The Penguins announced this morning that the team has signed defenseman Harrison Ruopp, to a three-year entry-level contract.

According to the team, the deal begins with the 2013-14 season and runs through the 2015-16 campaign so Ruopp doesn't count against the 50-man contract limit for this season.

Ruopp, 20, is a big defenseman at 6-foot-3, 205-pound and was acquired in the Zbynek Michalek trade from Phoenix. Ruopp was originally drafted by the Coyotes in the second round (84th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Ruopp just completed his fourth season with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he established career highs for games played (65), assists (15), points (16), penalty minutes (132) and rating (+11).

The scouting report on Ruopp is that he's a defensive minded defenseman who plays with an edge. The Penguins feel they added two thumpers on the blueline last summer to their system with the acquisition of Ruopp via trade and selecting Clark Seymour in the 5th round of the 2012 entry draft.

Five Penguins draft picks, Teddy Blueger, Minnesota State, Kenny Agostino, Yale, Scott Wilson, UMass-Lowell, Ben Hanowski, St. Cloud State, and Bryan Rust, Notre Dame, will be participating in the NCAA Tournament this week.

The Men's Frozen Four is April 11 and 13 at the Consol Energy Center. UMass-Lowell is in the Northeast Regional, Yale in the West Regional and Notre Dame, St. Cloud State are in the Mid-West Regional. UMass-Lowell and Notre Dame are No. 1 seeds and considered favorites to get to the Frozen Four.

No. 1 Notre Dame (25-12-3) vs. No. 4 St. Cloud State (23-15-1), Saturday, March 30 1:30 p.m. ET

No. 1 Massachusetts-Lowell (26-10-2) vs. No. 4 Wisconsin (22-12-7), Friday, March 29 4:30 p.m. ET

No. 1 Minnesota (26-8-5) vs. No. 4 Yale (18-12-3), Friday, March 29, 2 p.m. ET

LW Kenny Agostino, Yale, Junior

2012-2013 Stats: 33 GP - 15 Goals - 22 Assists - 37 Pts - +6

Drafted: 2010 5th round pick

TIOPS Prospect Ranking: No. 7

Scouting Report: A consistent performer recording back to back 30+ point seasons and also put up good numbers his freshman year with 11 goals and 25 points. One of the rising prospects in the Penguins system and while Agostino won't wow you with his skill set, scouts contend he has NHL qualities.

Scouts Take: "The more I see him, the more I like him. High hockey IQ and gets to the right spots {offensive zone}. Well rounded player, thinks the game at a high level."

RW Scott Wilson, Umass-Lowell, Sophomore

2012-2013 Stats: 37 GP - 16 Goals - 22 Assists - 38 Pts - +12

Drafted: 2011 seventh round pick

TIOPS Prospect Ranking: No. 9

Scouting Report: Wilson has showed his impressive freshman campaign in 2011-2012 was no fluke with 38 points in 37 games, matching his production from last year. His offensive emergence caught the Penguins by surprise last year and Wilson being able to follow that up is a very good sign. He's emerged as a legitimate prospect in the Penguins system and what the Penguins really like about him is his two-way game. He can impact a game in all facets from even strength to the power play to the penalty kill. At 6-foot-0, 180-pounds, he's a very good hitter for a player his size and he gets on pucks quick.

Scouts Take: "Tenacious, plays the Penguins way."

PROSPECTS BUZZ

Two Penguin draft picks Scott Wilson, Umass-Lowell, and Alex Velischek, Providence, were in action last night against each other in the Hockey East Tournament semifinal at the TD Garden.

The game was televised on NBCSN and Wilson, the Penguins 2011 seventh round pick, showed flashes of why Penguin scouts love the way he plays the game. Wilson scored the game winning goal, breaking a 1-1 tie 12:30 into the third period leading No. 5 UMass Lowell to a 2-1 win over No. 16 Providence College.

On Wilson's game winning goal, he created a turnover in the neutral zone, then drove to the net burying a give and go for his 15th goal of the season.

I came away really impressed with Wilson and he is true to form in that he plays the Penguins way. Wilson is tenacious on the puck and delivered some hard hits on the forecheck. Wilson has the tools where he's emerging as a legitimate prospect in the Penguins system and his strong freshman season was no fluke. The sophomore has 15 goals and 33 points on the season.

In the loss Velischek was a +1 and he finishes his senior season a +17 in 37 games. Velischek is a defensive minded defenseman and the Penguins have until August 15th to make a decision on whether to sign him. One will be made much sooner than that.