Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon, looking to add toughness on the ice, signed hard-nosed forward Connor Brickley to a two-year, two-way, entry-level contract Monday.

Brickley, 22, the 50th overall pick by the Panthers in the 2010 draft, was a standout at the University of Vermont where he compiled 48 points, including 21 goals, in 117 games over four seasons.

"Thank you everyone for the continued support and extremely happy to be a part of the @FlaPanthers organization," Brickley tweeted via his @ConnorBrickley handle.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Brickley, a native of Everett, Mass., had 15 points in 35 games this season for Vermont, and then joined the Panthers AHL affiliate in San Antonio where he notched a goal and an assist in eight games.

"He played well in San Antonio,'' Tallon said recently. "It's good to see. He's a hard-nosed kid that hits hard and skates hard. He's going to be a guy who fills a great role and a great need for our franchise, a guy with some tremendous hitting ability and with a lot of inspiration, desire and spirit.''