7th year defenseman Reid McNeil(5) heads over to Erstebank Eishockey Liga for 2018/2019 joining Dornbirner EC.
The big blue liner was last on a minor league contract with Syracuse Crunch, where he had no goals and 9 assists in 59 games with a +3 rating, then added a pair of tallies in 7 playoff matchups.
He’s always been a big plus player going back to junior hockey for Barrie Colts and London Knights but his +49 in the AHL makes him definitely a sought after entity.
At still only 26-years old it would be little surprise to see him play his way up the hockey ladder overseas.
Reid McNeill (3)
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#170 overall) defenseman Reid McNeill(3) plays an almost unassumingly solid stay-at-home style.
He’s in the final season of his three-year entry level deal, signed after skating a few campaigns of junior hockey in the OHL.
The towering 6’4″ 215 lbs. d-man has never put up much on the score sheet but is showing an increasing upward tick to his penalty minutes and fighting majors.
He was credited with throwing down the gloves 11 times in 55 AHL games last season.
All that time in the box has yet to sour his accountability on the ice either, as he’s currently holding a +12 rating.
The young 22-year old is definitely being looked as an up-and-comer working his way up from his rookie season start in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers.
Now that he’s become a fixture on the blue line for minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins it still may take a bit more seasoning until he finds a spot on the parent club’s roster.
Original story: 10/24-14
Following a career season with high marks of 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points, the big stay-at-home d-man re-signs for two more years to stay in the prospect system.
His shutdown style game could score the recently turned 23-year old a first NHL recall on a parent club that may be looking for some help in their own zone.