The Columbus Blue Jackets announced they have signed 20-year-old Ryan Collins to a three-year Entry Level contract. Collins will join the Blue Jackets American Hockey League affiliate Cleveland Monster before tomorrow’s game. Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Collins in the second round with the 47th overall pick of the 2014 draft, and has since been playing at the University of Minnesota.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Ryan Collins
Standing at 6’5” and 220 pounds Collins will be a force opponents will not want to see on the blue line; adding to the already deep defensive prospect pool that the Blue Jackets. With only five games left in the regular season and the Monsters on the outside looking in, Collins is to help close the gap and force the Monsters into the playoffs. Collins will have a lot of weight on his shoulders being in the same place that rookie defenseman Zach Werenski was in last year.
College and International Career
During his three seasons at Minnesota, Collins netted four goals along with 18 assists. Through his 98 games as a Golden Gopher he had a plus/minus rating of +15 and spent 77 minutes in the penalty box. Collins best season at Minnesota was his last where he had career highs in goals (3), points (9), and games (37). Collins career year helped the Golden Gophers win their 3rd straight Big Ten regular season title. His 2016- 2017 season was enough to force general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen to sign Collins to a contract and assign him to the Monsters, after the Golden Gophers season ended.
Collins has also participated in the United States National Team Development Program including representing Team USA in the IIHF 2015 World Junior Championship. He also won the gold with Team USA in the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship. During the tournament Collins earned 2 assists and registered a plus/minus of +12.
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