Penguins/NHL
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”.
Sterling is looking for better NHL opportunities. He had three goals and five points in seven NHL games with the Penguins.
McDonald played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Providence College, notching 77 points (43G-34A) in 135 games with the Friars. His father, Gerry McDonald, also saw action in the NHL, playing eight games for the Hartford Whalers between 1981-84.
McDonald is a forward with goal scoring tough but lacks the skating ability that has kept him from becoming an NHL regular.
