According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be adding undrafted college free agent forward Drew O’Connor to their roster.
Hearing the Pittsburgh Penguins have landed prized undrafted free agent forward Drew O’Connor from Dartmouth. #pens
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 9, 2020
Penguins Get Drew O’Connor
O’Connor, a native of Wayne, New Jersey, has been tearing it up for Dartmouth this season. In 31 games as a sophomore, he leads the team in points with 33 points (21 goals and 12 assists). That is up from his freshman year when he was second in the team in scoring with 26 points (17 goals and nine assists) in 34 games. O’Connor’s season came to an end this past weekend when his team lost to Princeton in the first round of the ECAC Hockey playoffs.
O’Connor has been on the radar for several NHL teams after he was passed over during his draft year. O’Connor, who is a left-handed shot, is decently sized for his age at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. He has no issues transitioning to the centre position this season. Not to mention his ability to play great defensive hockey. While he has a knack for scoring, his ability to play two-way hockey is something that is valued by NHL teams. With the Penguins needing help down the middle, and on that side of the puck. O’Connor was an ideal target.
What Future Brings
O’Connor showed his ability to play in the NHL as he attended the Boston Bruins development camp this past summer. While the Bruins were one of the teams in on O’Connor, he ultimately chose to go to the Penguins. Where he fits into the Penguins lineup is anyone’s guess. Since his ability is more suited towards defence, he could fit right in on the third line.
This is not the first time the Penguins have signed players out of the Dartmouth. Former Big Green alumni include Tanner Glass, Nick Johnson, Lee Stempniak, and Ben Lovejoy.
Main Photo:
