Pittsburgh Penguins‘ just signed undrafted 3rd year right wing Carter Rowney(17) to a 2-year 2-way contract starting next season.
Previously agreeing to a series of single season deals with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he’s improved with each successive campaign to the point where he’s currently 2nd in goals at a career high 19 and holds a monster, team leading +25 rating. No other player is even close.
He also has more assists (23), points (42) and shots on net (102) than ever before.
With impressive stats like these, it’s easy to see why the parent club stepped in quickly to get the always hard skating, tough to play against forward that can obviously affect a score sheet aboard.
If not, the 26-year old would have almost easily found another suitor, as he’s a skater that works for every inch out there.
Carter Rowney(20) WBS Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins‘ undrafted rookie right wing Carter Rowney(20) signed a two-way minor league contract.
He won three straight NCAA/WCHA Championships in his first years at University Of North Dakota, which followed 6 years of bantams, midgets and junior hockey with hometown team Grand Prairie Storm through his teens.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. power-sized forward has mostly managed to connect with the score sheet, especially in his latter years at each level.
Invited on a try-out to attend Pittsburgh Penguins‘ training camp, he was released and reported to the Baby Pens.
He was reassigned to begin his first season with affiliate Wheeling Nailers. and showing he can light the lamp in the lower league on a regular basis.
In 39 ECHL games he has 13 goals and 31 assists with a monster +23 rating.
The 24-year old has been recalled on three occasions but is still looking to prove his mettle, as he has only one marker and two assists in 17 AHL games.
He also has another goal in his short post-school stint signed to an ato with Abbotsford Heat.
If he is unable to lift his game as the schedule pushes towards playoffs, he may sign a double-A deal for 2014/2015 and look to make impressions on pto’s or take his game to another shore.