CRANBERRY — The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t wait long to address their need for bottom-six help.
Moments after the free-agent signing period began, TSN reported that former San Jose forward Matt Nieto will sign a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Penguins.
Nieto, 30, can play either wing and it the kind of blue-collar player Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ president of hockey operations and interim GM, had suggested he would be seeking in free agency.
Nieto, who is 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, is a sound defensive player who kills penalties, an area of the game the Penguins are looking to upgrade.
He had 12 goals and 12 assists in 81 games with San Jose last season.
Before the signing period began, Edmonton had been the favorite to land Nieto.
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