PHN Report: Pettersson In Camp, Deal Pending

The terms of the deal are not yet available, but according to an NHL source, the Pittsburgh Penguins and RFA defenseman Marcus Pettersson have an understanding on a new contract.

The hold up has been the Penguins must make a corresponding move or moves to fit Pettersson under the salary cap. Currently, the Penguins are over the NHL $81.5 million salary cap. The NHL source was tentative with the Pettersson news until the Penguins complete the additional activity. It may not happen until tomorrow but PHN has been told Pettersson expects to be on the ice Friday.

Last season, Pettersson elevated the Penguins defense after being acquired from Anaheim on Dec. 4. In 57 games with the Penguins, the 23-year-old defenseman had 19 points (2g, 17a). Overall, Pettersson had 25 points (2g, 23a) in 84 NHL games.

Petterson averaged just under 18 minutes per game and anchored the Penguins third pairing with Erik Gudbranson over the final six weeks of the season. The Skellefteå, Sweden native completed his first full season in the NHL. The Penguins traded struggling prospect Daniel Sprong for Pettersson and the move was a winner for both teams, though Sprong was a healthy scratch multiple times in the second half of the season.

The Penguins open training camp Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry Township. Several new faces including Brandon Tanev and Alex Galchenyuk will begin their Penguins career. However, given the unsettled but pending moves which the Penguins must complete, one must wonder if there will be more new faces in camp or fewer faces