New York Rangers news: Free agent Ryan Haggerty inks deal

It's typical in college hockey to see players really take off in their third year. For whatever reason, three is the magic number in terms of development for many collegiate players nationwide.

Ryan Haggerty of R.P.I is no different, and after a breakout season for the Engineers' forward that saw him score 28 goals in 35 games, the 21-year-old, undrafted free agent has signed a contract with the Rangers.

#NYR have signed FA Ryan Haggerty from RPI. "He can score & he has gotten better every year"-Jeff Gorton Full story: http://t.co/ewYyr1LmZP

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 12, 2014

Haggerty was also a participant in the United States National Development Team that plays in Ann Arbor every year. After scoring a combined 19 goals in 71 games for the Engineers in his first two seasons, Haggerty went on a torrid stretch this year to carry R.P.I. His 28 goals were the third-highest in the nation.

This, from Jeff Cox of SBN College Hockey:

The USA Hockey NTDP product came into his own as a junior. His production increased each year he was at RPI, but his goal scoring skyrocketed in year three as he found the back of the net 28 times.

He plays a hard game and is strong on pucks for a player who is not physically imposing . He has a real hard and accurate shot. A majority of his goals were snipes from the slot, with less in the dirty areas in tight.

RPI started off hot, picked to finish as high as first in the ECAC in some polls, but fell off. Haggerty and his teammates saw their season end last weekend at home in a first round exit to Dartmouth.

Because Haggerty was signed after the trade deadline, similar to the situation surrounding Connor Allen's signing last year, he's ineligible to be sent down to Hartford, and we'll spend the rest of the season up with the Rangers NHL club.

Jeff Gorton says Ryan Haggerty will join #NYR this weekend after road trip

— Jim Cerny (@JimCerny) March 12, 2014