CRANBERRY, Pa. -- A day after submitting him a qualifying offer, the Penguins on Tuesday announced the signing of P.O Joseph to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $825,000.
The one-way contract will run through the 2023-24 season.
After a brief 16-game stint with the Penguins during the 2020-21 season, Joseph spent the majority of last season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording 10 goals and 23 assists in 61 games. He also played four games in the NHL and didn't record a point.
The Penguins now have $9,458,158 in cap space with 10 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies under contract.
Joseph has barely played over 300 minutes at five-on-five in the NHL. During that time, the Penguins have been slightly outscored and roughly broke even in scoring chances.
Now 23, the Penguins are finally going to figure out what they have in Joseph. There's nothing left for him to prove in the AHL, and the Penguins could benefit from his low cap hit.
Joseph will be paid the same amount regardless of him playing in the NHL or AHL, and he would have to pass through waivers to be sent down. However, if he were to clear waivers, his cap hit would not count against the Penguins while he's in the minors.
This might put the writing on the wall for another Penguins defenseman to be traded.
Several weeks ago, Taylor Haase reported the front office was looking into moving Marcus Pettersson to shed some salary off their books. He figures to be the most likely candidate to be dealt.
In addition to Joseph, the Penguins also have Mark Friedman, a right-handed shot who can play either side, to round out their depth on the blue line.
