Quinnipiac junior defenseman Devon Toews has signed an entry level contract with the NHL's New York Islanders, the organization that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Draft.
The Abbottsford, British Columbia native had seven goals and 23 assists in 40 games played this winter. A product of the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL, Toews had a +27 plus/minus rating.
Toews is a good skater who is good on gaps and has a good stick. He wasn't as flashy as fellow junior Connor Clifton, and that sometimes hurt him in the publicity battle. He was consistently one of the best defensemen -- in all three zones -- in ECAC Hockey over the past couple of seasons.
"Devon is the best defenseman in our league. I think he should be an All-American. He's been one of our best players, if not our best player, in the second half. He played a ton of minutes both nights. He's a great two-way hockey player. He's really emerged as a leader for us," said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold after the team's 4-1 win over UMass Lowell in the East Regional Final.