The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed 2015 2nd round draft pick (38th overall) Paul Bittner to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced on Thursday.
The 6-foot-4 Bittner was projected by many prior to the draft to be a 1st round pick, which could mean that he was a steal at 38th overall for Columbus, who used their third pick in the draft to select Bittner. (They selected two defenseman, Zach Werenski and Gabriel Carlsson, in the 1st round.)
Bittner played for the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL last season, pulling in 34 goals and 37 assists through 66 games for his first point-per-game campaign in major juniors.
#CBJ have signed Paul Bittner (@Bittner_7) to a three-year, entry level contract.
DETAILS: http://t.co/Gm56lwaMsr pic.twitter.com/t58KJvOxL7
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 20, 2015
Bittner is expected to play for Portland again this season, despite having the size to play at the pro level, and will likely be a part of the U.S. squad for the 2016 World Juniors Championship to be held in Helsinki, Finland starting in late December.
https://twitter.com/Bittner_7/status/634391425203982336
RELATED: REPORT: Christian Ehrhoff Unlikely to Sign With Columbus