Penguins Prospects
Penguins Sign Western Michigan Free Agent Cam Lee: News & Scouting
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed college defenseman Cam Lee to a two-year entry-level contract on Tuesday afternoon, according to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford though there was no word if the contract was signed in person.
The contract will begin next season, whenever that may transpire, and run through the 2021-22 season.
“Cam is a good-skating, offensive-minded defenseman that fits the current style of play in today’s NHL,” said Rutherford. “This signing adds more young depth at defense for us. We’re excited to have Cam as a member of the Penguins organization.”
The 6-foot, 190-pound Lee played four years at Western Michigan University in the NCHC conference. He led conference defensemen with 21 points (3g, 18a) in 21 games and was fifth on the team in scoring.
Lee, 23, ended his college career with a bang. He scored five assists in his final game, which was an 8-4 over the Miami Redhawks on March 7. In his collegiate career, Lee played 137 games and scored 85 points (18g, 67a). He scored more than 20 points in three of his four seasons. Lee attended the Penguins prospect camp last summer. He also spent two years in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars and the Green Bay Gamblers before taking the NCAA route.
Those familiar with Lee from his time in the NCHC project him as a top-two defenseman in the AHL. His strengths are creativity with the puck, his ability to run the power play, and agility. However, he isn’t a physical presence, and his defensive zone coverage needs work.
Lee’s uncle is former Anaheim Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who appeared in 597 career NHL games over 16 seasons. Giguere won the Stanley Cup in 2007. According to Elite Prospects.com, Lee is also cousins with Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alexandre Fortin.
The NHL season is currently paused due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, the NHL allowed players to travel to their home countries but asked players to remain in self-quarantine so the season could resume in May with a two-week training camp, then resume games after the CDC eight week recommendation to ban public events expires.
Last week, the Pittsburgh Penguins also signed college free agent Drew O’Connor from Dartmouth. The Penguins roster of prospect defensemen is thin after they traded Calen Addison to Minnesota as part of the Jason Zucker deal. The Penguins top defenseman prospect is currently first-year professional PO Joseph, who played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season.
HOCKEY NEWS!!#LetsGoPens signed 23 y/o College UFA LD Cam Lee to 2 Yr Entry Level Deal.
20-21: $832.5K Base, $92.5K SB
20-21: $832.5K Base, $92.5K SB, $425K Performance BonusesCap Hit – $925K, AAV – $1.1375M
Represented by Tom Lynn @VeritasHockeyhttps://t.co/xee5wXJSE1 pic.twitter.com/RzesKAF7C5
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) March 17, 2020