Report: Chicago Blackhawks sign NCAA free agent forward Cole Guttman

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed former Denver Pioneers captain Cole Guttman to an entry-level contract, according to a report by The Athletic‘s Scott Powers.

Guttman, 23, spent the past four seasons at the University of Denver after being selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round (No. 180 overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

The 5’9″, 174-pound center scored 19 goals and 45 points in 41 games last season to lead the Pioneers to the NCAA National Championship, where they defeated the Minnesota State Mavericks by a 5–1 score.

Over his four-year NCAA career at Denver, Guttman amassed 55 goals and 121 points in 140 games. He joins a crop of forward prospects in Chicago headlined by Frank Nazar, Lukas Reichel, and Landon Slaggert.

Some of Guttman’s most notable teammates with the 2021–22 Pioneers included Bobby Brink (Philadelphia Flyers), Carter Savoie (Edmonton Oilers), Carter Mazur (Detroit Red Wings), Michael Benning (Florida Panthers), Sean Behrens (Colorado Avalanche), Shai Buium (Detroit Red Wings), and Magnus Chrona (Tampa Bay Lightning).

The Bolts’ exclusive signing rights to Guttman expired earlier this month. The right-handed forward is now expected to start his professional career with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Guttman’s entry-level deal will be for two years, per the terms of the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.