Rangers sign Rensselaer junior Haggerty to free-agent contract

Rensselaer junior forward Ryan Haggerty has signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers and will forgo his final year of eligibility.

Haggerty will join the Rangers later this week.

“I am thrilled to see Ryan earn the opportunity to sign an NHL contract with the New York Rangers,” said RPI coach Seth Appert in a statement. “His growth as a player and person in his three years at RPI was impressive and is a real testament to his daily work ethic. He showed up at the rink every day with a mentality to improve his game and get better. I look forward to proudly watching him as a member of the New York Rangers organization.”

In 35 games this season, the Stamford, Conn., native scored 28 goals with 15 assists for 43 points, leading the team in goals, points, power-play goals (10) and game-winning goals (six).

Nationally he is second in Division I in game-winning goals, third in goals per game (.80), fifth in power-play goals and 14th in points per game (1.23).

In 106 career games at RPI, Haggerty had 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points.