Former Penguins Sign Camp Deals, Including Jack Johnson

A couple of former Pittsburgh Penguins put their pen to paper ahead of the Labor Day weekend to appear in training camps or get an NHL deal. And at least one of the players will require a trigger warning for Penguins fans.

According to Colorado Hockey Now, former Penguins defenseman and Penguins Twitter villain Jack Johnson signed a PTO to appear in the Colorado Avalanche training camp. Johnson will be on the Penguins payroll until 2026 after the team bought out Johnson last fall. He signed a one-year deal to play for the New York Rangers last season. He was used as their depth defenseman and played only 13 games after suffering a groin injury and later needing sports hernia surgery.

Johnson, 34, scored one goal. He’ll have the opportunity to replace former Colorado stay-home defenseman Patrick Nemeth, who ironically signed a deal with the Rangers last month.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Johnson to a five-year, $16.5 million deal on July 1, 2018. However, Johnson fulfilled only two seasons before the buyout. f

Also, former Penguins third-line center Riley Sheahan signed a one-year NHL deal with the Seattle Kraken worth $850,000.

The Sheahan deal is somewhat curious as he becomes the 17th Kraken forward, who is waiver eligible. At most, 14 forwards figure to make the NHL club. Teams can assign players to the AHL if they pass through waivers. Teams may save up to $1.05 million per player buried in the AHL.

Last season, Sheahan was a bottom-six forward for the hapless Buffalo Sabres and one of their primary penalty killers. He scored 13 points (4-9-13) in 54 games and was “only” a minus-8.

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Sheahan via trade with the Detroit Red Wings eight games into the 2017-18 season. Sheahan was the third-line center and replacement for the departed Nick Bonino but never quite filled the role. Sheahan was demoted to fourth-line winger before he was dealt as part of the Penguins trade with the Florida Panthers, in which Derick Brassard went to Florida for Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad.

It will be Sheahan’s fifth team in four years, with other stints in Edmonton, Florida, Buffalo, and now Seattle.