RPI's Mike Zalewski Signs with Vancouver Canucks

RPI sophomore forward has given up his final two years of eligibility with the Engineers to sign a free agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Here is the official release from the Canucks.

Zalewski is originally from upstate New York, but played junior hockey with the Vernon Vipers in the British Columbia Hockey League. Zalewski returned home to play college hockey at RPI, where he put up respectable numbers in his two seasons in Troy, New York. He scored 12 goals and 9 assists for 21 points as a freshman, and improved to 9-17-26 in his second season.

Zalewski is a power forward in the making, listed at 6-2 209 lbs. We had Zalewski ranked 32nd on our list of the Top 100 NHL Prospects in the NCAA. Here's how our Jeff Cox described Zalewski's pro potential:

The RPI sophomore is a big-bodied winger that has the potential to be a great bottom six forward at the NHL level. He is very strong along the wall, brings a physical presence to the ice and can really muck it up and grind it. He's scored eight goals this season, including two on the penalty kill, but he has the potential to make a living as a third or fourth line winger in the pros.