHL career ahead of him, and the Wild decided to get his signing finished nice and early to make sure that they don't hit any speed bumps. Because he decided to leave Boston University and jump to the QMJHL, the status of his rights were changed. Under the new parameters his rights would've expired during this upcoming off-season had the Wild been unable to sign him. That new urgency to get him signed was definitely a factor in their aggressive contract talks so early in the year.

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Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Adam Payerl To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract

C. Adam Payerl Age: 20 (on 3/4/12 will turn 21) Height: 6-2 Weight: 203 Drafted: Undrafted 2011-12 Statistics: Belleville Bulls (OHL): 58 GP | 20 G | 25 A | 44 PTS | 104 PIM | 2 +/- CONTRACT: 3 Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Penguins signed him as a free-agent. -Attended training camp this year for the Blue Jackets as a camp invitee. -Has played five seasons in the OHL. -Has played 302 games in the OHL.

Thoughts: 

Despite having some great centers at the NHL level, the Penguins have very little depth at the position. Adam Payerl is a nice under-the-radar addition that will help in fixing that weakness. He will never be a top-six forward at the NHL level in my opinion, but he has some intriguing characteristics that will make him a decent AHL player. He may end up as a 'first call-up' type, but I think that is his upside.

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Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Cory Conacher To A 2-Year Entry Level Contract

LW. Cory Conacher Age: 22 Height: 5-8 Weight: 176 Drafted: Undrafted 2011-12 Statistics: Norfolk Admirals (AHL): 56 GP | 29 G | 35 A | 64 PTS | 90 PIM | 7 +/- CONTRACT: 2 Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Lightning signed him as a free-agent. -He has been playing for the Tampa Bay's AHL Affiliate, the Admirals. -Was named to the 2011-12 AHL All-Star Game. -Third most points of all players in the AHL.

Thoughts: 

With Conacher playing on Tampa's AHL affiliate, most people have expected him to sign with the Lightning. They've been very happy with his play, and it's caught the attention of many people in the hockey world. Despite his success, there remains a lot of skepticism about how his talent will translate to the NHL level. 

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Montreal Canadiens Sign Morgan Ellis To A 3-Year Entry Level Contract

D. Morgan Ellis Age: 19 Height: 6-1 Weight: 196 Drafted: Selected In The Fourth-Round (117th Overall) Of The 2010 NHL Entry Draft By The Montreal Canadiens 2011-12 Statistics: Screaming Eagles (QMJHL): 34 GP | 7 G | 18 A | 25 PTS | -3 +/- Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): 18 GP | 6 G | 15 A | 21 PTS | 21 +/- CONTRACT: 3 Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -On December 31st, 2011 the Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles traded him to the Shawinigan Cataractes. -Was the captain of the Screaming Eagles for the 2010-11 season, and the 2011-12 season (until being traded).

Thoughts: 

He's been on fire since being traded to Shawinigan, and I'm sure the Habs were of the mind-set that they should lock him up early before he has even more success in the playoffs and in the Memorial Cup. He's been a great leader in Shawinigan and I fully expect him to be a large piece of their post-season.