Vancouver Giants d-man Ryan Lin (13th-ranked draft prospect among North American skaters) announced yesterday his commitment to play for the University of Denver this fall. In captaining the Giants this season, his second full campaign in the WHL, Lin had 57 points (14G 43A) in 53 games. Also, Lin competed both for Team CHL at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, and Team Canada at this season’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is ranked unanimously as a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
Pittsburgh draft prospect Cruz Lucius (2022 4th round, 124th overall) announced he would not sign a contract with the Penguins. This places the Penguins in a difficult position, as Lucius just completed his senior season at Arizona State University. As such, the team must sign Lucius to an entry-level deal by August 15 or lose his rights. Although the 21-year-old was selected in the fourth round, he made himself a valuable commodity this season by posting 46 points (15G 31A) in 36 games for the Sun Devils, all career highs. The injury earlier in the season to top ASU forward Cullen Potter (CGY) opened the door for Lucius to become the Sun Devils’ main play-driver.
For Pittsburgh, this represents the second time in as many years they are involved in an outbound college player refusing to sign with the team that drafted him. In August 2024, Winnipeg traded then-University of Michigan forward Rutger McGroarty to the Penguins after he informed the Jets he wouldn’t play for them. The Penguins now find themselves on the other side of things.