A number of previously-drafted college prospects became unrestricted free agents this week when they went unsigned by the Aug. 15 deadline.
The Penguins didn't wait very long to dip into that pool.
The Penguins signed right-handed defenseman Jack St. Ivany to a two-year entry-level contract that begins next season, Ron Hextall announced on Saturday. The contract carries an average annual value of $950,000 at the NHL level.
St. Ivany, 23 years old and listed at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, was the Flyers' fourth-round pick in 2018 under Hextall's tenure as general manager.
St. Ivany scored four goals and 20 assists in 35 games this season, all career highs. His four goals were tied for the second-most among Boston College defensemen, and his 24 points ranked fifth overall in team scoring and second among defensemen.
St. Ivany began his collegiate career at Yale, spending two seasons there before entering the transfer portal as a result of the Ivy League cancelling the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19. St. Ivany amassed 12 goals and 48 assists in 115 games over his four seasons of college hockey. He was a Hockey East champion with Boston College as a junior in 2020-21.
St. Ivany represented Team USA at the 2019 World Junior Championship, winning a silver medal.
With the signing of St. Ivany, the Penguins have now bolstered their prospect pool with six free agent signings for next season. They previously added OHL center Jordan Frasca, WHL goaltender Taylor Gauthier, Princeton winger Corey Andonovski, Michigan Tech defenseman Colin Swoyer and Western Michigan winger Ty Glover.
