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Per Dave Molinari of the PG, the Penguins have added three restricted free agents to the fold:
Penguins re-sign LW Eric Tangradi, D Robert Bortuzzo and D Alex Grant. All three were restricted free agents.
Not to be unexpected, all three were qualified in June and waiting to see if they'd get one-way contracts. Doubtful any did and now they're back in the fold.
Fast fact: Alex Grant is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's returning high scorer with 37 points because the five guys who finished above him all found different places to play. WB/S's second highest scorer still in the organization is Eric Tangradi, who only played 37 games in the minors this year.
I believe this puts the Penguins at their limit of 50 organizational NHL contracts...Actually it puts them over it, but a junior player like Scott Harrington will see their contract "slide" to the following season when, if as expected, he is assigned back to the OHL.
For now, an expected development in bringing back these three young players, now the bigger question will be, assuming the season starts on time, waiver eligibility. Waivers (which have nothing to do with a one-way or two-way contract) will be required to send any of these players down. Grant should pass through easily.
Tangradi and Bortuzzo could be a different story. GM Ray Shero has hinted the Penguins may keep 8 defensemen, two more than that dress, because Bortuzzo and Brian Strait (another waiver eligible player) are near NHL ready and probably would not make it.
UPDATE: Brian Strait has joined the party too and signed a one-year deal as well. Some details on the financials, perthe Pens official website:
All four players received two-way deals. Tangradi’s contract is worth $726,000 at the NHL level; Strait will earn $605,000 at the NHL level; Bortuzzo’s and Grant’s deals are both worth $525,000 at the NHL level.