Tiffels, 22, enjoyed a successful junior season at Western Michigan this past year, scoring nine goals and setting personal highs with 12 assists and 21 points in 37 games played. One of his best games of the season came in the Broncos' NCAA Tournament loss to Air Force when Tiffels scored twice.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Tiffels was named to the NCHC All-Academic Team following both his sophomore and junior years at Western Michigan. Tiffels wrapped up his three-year collegiate career by scoring 27 goals, notching 32 assists and totaling 59 points in 105 career games. He was the Broncos' Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
Pittsburgh's sixth round (167th overall) selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Tiffels skated for Germany at the 2017 World Championship this spring, scoring a pair of goals.
Earlier in his international career, the Cologne, Germany native played in three World Junior Championships for his country, tallying nine points (5G-4A). Tiffels also played in two Under-18 World Junior Championships.
By signing Tiffels, the Penguins have now signed three of their four selections from the 2015 NHL Draft to contracts. Both Daniel Sprong (2nd round, 46th overall) and Dominik Simon (5th round, 137th overall) have already played in the NHL. Seventh-round pick (197th overall) Nikita Pavlychev, the lone unsigned member of the class, will be a sophomore at Penn State University.
