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DelHowLich
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The Anaheim Ducks have signed forward prospect Sam Colangelo to a two-year, entry-level contract that begins this year (Web link). Colangelo signed an amateur try-out contract with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls on April 1st – recording both a goal and an assist in his professional debut and since totaling four points in his first four AHL games. The Ducks are quickly rewarding the strong start, signing Colangelo to a deal that now allows him to be called up.

This move continues what’s been a whirlwind season for Colangelo, who served as the leading goal-scorer at Western Michigan University before turning pro. He totaled 24 goals and 43 points in 38 games with the Broncos, a significant boost from the 24 points he scored in 35 games at Northeastern University the year prior. Colangelo’s poised playmaking has always been his calling card, but he found a new layer this season – showing an added ability to calmly make plays in a high-tempo offense. He creatively uses space along the boards and at the top of the circles to open passing lanes, and effectively drives the slot when he’s not on the puck. Those traits helped Colangelo fit right in with San Diego’s forecheck, as he adapted quickly to the AHL’s heavy zone play.

Colangelo will now prepare for his biggest test yet, with The Athletic’s Eric Stephens reporting that he could make his NHL debut on Friday (Twitter link). Stephens added that Colangelo was skating alongside Isac Lundeström and Jakob Silfverberg at practice, giving him veteran support as he tries to hang onto a lineup spot in Anaheim’s last three games of the season.


DelHowLich
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The Islanders have announced the signing of free agent defenseman Marshall Warren to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning next season. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Long Island native was a sixth-round pick of the Wild in 2019, but his exclusive signing rights expired last summer, and he became a UFA. Warren, 23 later this week, had spent four seasons with Boston College and served as their captain in 2022-23. However, he entered the transfer portal ahead of this season and landed with the University of Michigan for his graduate campaign. There, the left-shot defender was named an alternate captain and posted four goals, 14 assists, 18 points, and 30 PIMs in 41 games.

A two-way blue-liner by trade, Warren isn’t the stereotypically stout archetype the Isles tend to prefer on the back end. He’s not overly large at 6’0″ and 181 lbs and doesn’t frequently get involved in the play physically. He makes up for it with great puck skills and strong skating, which he uses as an important factor in his team transitioning the puck up the ice.

He put up solid numbers throughout his college career, totaling 24 goals and 51 assists for 75 points with a +32 rating in 171 appearances across five seasons. The Islanders will control his signing rights as an RFA when his ELC expires in 2026, and he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency again in the 2028 off-season.
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