March 27--The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms on two-year, entry-level contracts Thursday with 22-year-old right winger Kyle Baun and 21-year-old defenseman Michael Paliotta, the team's third-round pick in 2011.
Brian Bartlett, Baun's agent, tweeted that the coveted college free agent will join the Blackhawks this season, adding that he "has great size and intelligence, (he has a) responsible game with offensive touch."
Paliotta also is expected to report to the Blackhawks this year.
Baun, a 6-foot-2, 204 pound junior at Colgate, had 14 goals and 15 assists and was a plus-13 in 38 college games this season. He will not be eligible for the postseason this year.
"Exciting for us, knowing we got the guy everyone was looking for," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He gives us some size. We'll see how he can handle it, how the pace is different from college to pros.
"He's a pretty exciting prospect."
Paliotta, a 6-3, 207-pounder out of the University of Vermont, had a team-high 36 points (9 goals, 27 assists) and a plus-15 plus-minus rating in 41 games this season.
The Blackhawks have a recent history of signing college prospects, such as Drew LeBlanc and Matt Carey, to player-friendly deals and playing them in a few games. That way the team can evaluate the player and the player has a chance to sign his next deal more quickly.
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