Penguins Add Toughness, Sign Heavyweight Enforcer Imama
There has been a growing trend in the Metro Division over the last year of adding tough guys willing to fight. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been behind that curve for years, while teams such as the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils have added large enforcers. The Penguins reversed course Monday.
Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas signed heavyweight enforcer Bokondji Imama to a one-year deal with a $775,000 salary.
However, Dubas said the ability to drop the gloves was merely an ancillary benefit.
“When we went through the film on him, the key thing was his ability on the forecheck. He’s very effective there. Getting in on the forecheck, being physical, separating people from the puck, winning possession,” Dubas said. “It’s not just fighting. He’s a very tough customer, but for us, there’s a very good player there. He’s proven himself in the American League. He’s been able to come up and play in the NHL. We want him to come in, be a good player for us down there, help the young guys out. He’s got a great reputation–he’s been a captain in the AHL, so we’re excited to have him.”
Imama, 27, has 15 games of NHL experience over the last three seasons. He played nine with the defunct Arizona Coyotes and six last season with the Ottawa Senators. He has fought the biggest of the Metro Division, including Matt Rempe in the AHL and Kurtis MacDermid in the NHL.
Imama has also scrapped with Mark Boroweicki and Ryan Reaves.
He has three NHL fights and has lost all three, at least according to HockeyFights.com, but his willingness to do so would place him above the rest of the Penguins lineup, if or when he’s in the NHL lineup. Over the last couple of seasons, the task of standing up for teammates has fallen to lanky defenseman Marcus Pettersson and star center Sidney Crosby.
Imama could also force a fearsome duo with Jagger Joshua with the WBS Penguins. Both are big and aggressive physical forecheckers. The Penguins organization hasn’t had many of those in recent years.
Lol Sully will never ever play this guy…Sully’s team toughness in his eyes is their power play and playing the game the right way..Which they haven’t done in a long long time
Fire Sully
I totally agree.
This guy is very entertaining, good signing.
Been in three fights and . . . lost ’em all. Hey, that’s three more than any Penguin on the current roster. That’s a half-step forward if you ask me.
Over/under on # of NHL games he gets on the ice in’24/’25 is 4.
Avg TOI in those games is 6:14.
It’s called the Sully Factor. Hyper-allergic to physicality in any form.
Fire Sully
Here are some FACTS to consider….. 6th round pick. 27 years old. 15 games NHL experience. Those games were when he played for Phoenix and Ottawa. He couldn’t crack their lineup on a regular basis and those teams don’t have deep rosters. Unless he shows something miraculous, expect to see him in a handful of games against teams with goons.
Good for Dubas, now let’s see if Sully plays him.
Now that Quenneville is available maybe Pens can finally fire Sully….but I think Columbus will grab him
So is he a forward or a D-man?
Have to repeat, fire Sullivan please.
Sully wouldn’t even play Ryan Reeves and he can actually play, one of Sully‘s biggest mistakes
Exactly! Rutherford should’ve told Sullivan he traded for this guy (Reaves) so play him and if not, there’s the door. A perfect example of the tail wagging the dog. I don’t blame Rutherford for leaving when he had a wimp for a coach.
6 years too late when it could’ve mattered they allowed the Coach to reject a deterrent. That led to the worst trade in Ofh history ; Derrick Brassard et al.
Now it doesn’t matter they’re going nowhere and fast. It’s like adding a rooftop antenna to your home.