Bruins Agree to Terms with Chris Collins

[Thrillhouse]

The Boston Bruins have agreed to terms on a contract with free agent left wing Chris Collins, it was announced today by Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli. Collins agreed to a two-year contract.

“We are happy to add a player of Chris’ skill level to the organization,” said Chiarelli. “He proved himself to be one of the top college players in the country last season and we look forward to seeing him at training camp.”

Collins, 22, enjoyed an outstanding season last year with Boston College and was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as the top college player in the country. He surpassed his previous three seasons of scoring combined in 2005-06 as he led Hockey East in scoring and tied with Minnesota’s Ryan Potulny in overall points in the nation with 34 goals and 29 assists for 63 points. He was named Hockey East’s Player of the Year and earned NCAA East All-American honors as well. He earned four awards at the New England Hockey Writers Dinner at year’s end, receiving the Most Improved Player, Top Forward and Most Valuable Player awards in addition to the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born player in New England. Former Walter Brown Award winners include Brian Leetch and Brian Gionta.

The 5’10”, 195 lb. native of Fairport, New York played four seasons of college hockey at Boston College where he had 63 goals and 59 assists for 122 points with 179 penalty minutes in 162 career college games. He led the Eagles to the 2006 NCAA Frozen Four Finals where they fell to the University of Wisconsin by a 2-1 score.