Well, our Penguins have finally made a move that I’m reasonably happy about. They signed restricted free agent Anthony Angello to a two-year contract worth $725,000 at the NHL level. It’s a two-way deal in the coming season…meaning Angello can be sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Given that he’s waiver exempt, a likely possibility.
The second year is one-way.
Angello, a right-hand shot who can play center or wing, could provide a badly needed power element and dash of oomph to a team desperately in need of one. He stands 6’5” and weighs 210 pounds…a virtual redwood among Smurfs. And he does possess a scoring touch…16 goals in 48 games with the Baby Pens in 2019-20 and 16 more the season before that. In eight games with the Pens in which he received a trickle of ice time (5:43 ATOI) the former fifth-round pick managed to notch his first NHL goal.
Given his size and inclination to compete in the dirty areas, Angello could be a prime candidate to at least partially fill Patric Hornqvist’s sizeable skates as a net-front presence. Although not a particularly accomplished fighter, Angello will drop the gloves when the situation calls for it.
First he has to crack the lineup. Hardly a lock given coach Mike Sullivan’s preference for speed. But at least Angello’s signing provides a potential physical presence.
The Pens also signed forward Frederick Gaudreau and goalie Maxime Lagace to one year, two-way deals for $700,000 at the big-league level.
Black-and-gold fans may remember Gaudreau from the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. The undrafted forward tallied three goals for Nashville—including the winning goal in Games Three and Four—and looked for a time as if he might pull a Max Talbot and help derail our chances for a second-straight Cup. However, those three goals equal Gaudreau’s career regular-season output in 84 games with the Preds.
Shades of Conor Sheary, who only seems to score against the Pens.
In Lagace, GM Jim Rutherford signed a former Vegas goalie. Just not the one we were hoping for.
A 27-year-old journeyman who climbed the ranks from the low minor leagues, Lagace has logged an unsightly 3.92 career goals against average and .868 save percentage (yikes) in 17 NHL games with the Golden Knights. Not sure what JR was thinking here, although Lagace did enjoy a career year with Providence of the AHL last season (2.37 GAA, .919 SV%).
Because they’re signed to two-way deals, none of the three players count against the Pens’ cap. So we still have roughly $2.5 million to spend, according to CapFriendly.
Restricted free agents Pontus Aberg and Sam Miletic remain unsigned.
Former Pens in Play
Goalie Thomas Greiss signed a two-year deal with Detroit. Forward Jayson Megna reupped with Colorado for a year. Defenseman Derrick Pouliot signed a one-deal with Philadelphia.
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