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Toews me, Bro: Quinnipiac defenseman agrees to three year ELC with Islanders

Yeah that joke is eight years old, but gimme a break. It's been a long week.

By Dan Saraceni
See you soon.
See you soon.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

About a week after competing in the NCAA Frozen Four championship game, Quinnipiac defenseman Devon Toews has agreed to terms on a three-year entry level contract with the Islanders.

Toews, a 2014 fourth round pick by the Islanders, had seven goals and 23 assists this season in helping the Bobcats to the No. 1 ranking in the NCAA tournament, where they lost a heartbreaker to North Dakota. Toews' teammate - and one-time Islanders camp invitee - Sam Anas has also signed a pro contract, inking a two-year deal with the Wild.

Although the Sound Tigers are looking to secure a playoff berth this weekend - they need just two points out of their final three games to clinch - junior classman Toews won't be joining the team until the conclusion of his school year.

We, and most Islanders and hockey outlets, have focused more on the team's Big Four junior prospects at the expense of other notable kids in college and the KHL. But Toews has seemed like a real under-the-radar gem for a while now. His college coach Rand Peckhnold recently called him the best defenseman in ECAC:

"Devon is the best defenseman in our league. I think he should be an All-American. He's been one of our best players, if not our best player, in the second half. He played a ton of minutes both nights. He's a great two-way hockey player. He's really emerged as a leader..."

and could be a solid contributor for the Sound Tigers next season. We'll monitor his progression beyond that.

And speaking of those junior prospects...

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