Credit Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Following the end of his senior season at Northeastern, un-drafted NHL free agent Zach Aston-Reese was being pursued by at least five different NHL organizations looking to sign him to an entry-level contract. Some of these teams included Arizona, San Jose, and Vancouver, all teams that he could theoretically sign with and begin playing at the NHL level right away. Aston- Reese instead decided to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that he would have to scratch and claw his way just to crack the NHL roster over the course of the next few years. Why wouldn't he sign somewhere where he can make an immediate impact you may ask? The answer is simple, Pittsburgh has a history of setting NCAA free agent players up for success in the long run. Credit Dubber Prospects In recent history, two of the biggest NCAA un-drafted free agents that have had a massive impact on the Penguins organization are Forwards Carter Rowney and Connor Shear...
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