Jackets sign Ryan Collins to entry level contract

COLUMBUS, OHIO --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Ryan Collins to a three-year Entry Level contract, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. He will join the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters prior to Friday's game at Milwaukee.
Collins, 20, has spent the past three seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he recorded four goals and 18 assists for 22 points with 77 penalty minutes and a cumulative +15 plus/minus rating in 98 career games and helped the Golden Gophers capture three consecutive regular season Big Ten championships. In 2016-17, he registered career highs in goals, points (tied), plus/minus rating and games played with 3-6-9, 28 PIM and +12 in 37 games.

Selected by the Blue Jackets in the second round, 47th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft, Collins earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2015-16 and was Minnesota's Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2014-15. The Bloomington, Minnesota native was a product of the United States National Team Development Program and represented Team USA at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships. He also helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championships.
NHL Draft: Ryan Collins
The Blue Jackets return to action Thursday when they host the Winnipeg Jets. Game time from Nationwide Arena is 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Eldorado Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, 97.1 The Fan FM, and online at BlueJackets.com.