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Thursday, July 31, 2003

The Penguins have signed two free agents, right wing Kelly Buchberger and center Mike Eastwood, it was announced today by General Manager Craig Patrick.

Kelly and Mike are established veterans that will provide solid leadership and experience for our younger players in addition to providing depth at the forward position," said Patrick.

Buchberger, 36, has played 16 NHL seasons with Edmonton, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Phoenix, serving as team captain with Edmonton (1995-1999) and Atlanta (1999-2000). He has recorded 305 points (104 goals and 201 assists) and 2,188 penalty minutes in 1,111 career NHL games.

Buchberger, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Oilers (1987, 1988, 1990), played his first 12 NHL seasons in Edmonton and is the team's all-time leader in penalty minutes (1,747) and ranks fourth on the club's all-time list in games played (795).

Buchberger was claimed in the 1999 Expansion Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers and served as their team captain during the 1999-00 season, scoring the first goal in Thrashers history on October 2, 1999. He was traded to Los Angeles on March 13, 2000 and finished the season with the Kings. He spent the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons with Los Angeles, playing in 169 games with the Kings during two-plus seasons and recording 36 points (14 goals and 22 assists) and 193 penalty minutes.

Buchberger played in 79 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, recording 12 points (3 goals and 9 assists) and 109 penalty minutes, ranking fourth on the team in penalty minutes.

The 6-2 and 210 pound native of Langenburg, Saskatchewan was drafted by Edmonton in the ninth round (188th overall) of the 1985 Entry Draft.

Eastwood, 36, played in 70 combined games last season with St. Louis and Chicago, recording 16 points (3 goals and 13 assists) and 32 penalty minutes. Eastwood began the season with the Blues, recording four points (1 goal and 3 assists) and eight penalty minutes in 17 games. He was claimed off waivers by the Blackhawks from St. Louis on Dec. 10 and played in 53 games with Chicago, recording 12 points and 24 penalty minutes.

Eastwood has played 12 NHL seasons with Toronto, Winnipeg, Phoenix, NY Rangers, St. Louis and Chicago, appearing in 701 career games and recording 217 career points (83 goals and 134 assists) with 314 penalty minutes.

Eastwood was a teammate of current Penguins' head coach Eddie Olczyk in Winnipeg during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.

The 6-3 and 216 pound native of Ottawa, Ontario was drafted by Toronto in the fifth round (91st overall) of the 1987 Entry Draft.