Columbus Blue Jackets Assign Defenseman Ryan Collins To Cleveland Monsters

CLEVELAND – The AHL’s defending Calder Cup Champions, the Cleveland Monsters, proudly powered by Constellation, announced Wednesday that the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman Ryan Collins to a three-year Entry Level contract and assigned Collins to the Monsters for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

A 6’5”, 216 lb. right-handed native of Bloomington, MN, Collins, 20, was selected by the Blue Jackets in the second round (47th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In 37 NCAA appearances for the University of Minnesota this season, Collins logged 3-6-9 with 28 penalty minutes and a +12 rating. In 98 career appearances for the Golden Gophers spanning three seasons at Minnesota from 2014-17, Collins supplied 4-18-22 with 77 penalty minutes and a +15 rating, helping Minnesota claim three straight Big Ten Championships.

During his collegiate career, Collins earned Academic All-Big Ten honors during the 2015-16 season and was named the University of Minnesota’s Rookie of the Year following his freshman campaign in 2014-15.

In 64 USHL appearances for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program spanning parts of two seasons from 2012-14, Collins contributed 0-6-6 with 22 penalty minutes and a -3 rating and in international competition, Collins represented Team USA in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship and helped the Americans earn the Gold Medal at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Next up for the Monsters, it’s a Friday road clash vs. the Milwaukee Admirals with full coverage, live from UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI, underway at 8:00 pm on 99X and the Monsters Hockey Network.