Brad Malone signs with the Av's...

Another player from UND's senior class has signed a professional contract. Former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone signed a two way deal and will report to Lake Erie Monsters and try and help them win a AHL Championship.

GRAND FORKS – Brad Malone started his college career with a three-point freshman season.

By the time he was done at UND the power forward from Miramichi, N.B. centered one of the top lines in the country, tallied 40 points in a season and found an NHL contract waiting for him to sign.

Malone inked that contract on Monday morning – a two-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche that will kick in starting in the fall. Malone will report immediately to Colorado’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, and he will play in the AHL playoffs on a tryout contract.

Lake Erie, located in Cleveland, takes on the Manitoba Moose in the first round, so Malone will be playing in Winnipeg next Tuesday and Thursday.

Malone’s contract calls for him to make $600,000 next season and $775,000 in 2012-13 if he plays in the NHL, according to capgeek.com He will make $65,000 if he plays in the AHL and will earn signing bonuses of $75,000 each season.

“I think Brad made such good steady progress here,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “Any challenges along the way, he handled really well. He used them to improve himself and to use them as a springboard to the next step developmentally.

“He really developed himself into a powerful two-way centerman. He put himself in a real great position going into the Colorado Avalanche organization. I think he has shown physically and mentally, he’s ready to challenge to play in the NHL immediately next year.”