Minnesota Wild sign UNH senior Grayson Downing

The Minnesota Wild have signed University of New Hampshire senior forward Grayson Downing to a NHL free agent entry-level contract.

The Wildcat alternate captain had 21 goals and 15 assists in his final season in Durham, playing for 24th year head coach Dick Umile. Downing, an Abbottsford, BC native, lacks speed, but he has very good hockey IQ and scores a lot of goals due to being in the right place at the right time.

A former BCHL star, Downing finishes his UNH career with 56 goals and 56 assists in 144 career games. The Wildcats were eliminated last Friday night in the Hockey East semifinals, bowing out to Boston University, 4-1.

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Jeff Cox covers college, junior, high school and prep hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on Twitter @JeffCoxSports.