B's Ink Fitzgerald, Johansson To Entry-Level Deals

BOSTON -Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeneyannounced today, March 24, that the team has signed Boston College forward Ryan Fitzgerald to a two-year entry-level contract, beginning the with 2017-18 season, and defenseman Emil Johansson to a three-year entry-level contract, beginning with the 2017-18 season. Fitzgerald will join the Providence Bruins on an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) and Johansson will join the Providence Bruins on a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Fitzgerald served as an alternate captain for the Boston College Eagles in 2016-17, appearing in 34 games and recording 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points with 56 penalty minutes and a plus-14 rating. The 5-foot-10, 177-pound forward was selected to the Hockey East First All-Star Team as a junior in 2015-16 after posting 24 goals and 23 assists for 47 points with 47 penalty minutes and a plus-24 rating. Over his four-year collegiate career, the 22-year-old forward appeared in 152 games, compiling 66 goals and 66 assists for 132 points with 179 penalty minutes and a plus-42 rating.
Prior to attending Boston College, Fitzgerald played one season with the Valley Junior Warriors of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in 2012-13, earning EJHL Rookie of the Year honors after posting 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points with 50 penalty minutes.
Fitzgerald attended Malden Catholic (MA) High School, where he served as captain in his final season in 2011-12, when he tallied 31 goals and 20 assists for 51 points in 19 games.
The North Reading, Massachusetts native was selected by the Bruins in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Johansson completed his first season with Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Hockey League in 2016-17, establishing career highs with seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points with 26 penalty minutes in 49 games. The 20-year-old defenseman also skated in three playoff games with Djurgardens.
Johansson spent his previous two seasons (2014-16) with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League, appearing in 85 games and recording two goals and nine assists for 11 points with 24 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 194-pound blueliner also skated in 12 postseason games with HV71, netting three goals and two assists for five points.
Johansson has represented Sweden on the international stage, skating in 59 games and compiling four goals and seven assists for 11 points with 32 penalty minutes and a plus-18 rating.
The Vaxjo, Sweden native was originally selected by the Bruins in the seventh round (206th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.