The Pittsburgh Penguins are beginning the process of retooling their defensive depth.

PITTSBURGH – Re-signing Jack St. Ivany and Jonathan Gruden just wasn’t enough for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following a new contract for those youngsters, the Penguins announced they have signed former Toronto Maple Leafs defender Filip Kral to a one-year deal.

At 24-years-old, Kral has played in only two NHL games, both with the Maple Leafs. Kral was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. His new deal is a two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level.

Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas has an obvious familiarity with Kral, having taken him in his first draft as Maple Leafs GM. Since being selected 149^th overall, Kral has spent most of his time in professional hockey with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

In 92 career AHL games, Kral has scored seven goals and 22 assists for 31 total points, Kral spent the entire 2023-24 season in the Swedish SM Liiga. In 46 games with the Lahti Pelicans, Kral scored five goals and 32 assists for 37 points.

Kral is a left-hand shot and will likely be a name to watch as the Penguins look to reshape their defensive depth.

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