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.