Charlie Cerrato is headed to the NHL.
The former Nittany Lion inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced Tuesday.
Three c̶h̶e̶e̶r̶s̶ years for Chuck!The #Canes have signed forward Charlie Cerrato to a three-year, entry-level contract.Details » https://t.co/uUBs0BqQvb pic.twitter.com/CAX5cnjssu
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 12, 2026
Cerrato’s deal has him receiving $775,000 in 2025-26, $850,000 the following season and $900,000 in the final year of his entry-level deal.
Carolina initially drafted Cerrato in the second round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft after the forward had been passed over the two years prior. He signed a professional tryout deal with the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League Affiliate immediately after Penn State’s season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament.
Cerrato missed most of the second half of Penn State’s 2025-26 season with an undisclosed injury, but he still racked up seven goals and 20 assists in 23 games in his sophomore campaign.
His freshman year as a Nittany Lion is what earned him a draft selection, as he tallied 69 points in 61 games with 22 goals and 47 assists.
Cerrato is the fourth Penn State player to sign an NHL deal this year, joining Aiden Fink, Kevin Reidler and Matt DiMarsico.
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