The Bruins announced they’ve signed forward Tyler Pitlick to a two-way deal for the remainder of the season, carrying the league-minimum cap hit of $775K. He was previously on an AHL contract with their affiliate in Providence. He’ll presumably end up on waivers today to be assigned to the AHL on deadline day to make him eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs but will be a recall option for Boston down the stretch.
Pitlick, 33, was initially expected to head overseas last summer but ended up settling for a tryout with Providence in late September. His stock on the open market was the lowest it had been in quite some time after he cleared waivers the prior year with the Rangers and finished the season with just 3-4–7 in 22 games for AHL Hartford. As such, he was not extended NHL offers as an unrestricted free agent, and he stuck around in the minors.
The 10-year NHL veteran has looked rejuvenated with the P-Bruins, though. Boston was even considering a two-way deal for him at the beginning of the campaign, but ended up waiting until the trade deadline to get it done. The versatile 6’2″ forward is tied for fourth on the minor-league club in scoring with 16-17–33 in 43 games, leading Providence forwards with a +17 rating.
After trading away Trent Frederic earlier this week and a few more subtractions expected before tomorrow’s trade deadline, there will be increased opportunity for Bruins depth pieces down the stretch who’ve spent most of the year in Providence. Pitlick will be one of them as he looks to land an extension or a two-way deal elsewhere over the summer. If he’s waived today, he won’t count against the Bruins’ active roster or salary cap for today’s calculations.
Pitlick, who plays both center and wing (but mostly the latter), has 56-53–109 in 420 career NHL games with the Oilers, Stars, Flyers, Blues, Coyotes, Rangers, Flames, and Canadiens. The journeyman was selected by Edmonton with the first pick of the second round in the 2010 draft.