The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed forward Kyle Olson to an AHL contract for the 2020-21 season on Friday.
Olson, 21, was a fourth-round pick of the Ducks in 2017 but went unsigned and became an unrestricted free agent last summer. He attended Sabres development camp last September, but did not sign a contract with the team.
Olson is coming off of an overage fifth season in the WHL, in which he scored five goals and nine assists in 16 games for the Tri-City Americans and eight goals and 10 assists in 14 games for the Calgary Hitmen after a midseason trade. In 2018-19 he set career-high offensive stats with 21 goals and 49 assists for 70 points in 62 games.
He can play both center and wing.
“I am a versatile player that can play in any situations and wherever coach wants me to be whether it’s center or the wing,” Olson said of his game in juniors. “I like to play a good honest 200-foot game and play a physical game on top of it."
“He’s a good leader that plays hard each and every shift,” said Calgary Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton. “He’s a talented player that brings a lot of speed and skill to the lineup."
Olson will report to the Nailers, who are slated to begin their season on Dec. 12. Other Wilkes-Barre-contracted players who have been assigned to Wheeling to start the season are forward Felix Robert, who was Samuel Poulin's center in the QMJHL, and goaltender Shane Starrett.
Olson's younger brother Quinn was a third-round pick of the Bruins in 2019 and is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
