Zach Sill and Paul Thompson aren’t going anywhere.
The duo, who played last season with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, are back with the club after signing one-year, two-way deals with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Combined, the two forwards contributed 38 points (24-14) to the Pens, as well as adding a bit of toughness up front. Sill, who appeared in 58 games last season, had 84 PIM, while Thompson, who suited up in 57, posted 108 PIM.
Sill, who has spent four season in the AHL with the Pens, came to the AHL after finishing his career in the QMJHL. In 259 career AHL games, Sill has scored 30 gaols and added 37 assists. While he won’t ‘wow’ anyone with his skill, Sill is still able to make things happen on the ice with his size and grit. At six-feet and 201 lbs., the Maritimer has the frame of a prototypical power forward, and while his contributions might be slight, his presence on the ice helps create space for those around him/
Thompson, a 24-year-old from Methuen, Mass., came to the Pens as an undrafted free agent from the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, Thompson showed a flare for finding the net, tallying 57 goals and 55 assists in 140 games, a points per game pace of .80. While it’s no surprise that Thompson hasn’t sustained that in the AHL, his 31 goals and 26 assists in 131 games in the ‘A’ makes him a threat to score. Thompson showed his ability to find the back of the net last season, when he set a career high with 20 goals in 58 games.
During the WBS Penguins run in the playoffs, Thompson suited up in 15 games, and contributed to the tune of three goals and three assists.
Financial terms of the deals have not been released.
American Hockey Blog 