Report: Pens Re-Sign Goaltender Eric Hartzell

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero announces the Penguins first round draft choice in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager Ray Shero have reportedly re-signed goaltender Eric Hartzell to a two-year deal worth $550,000 annually in the NHL – according to the Pens’ website.

After completing his final season with Quinnipiac University, Hartzell signed on with the Pens this past April and served as the team’s third netminder during the 1013 playoffs.

Leading the entire NCAA with 2522:02 minutes played, Hartzell led Quinnipiac to its first career Frozen Four berth and then to its first-ever title game (which they lost to Yale University).

In 42 contests for the Bobcats, he finished with a record of 30-7-5 and had an astonishing 1.57 goals against average with a .933 save percentage.

Hartzell won numerous accolades in his final collegiate year.

Awarded with NCAA First-Team All-American honors, he went on to receive the USA Hockey College Player of the Year, 2013 ECAC Player of the Year, ECAC Hockey Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award (NCAA’s top college hockey player).

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 187-pounds, the 24-year-old Hartzell is currently the Pens’ biggest goalie – who could make a run at the starting job next season if Marc-Andre Fleury struggles.

But for now, we should expect Hartzell to be slotted in at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the 2013-14 campaign.