New York Rangers sign Vinni Lettieri and Vince Pedrie
The New York Rangers have signed NCAA free agent Vinni Lettieri, a forward from the University of Minnesota. Lettieri, who is 22 years old and who went undrafted in the last NHL draft, has 83 points in his four college seasons with the Gophers. Lettieri finished his senior year in Minnesota with 19 goals and 18 assists in 38 games played, helping Minnesota becoming a number four seed in this years NCAA hockey bracket, which MInnesota would eventually lose to Notre Dame in the first round. Lettieri has played on the same team as current New York Ranger defensemen Brady Skjei in Minnesota for 2 years. Lettieri will report to the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack, for the remainder of the season or if the Rangers choose to call him up to the NHL. Lettieri is one of five college free agents the Rangers have signed this year (Jimmy Vesey, John Gilmour, Vince Pedrie, and Chris Nell.)
The New York Rangers have also signed NCAA free agent defensemen Vince Pedrie. Pedrie, who is still a sophomore at Penn State, went undrafted in the last NHL draft, and will not finish his college career in Penn State, but instead will jump to his professional career as soon as he can. Pedrie has 16 goals and 35 assists in his two years at Penn State with a total of 51 points through his time there. Pedrie helped Penn State reach their first NCAA tournament, which they would eventually lose to Notre Dame in the second round this year. Pedrie is the fifth college free agent the Rangers have signed just this year. This year they have signed forward Vinni Lettieri, forward Jimmy Vesey, defensemen John Gilmour, and goaltender Chris Nell. Pedrie will report to the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack for the rest of the season, unless he is called up to the New York Rangers.
