The New York Rangers, parent club of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, have agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Michael Paliotta.
Paliotta, 23, skated in 68 games with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, registering eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points, along with a plus-4 rating and 29 penalty minutes. He tied for first among Lake Erie defensemen in goals and ranked second among Lake Erie defensemen in points in 2015-16.
In addition, he posted a plus-7 rating in eight playoff games while helping the Monsters win the Calder Cup.
The 6-foot-4, 212-pounder has skated in two career NHL games, registering one assist and four penalty minutes. Paliotta tallied his first career NHL assist/point while making his NHL debut with Chicago on April 11, 2015 at Colorado. He skated in one game with Columbus during the 2015-16 season, registering two shots on goal on February 27, 2016 vs. Florida.
Paliotta played four seasons (2011-15) at the University of Vermont and has represented the United States in several tournaments, winning gold at the 2011 U-18 World Championships.
Paliotta was selected by Chicago in the third round, 70th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
