COLUMBUS, OHIO --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Ryan Collins to a three-year Entry Level contract, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. He will join the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters prior to Friday's game at Milwaukee.

Collins, 20, has spent the past three seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he recorded four goals and 18 assists for 22 points with 77 penalty minutes and a cumulative +15 plus/minus rating in 98 career games and helped the Golden Gophers capture three consecutive regular season Big Ten championships. In 2016-17, he registered career highs in goals, points (tied), plus/minus rating and games played with 3-6-9, 28 PIM and +12 in 37 games.