On a day where well over 100 contracts were signed and nearly $700 million was handed out, the Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas had a very quiet day.
Last year’s July 1st was pretty boring, but it still saw the team sign Matt Grzelcyk, Anthony Beauvillier, and Blake Lizotte, all notable NHL names.
This year was even less eventful. The Penguins signed a trio of free agents on July 1st, but none of them were anything more than depth signings and “sign and see” deals.
Their first official signing was Parker Wotherspoon, a 27-year-old bottom defenseman who performed well in a third-pairing role for Boston over the last two seasons. Wotherspoon’s analytics are surprisingly strong, making him a prime Dubas target on the open market.
On a weak defensive group, particularly in the left-handed department, perhaps Wotherspoon can jump into a larger role on the blue line. At two years and $1 million per, it’s essentially a no-risk signing.
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