5 day forecast
Penguins re-sign final restricted free agents: Tangradi, Bortuzzo and Grant
Share with others:
The Penguins have re-signed their final three restricted free agents.
Left winger Eric Tangradi and defensemen Robert Bortuzzo and Alex Grant, all of whom are 23 years old, accepted contracts that will keep them with the organization.
The deals are two-way, which means they would earn a reduced salary if they play in the American Hockey League rather than the NHL.
Tangradi's is worth $726,000 in the NHL, while Bortuzzo and Grant would be paid $525,000 each if they make the NHL squad.
Tangradi had two assists in 24 regular-season appearances with the Penguins in 2011-12. He had two strong showings -- possibly his best in the NHL -- in the pair of games in which he played during the Penguins' first-round playoff series against Philadelphia.
He played in 37 games with the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre last season, putting up 15 goals and 16 assists
Bortuzzo has just six NHL games on his resume, all from last season, but is expected to make a serious run at a spot on the major-league roster during training camp. He is a strong defensive presence who had three goals and nine assists in 51 games with the Baby Penguins in 2011-12.
Grant has bounced back from a severe wrist injury he received during a prospects-tournament game two years ago, and had 10 goals and 27 assists in 61 games with Wilkes-Barre last season.
Because the Penguins' depth chart on defense is so crowded, Grant figures to be a long shot to earn an NHL job this season.
First Published August 30, 2012 10:39 am
