Pens sign AHL goal scorer Colin McDonald; Sterling not expected back

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Colin McDonald to a one-year contract.

McDonald’s contract is a two-way contract worth $525,000 at the NHL level. McDonald, 26, spent the 2010-11 season with the Edmonton Oilers’ top minor-league affiliate – the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL). McDonald led the AHL with 42 goals and added 16 assists for 58 points in 80 games. McDonald’s goal, assist and point totals were all career highs.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound McDonald played two games at the NHL level with Edmonton during the 2009-10 season, scoring one goal.

The 40 goal AHL scorer figures to make up for some of the production the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins figure to lose with 2010-2011 leading scorer Brett Sterling heading elsewhere.

When asked about the possibility of returning to Pittsburgh, Sterlings agent Allain Roy told Inside Pittsburgh Sports that Sterling resigning with the team is "not likely".