The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed their 2015 third-round draft pick, forward Dominik Simon, according to a report by Czech journalist Tomas Vrabel of Denik Sport and confirmed by the Pittsburgh Sporting News.
Simon, who will be 21 in August, has been attending Penguins development camp in Pittsburgh this week.
“I got a chance to actually watch him over at the World Championships,” Penguins assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald after practice on Wednesday. “His play and his age just kind of jumped out at you.”
The Penguins didn’t want to force the hand of Simon, who could also have chosen to return to the Czech Extraliga or sign in the KHL.
“The kid has to lead that discussion,” said Fitzgerald. “Does he have the desire to come on over? What does he want to do? Because if it’s something that we force, then I don’t think that really works out.”
With Simon now in the fold, the Penguins will evaluate him throughout the summer to see where he fits in to their depth chart. He is listed as a center but has also played left wing.
Simon’s contract is a three-year, entry-level contract that will run through the 2017-18 season. If he does not make the big club, he could still return to his club in the Czech Republic or spend the season in the AHL.
Photo credit: Tiscali
