The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with Colgate junior forward Kyle Baun on a two-year entry level deal on Thursday, the team announced.
Baun, 22, posted 14 goals and 15 assists in 38 games at Colgate this season. The 6-foot-4, 202 pound forward was named to the ECAC’s third team this season. He had 39 goals and 38 assists in 113 regular-season games over three seasons at Colgate. He is also the grandson of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Bobby Baun. Prior to his collegiate career, Kyle Baun earned 103 points (48 goals, 55 assists) in 98 career games with the Central Canadian Hockey League’s Cornwall Colts.
Baun’s agent Brian Bartlett confirmed the signing on Twitter and state his new client will report to Chicago and will burn a year of his contract this season.
The Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers were believed to be among teams most interested in acquiring Baun.
The Blackhawks have signed at least one college free agent the past three years. They signed Drew LeBlanc in 2013 and Matt Carey and Trevor van Riemsdyk in 2014.
Here’s a scouting report from DJ Powers of Hockeys Future:
“One of Baun’s attributes that scouts have taken particular notice of is how he utilizes his size and strength. He’s a player that is difficult to move off of the puck, and he uses the aforementioned assets exceedingly well in gaining separation and in battles for loose pucks. Baun is an excellent skater with terrific speed. He has developed into a reliable scorer who can chip in goals at crucial times and can wreak havoc in front of opposing goaltenders. He also does an equally good job of setting up plays.”
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