After a big day one of NHL free agency, the Penguins had a quieter day two, signing depth defenseman Will O’Neill to a one-year, two-way contract worth at $575,000 the NHL level
O’Neill, 27, spent the last three years in the Winnipeg Jets organization, playing 199 games with their AHL franchise in St. John’s, Newfoundland. In his time with the IceCaps, he had 22 goals and 82 assists and was one of the team’s most prolific point producers on the blue line.
At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, O’Neill is no shrinking violet, either, and he has 186 penalty minutes over the last three seasons to show for it.
O’Neill, a Salem, Massachusetts native, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2006 NHL draft, by what was at that point the Atlanta Thrashers. His rights stayed with the franchise as it moved from Atlanta to Winnipeg.
Meanwhile, O’Neill spent four years at the University of Maine, where he led the Black Bears in defensive scoring in each of his last three seasons. He was a team captain in his senior season.
Along with Wednesday’s signees, Steve Oleksy and David Warsofsky, O’Neill should have a big role on defense for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. He also could be a candidate for a call-up, particularly if the Penguins need a puck-moving defenseman.
Photo credit: St. John’s IceCaps
