Another player has turned a strong performance at rookie camp and the early part of training camp into an entry-level deal as the Golden Knights announced that they have signed defenseman Dylan Coghlan to a three-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 19-year-old wasn’t selected back at the draft in June despite a very strong season with Tri-City of the WHL. In 2016-17, he had 15 goals and 38 assists; his 53 points were more than he had in his first two seasons combined. They were also enough to tie him for 12th overall among all Western League blueliners. He had been ranked 155th among North American skaters for the draft.
Given the logjam of blueliners that Vegas has, Coghlan will assuredly be going back to junior for this season (he isn’t eligible to play in the AHL yet). As a result, his contract will slide (unless he surprisingly makes it into ten or more NHL games) and won’t officially begin until the 2018-19 campaign.