Agent: Bayda’s first choice was to resign with Penguins

Veteran free agent forward Ryan Bayda signed a one year deal last week with Nuremberg in the Germany DEL. Bayda, 29, inked a two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins last September. He appeared in 21 games (8g-3a-11pts) with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins.

A knee injury shortened Bayda’s season, who had a strong 2009 training camp and appeared to have earned a roster spot with the big club before the Penguins went in another direction and claimed winger Chris Bourque just before the 2009-2010 regular season opener.

Looking to bolster their depth, the Penguins expressed an interest in re-signing Bayda this off-season again and offered the 29 year old winger a two-way contract. Bayda also had a strong interest in coming back to Pittsburgh.

{Ryan}”Bayda’s first choice was to come back to Pittsburgh, ” Ben Hankinson, the agent for Bayda told Inside Pittsburgh Sports this afternoon.

Hankinson noted that the CBA restrictions on two-way contracts led to Bayda signing with Nuremberg. “He falls into CBA contract restrictions and can only make $105K in AHL or subject to re-entry waivers since he played full NHL season with Carolina in 08-09 season, ” Hankinson said. “Ryan decided to take much higher guaranteed salary in Germany.”

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound winger has appeared in 179 career NHL games, tallying 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points. He will look to get back into the NHL next season.

*Health wise, it was a tough 2009-2010 campaign for Penguins winger Chris Kunitz who appeared in only 50 games last season.

Kunitz underwent abdominal surgery in January and ended the 2009-2010 season with a bum shoulder and a torn groin muscle.

There was some thought inside the organization that Kunitz may under-go surgery to repair the torn muscle this off-season but surgery has been ruled out and Kunitz is “doing well healthwise, ” Kunitz’ agent Ben Hankinson said today.

Kunitz, 30, had 13 goals and 19 assists last season. Battling through multiple injuries, Kunitz had a strong playoff run, finishing third on the team with 11 points in 13 games.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed forward Chris Collins to an American Hockey League contract, it was announced on Wednesday.

Collins, a native of Fairport, New York, spent his last two professional seasons in Germany with the Augsberg Panthers (DEL), where he posted 79 points (37G, 42A) and 150 penalty minutes over 80 games. His 46 points last season ranked him sixth on the Panthers in scoring.

The 5-8, 202-lb. left wing also logged 43 points (24G, 19A) in 99 regular-season games in the AHL, all as a member of the Providence Bruins, from 2006-08.

Collins completed his four-year collegiate career at Boston College (HE) in 2005-06, a season in which he tied for the nation’s lead with 63 points (34G, 29A). He was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and helped lead the Eagles to the Frozen Four. He was also named Hockey East’s Player of the Year.