Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Nick Spaling To A Two Year Deal
By Larry Snyder
Mar 11, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Nashville Predators center Nick Spalin (13) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman
Chad Ruhwedel(5) go after a loose puck during the third period at First Niagara Center. Predators beat the Sabres 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford announced Thursday morning that the Black and Gold signed restricted free agent forward Nick Spaling to a two-year, $4.4 million contract. He will earn $2.2 million annually.
Spaling, who will turn 26 in September, was acquired with right wing Patric Hornqvist in a deal that sent James Neal to the Nashville Predators. Last season, the Palmerston, Ontario native set career-highs with 13, goals, 19 assists for 32 points in 71 games played.
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The 6-foot-1 forward spent the last four-plus seasons with Nashville, and put up 40 goals, 44 assists for 84 points in 297 regular-season contests. Spaling averaged 10 goals per season over the last four years.
He was originally drafted by the Predators in the second round, 58th pick overall, in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
Some writers have speculated that Spaling could see time on the third-line with restricted free agent Brandon Sutter or that he could be assigned to the fourth-line with Marcel Goc.