Penguins sign college goalie to 3-year AHL deal taken at PPG Paints Arena (Penguins)

OHIO STATE ATHLETICS

Tommy Napier.

The Penguins signed undrafted free agent goaltender Tommy Nappier to a three-year AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it was announced on Thursday.

The contract begins this season and runs through the 2022-23 season.

Nappier, 22, was a development camp invitee of the Penguins in the summer of 2019.

Nappier recently completed his senior season at Ohio State. He started 24 of 27 games this season and posted a 3.26 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. He was the B1G Second Star of the Week in November for back-to-back 42-save performances against Michigan State.

As a junior in 2019-20, Nappier was voted Ohio State's team MVP with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

Nappier ranks third all-time in Ohio State team history in save percentage, posting a career mark of .925. He ranks fourth in program history in shutouts with eight, and ranks fifth in goals-against average with 2.31.

"He's just calm," Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik told The Lantern this season. "He's confident, he's calm. He minimizes his movements and he stays big. That's how he plays."

Nappier, 6 foot 3 and 220 pounds, models his game after that of another bigger goaltender in Pekka Rinne, pointing to his "unmatched" compete level.

The signing gives the Penguins' the goaltending depth of Max Lagace (NHL contract) on the taxi squad, Emil Larmi (NHL contract) in Wilkes-Barre, Nappier and Shane Starrett (AHL contracts) in Wilkes-Barre, Brett Brochu (AHL amateur tryout) in Wilkes-Barre until the OHL season starts, and Alex D'Orio (NHL contract) in Wheeling.

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