by Michelle Crechiolo (link to full story)

There are a lot of reasons a player might want to sign with the Penguins.

Defending Stanley Cup champions? Check. Having elite talent led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the two best players in the world? Check. Skating out of two world-class facilities in PPG Paints Arena and UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex? Check. A lengthy sellout streak? Check.

The list goes on, and while those certainly helped top college free agent Zach Aston-Reese ultimately decide to sign with Pittsburgh, the biggest reason he wanted to join the organization was for their player development. 

"It came down to a few teams and when I had time to sit down and think about it today, it just felt like it was the right place," Aston-Reese told pittsburghpenguins.com.
"The conversations I've had throughout the year with Mark Recchi and Bill Guerin coming to some of the games and speaking to them after the games, kind of just their track record over the past few years with what they've been able to do with bringing in college guys was big."

Talking with Guerin, he was absolutely thrilled that Aston-Reese had chosen Pittsburgh. What stood out to management when watching the 22-year-old forward play this season was just how good of a fit he was with the Penguins.

"He fits the criteria that we hold our whole organization to, our players and staff," Guerin said. "Two big components of that are character and compete, and he epitomizes that. When we saw him play, this is a kid that on the ice, really seemed to fit with how we want to play. After meeting him and talking to him, we realized he fits in with us off the ice as well. And that's huge."