Signings roundup: Union's Bodie agrees with Rangers

Defenseman Mat Bodie, who recently captained Union College to an NCAA championship, signed a free-agent contract with the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Bodie, 24, had a goal and an assist in a 7-4 win against the University of Minnesota in the championship game Saturday at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. He finished his senior season leading all Union defensemen with 39 points (eight goals).

"We have been tracking his development for four years," Rangers assistant general manager Jeff Gorton told BlueshirtsUnited.com. "He's a real character kid who we think adds a hard to find element to our defensive depth going forward. Being captain of a championship team just adds to what he is as a player."

Bodie scored 32 points in his first season at Union, setting a record for a freshman defenseman. He finished his collegiate career with 28 goals and 124 points in 154 games.

"We really like his skating and his ability to manufacture offense," Gorton said. "He is very poised with the puck. He's a guy we have liked for some time because of his skill and character."

According to ESPN.com, Bodie intends to remain at Union to finish his degree and will join the Rangers at their summer development camp.

In other signings Tuesday:

* The Nashville Predators signed forward Felix Girard to a three-year entry-level contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Girard, a fourth-round pick (No. 95) in the 2013 NHL Draft, won the Guy Carbonneau Trophy as the top defensive forward in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the second consecutive season in 2013-14 after posting 11 goals, 43 points, 130 penalty minutes and a plus-30 rating for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, while leading the league in faceoff winning percentage for the second consecutive season (64.5 percent).

In his fourth season with Baie-Comeau and second as team captain, the 5-11, 193-pound center helped the Drakkar win the QMJHL regular-season title and sweep their first two playoff series; they'll host the winner of the Blainville-Boisbriand/Rimouski series in the QMJHL semifinals.

Girard, 19, also represented Team QMJHL in the 2013 Subway Super Series, helping them beat Russia by scores of 3-2 and 4-3. The Quebec native also helped Canada earn bronze at the 2012 Under-18 World Championship.

* The Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to an entry-level contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Gostisbehere, 20, had a goal, two assists and a plus-7 rating in Union's 7-4 victory against Minnesota on Saturday to win the national title.

Gostisbehere, a third-round selection (No. 78) by the Flyers in the 2012 NHL Draft, will report to the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League for the remainder of the season.

Over the course of three years at Union, Gostisbehere had 22 goals and 60 assists for 82 points in 118 games.