Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Martin Skoula. The deal is a one year contract worth close to $600,000 and a one-way contract.
Pittsburgh has shown an interest in Skoula since mid-August and he was their top free agent target behind Philippe Boucher for the teams No. 7 defenseman spot. Skoula was recently on a professional tryout with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
*Forward Ryan Bayda who did not practice this morning was placed on waivers today at 12:00 p.m, along with four others.
The Penguins will begin the season with 21 players on their roster. Max Talbot, Mark Letestu and Ben Lovejoy will begin the season on injured reserved.
Skoula has been informed by the Penguins front office that he will
begin the season with the Penguins. Therefore, the Penguins will place Nate Guenin and Deryk Engelland on waivers, sources tell me. The team doesn’t expect either player to be claimed.
Skoula has played in 724 career games and 79 playoff contests during stints in Colorado, Anaheim, Dallas and Minnesota.
Skoula, 29, has posted career totals of 41 goals, 144 assists, 185 points and a plus-13 rating, as well as 14 post-season points (1G-13A). The blueliner has appeared in at least 78 games in each of his nine seasons.
But, Skoula has a plus/minus rating of -28 combined over the past two seasons with the Minnesota Wild. Skoula and head coach Dan Bylsma were teammates for a short time in Anaheim.
more to come
