2013 NHL Draft: Connecticut recruit Ryan Segalla taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins

University of Connecticut recruit Ryan Segalla was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the 119^th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. One school having a player drafted might not seem like much, but it is an important development for new UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh.

The former Boston College associate head coach was used to having all kinds of NHL caliber players banging down the door to play for the Eagles. It will be more difficult for Cavanaugh and his staff to lure elite talent to Storrs.

The Huskies will play their final season in the Atlantic Hockey Association in 2013-14 before joining Hockey East. UConn will play its league home games at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. once the program joins Hockey East.

The Penguins got a solid defenseman from the Salisbury School in Connecticut who was a bit of a late bloomer. Segalla was not noticed by some of the upper echelon teams until the Huskies had already made their move. Former UConn coach Bruce Marshall and his staff recruited Segalla first. "They were the first program to recruit me so I felt some kind of loyalty to them," said the Hanover, Mass. native.

Jeff Cox covers the NHL Draft, the American Hockey League and college hockey for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.