Penguins Sign Two Defensemen to PTOs

Aug 30, 2023, 11:00

Aug 30, 2023, 11:00

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have more defensemen to pick from when training camp opens after signing two PTOs.

Professional tryout offer season is here for the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins are getting in on the fun.

According to Cap Friendly, the Penguins will bring Libor Hajek and Mark Pysyk to training camp on PTOs.

Hajek is a 25-year-old left shot defenseman and Pysyk is a 32-year-old veteran right shot defenseman.

With these two signings, the Penguins have added to the battles that were already set to take place at camp for the depth defensive positions.

Hajek was drafted 37^th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning but has played all 110 career NHL games with the New York Rangers.

During his time at the NHL level, Hajek has recorded 12 total points while averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time per game.

Hajek has peaked at 44 games played in a single season during the 2020-21 season with the Rangers.

During the 2022-23 season, Hajek spent most of his time in the AHL where he played 24 games.

Pysyk has a much longer resume of NHL action, but did not play a single game during the 2022-23 season.

Despite being under contract with the Detroit Red Wings, Pysyk sat on injured reserve for the entire season.

Through his 10-year NHL career, however, Pysyk has played in 521 games and recorded 104 total points.

Pysyk has suited up for the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, and Dallas Stars over his career and was a first-round pick in 2010.

It may not be the big PTO signing Penguins fans were looking for, but it seems pretty unlikely a swing for Tomas Tatar will be taken.

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