The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed defenseman Reid McNeill to a professional tryout contract, the team announced on Friday.
McNeill, 27, was the Penguins' sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft. He previously played in the Penguins' organization from 2012-16, playing 44 games with the Nailers in his rookie 2012-13 season and appearing in 190 games with Wilkes-Barre over five seasons. McNeill recorded four goals, 19 assists, and 298 penalty minutes as a Penguin.
McNeill ranks No. 14 all-time in games played by a defenseman for Wilkes-Barre, and No. 34 overall in games played for the franchise.
Pittsburgh traded McNeill to the Blues on Nov. 19, 2016 in exchange for forward Danny Kristo. McNeill spent the remainder of the 2016-17 season in the AHL with the Blues' affiliate Chicago Wolves, then played for the Syracuse Crunch on an AHL contract in 2017-18.
McNeill played last season in the Austrian Hockey League (or EBEL), where he recorded one goal, 10 assists, and 36 penalty minutes in 46 games for Dornbirner EC.
McNeill was previously signed to a PTO this season by the Charlotte Checkers, but he was released from the contract on Oct. 8 and did not appear in any games.
McNeill appeared on a podcast last month, in case you want to learn more about him:
Wilkes-Barre will also likely be receiving defenseman Zach Trotman from Pittsburgh this weekend if he clears waivers. Trotman and McNeill will be welcome additions to an ailing Penguins blue line. Kevin Czuczman was injured and left Wednesday’s game after he took a puck to the face and his status is not known, and Pierre-Olivier Joseph is out for an extended period with mononucleosis.
