Collin Adams signs two-year deal with the New York Islanders

Brad Elliott Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald
·2 min read

Apr. 10—Collin Adams saved his best for last.

The UND forward from Brighton, Mich., after up-and-down freshman and sophomore seasons, emerged as one of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's best forwards.

He followed his breakout junior campaign — 12 goals and 28 points — by finishing as the NCHC's second-leading scorer as a senior, landing only behind teammate Jordan Kawaguchi.

Adams went out by tallying 10 points and a plus-11 rating in five playoff games, helping the Fighting Hawks to their first-ever NCHC Frozen Faceoff title.

That resume has added up to an NHL contract for Adams.

The 5-foot-9, 188-pound center has signed a two-year deal with the New York Islanders, the Herald has learned from multiple sources. The contract will begin next season.

The Islanders, who have two former UND players on their roster in Brock Nelson and Travis Zajac, drafted Adams in the sixth round, No. 170 overall, in 2017.

Adams is the seventh member of UND's 2020-21 team to sign an NHL deal since the season ended, joining senior defenseman Matt Kiersted (Florida Panthers), Kawaguchi (Dallas Stars), senior forward Grant Mismash (Nashville Predators), junior defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker (Ottawa Senators), junior goaltender Adam Scheel (Dallas Stars) and sophomore forward Shane Pinto (Ottawa Senators).

Senior Jackson Keane also has signed a pro deal with Wheeling (W.Va.) in the ECHL.

Adams centered UND's top line the last two seasons, using his speed to generate offense, especially off the rush. Although undersized, his puck possession and protection ability helped the Fighting Hawks produce scoring chances from in-zone time, too.

The best stretch of his career came in this year's playoffs.

Adams opened the postseason with a five-point game in a 6-2 win against Miami in the NCHC quarterfinals. It was the first five-point game by a UND player since Mark MacMillan in October 2014. He added two more points in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff title game against St. Cloud State.

Adams scored twice in UND's 5-1 win over American International in the first round of the NCAA tournament and scored again in UND's 3-2 loss to Minnesota Duluth in five overtimes in the regional championship game.

For his career, Adams had 33 goals and 77 points in 122 games as UND won back-to-back Penrose Cups as NCHC regular-season champs.