Penguins sign former Avalanche forward Lars Eller
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The Pittsburgh Penguins signed former Colorado Avalanche forward Lars Eller to a two-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $2.45 million.
Eller, 34, split the 2022-23 season with the Washington Capitals and Avalanche and as a result of quirk in the schedules of both teams, he appeared in 84 games (two more than an 82-game season) and scored 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) while averaging 14:48 of ice time per contest.
A left-handed shot, Eller has primarily been a third-line center throughout much of his career. Last season, he won 53.7% of faceoffs (549 wins, 474 losses) and clocked an average of 1:39 short-handed of ice time per contest.
Eller (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) will become the first Danish player to play for the Penguins. A first-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Eller has skated for the Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Capitals and Avalanche over his 14-year career.
Penguins sign former Maple Leafs forward Noel Acciari
The Penguins signed former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noel Acciari to a three-year contract on Saturday that carries a salary cap hit of $2 million.
Acciari, 31, split the 2022-23 season between the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs, appearing in 77 games and scoring 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) while averaging 14 minutes, 19 seconds of ice time per contest.
A bottom-six forward and penalty killer who logged 1:41 of short-handed ice time per game last season, Acciari is a right-handed center who won 53.8% of his faceoffs (337 wins, 289 losses) in 2022-23.
Acciari is familiar with Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. In his previous role as the Maple Leafs general manager, Dubas acquired Acciari via trade with the Blues on Feb. 17.
A native of Johnston, R.I., Acciari (5-foot-10, 209 pounds) entered the NHL during the 2015-16 season as an undrafted free agent. Over eight NHL seasons, he has played for the Bruins, Florida Panthers, Blues and Maple Leafs.
Penguins sign former Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic
The Penguins signed former Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a one-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $1.5 million.
Nedeljkovic split the 2022-23 season between the Red Wings and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
In 15 NHL contests, the left-catching Nedeljkovic (6-foot, 208 pounds) posted a 5-7-2 record, a 3.53 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
With Grand Rapids, Nedeljkovic, 27, played in 26 games, had a 13-9-3 record, a 2.71 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and one shutout.
A native of Parma, Ohio, Nedeljkovic was a second-round pick (No. 37 overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Penguins sign former Avalanche forward Matt Nieto
The Penguins signed unrestricted free agent forward Matt Nieto to a two-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $900,000.
Canadian outlet TSN first reported the transaction.
Nieto, 30, appeared in 81 games last season with the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche and scored 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) while averaging 13:13 of ice time per contest.
A left-handed shot, Nieto was second-round pick (No. 47 overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Sharks. A bottom-six forward who primarily plays left wing, Nieto is also a penalty killer. Last season, he averaged 1:46 of short-handed ice time per contest last season.
Nieto, a native of Long Beach, Calif., just completed a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $850,000.