CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins added some toughness and grit to the organization on Monday with the signing of Bokondji "Boko" Imama to a one-year deal, two-way deal worth the league-minimum $775,000 at the NHL level.
Imama, who turns 28 this summer, is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound left-handed winger. Next season will be the Montreal native's eighth professional season.
Imama projects as a depth signing, someone who will start the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but can be a recall option if needed. In Imama's seven professional seasons, he's played 310 AHL games (scoring 29 goals, 43 assists) and 15 NHL games with one goal.
Imama spent most of last season with the Ottawa Senators' AHL affiliate in Belleville, scoring three goals and seven assists and racking up 115 penalty minutes in 53 games. He was scoreless with seven penalty minutes in six NHL games with Ottawa.
Imama is physical, a heavy hitter, and he can fight. He's been in 49 fights in the last seven regular seasons (AHL and NHL combined), including seven last year. This fight from last season was against Matt Rempe when the two were in the AHL:
Imama & Rempe actually had a decent tilt earlier this year in the AHL (minors). If I had to place a bet, it would be on those two. pic.twitter.com/dlLTDwql5u
β Hockey Fight History (@HistoryOfFights) April 15, 2024
Later in the season, when Imama and Rempe were both in the NHL, Imama challenged Rempe to a fight after Rempe hit one of Imama's teammates, but Rempe declined:
Imama challenging Rempe to a fight 5 minutes into the game π pic.twitter.com/Pl6n1MPhu7
β B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 15, 2024
Kyle Dubas said in his press conference at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Monday that the Imama signing was more than just about adding a guy who can drop the gloves.
"I think the key thing for me when we went on the film on (Imama) was his ability on the forecheck," Dubas said. "He's very effective there. It's getting in on the forecheck, being physical, separating people from the puck, winning possession. It's not just fighting. Obviously, he's a very tough customer. But for us, there's a good player there as well. He's proven himself at the American League, he's been able to come up and play in the NHL. We want him to come in and be a good player for us down (in Wilkes-Barre), help the young guys out. He's got a great reputation, he's been a captain in the American Hockey League before. We're excited to have him."
