Penn State men’s hockey defenseman Cole Hults to forgo senior season, signs NHL contract
Cole Hults is the latest Penn State hockey player to leave for the NHL.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings announced they have signed the defenseman to a two-year entry-level contract.
Hults will forgo his senior season at Penn State.
The Stoughton, Wisconsin, native appeared in 34 games this season and registered a career-high 30 points, including eight goals, which was also a career high.
“Cole is the highest performing low risk, low maintenance player I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching,” coach Guy Gadowsky said in a statement. “He is so efficient in everything he does. We are extremely happy for Hultsy and wish him all the success at the next level.”
Hults led Big Ten defensemen with those 30 points and is a finalist for Big Ten player of the year and defenseman of the year. Hults’ plus-23 goal differential when on the ice this season ranked sixth in the nation.
Hults is leaving Penn State as the program leader in goals, assists and points among defenseman.
The Kings drafted Hults in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Hults is the fourth Penn State player to sign an NHL contract this offseason, with Evan Barratt also forgoing his senior season to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nate Sucese signing with the Arizona Coyotes and Brandon Biro with the Buffalo Sabres.
Liam Folkes also signed an AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors, the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate, this offseason.
“Penn State has engraved a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a Nittany Lion,” Hults said in a statement. “I’ve built friendships that will last a lifetime and have become a better player and person during my time in Hockey Valley. This is such a special place that I will forever call home and I couldn’t think of a better spot to have spent my collegiate career.”
Hults is now the eighth Penn State player to sign an NHL contract directly from college, the fourth this off-season, joining Barratt, Sucese, Biro, Andrew Sturtz, Casey Bailey, Eamon McAdam and Vince Pedrie.
