One of the top U.S. college free agents is headed to the City of Brotherly Love.
Mike Vecchione signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, the club announced Friday.
The one-year deal is for the current season, after which Vecchione will be a restricted free agent and the Flyers will retain his rights, according to Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post.
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall expects Vecchione to play in the NHL before the end of the regular season, but likely not Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The 24-year-old forward ranked second in the nation with 29 goals and tied for first with 63 points in his senior season at Union College.
He is one of three remaining finalists for the Hobey Baker Award - given annually to the top Division I men's hockey player - along with Northeastern's Zach Aston-Reese and Denver's Will Butcher.
He'll reunite with former Union defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, with whom he played in 2013-14.
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