The Penguins have signed their 2017 seventh-round pick Will Reilly to a two-year entry-level contract, Jim Rutherford announced on Wednesday.
Reilly had his senior season at RPI cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak and will turn pro next season. He tweeted a picture thanking RPI for the "best four years of my life" as he signed the deal:
Very excited and proud to sign my first NHL contract with the @penguins! Thank you to @RPIAthletics , @RPI_Hockey , my coaches, teammates and the fans for the best 4 years of my life. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to play at such a great place. Gonna miss it! #GoPensGo pic.twitter.com/TpnmBWACCs
— Will Reilly (@97WillReilly) April 15, 2020
"Will had an impressive year in 2019-20 after continuing to improve during his four years at RPI. His commitment to working hard and improving his conditioning has paid off," Rutherford said in a team release. "We are happy to add another young player, increasing our organizational depth on defense."
Reilly is one of only two right-handed defense prospects in the Penguins' system, with the other being 2019 seventh-round pick Santeri Airola.
Reilly, 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds, was selected by the Penguins in 2017 after his freshman year of college hockey at RPI, during which he recorded two goals and 13 assists in 35 games
“William Reilly is an offensive defenseman, has good size, he skates well,” said Randy Sexton, the Penguins director of amateur scouting at the time. “He moves the puck and he can really shoot the puck. We have some hope for him as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman.”
In Reilly’s sophomore season, the year after he was drafted, he recorded seven goals and six assists in 37 games. As a junior, he finished No. 3 in team scoring and led all defensemen with five goals and 13 assists in 33 games, including these two goals:
This season, as a senior and a captain, Reilly finished second among all ECAC defensemen goals (8) and fifth in points (22) in 34 games played. Reilly led RPI in plus/minus at plus-14 and was the team's leading scorer on the power play with nine points (four goals, five assists).
Reilly led RPI with 2.53 shots per game and blocked 27 shots in his 34 ames. He was named a finalist for the ECAC's "Best Defensive Defenseman" and was named to the conference's Second All-Star Team.
RPI's Senior Celebration series of articles included anonymous quotes from its players about each senior. Here's what they said about Reilly:
"Will Reilly demonstrated everything and beyond in what it means to be an RPI hockey player. He is a great leader, teammate, hockey player and friend."
"Always positive and happy. A strong leader who didn't need to say much. Led by example and really helped me as an individual to grow this year."
"Will showed tremendous maturity and growth throughout my time at RPI. I'm so proud of the player and the man he's become. He has a very bright future in the game of hockey, both on and off the ice."
"A hard working and passionate leader who showed his love for hockey on and off the ice."
"Was a great leader for our team; I will never forget the way he helped pull us all together during the difficult times.
"Pushed everyone on the team each day and brought a determined attitude."
"Great leader and friend. He is going to have a great career after college."
"Excellent hockey player with great leadership skills who knew how to take care of the players."
"Great leader who has a really bright future ahead. One of those players who made a difference in the men's hockey program. Great leader, great player and great person."
The Penguins have two other college seniors who will look to turn pro next season and are unsigned -- forward Nikita Pavlychev and defenseman Ryan Jones. Rutherford told Dave Molinari last week that the Penguins have yet to decide whether they will sign Pavlychev.
