By Brian Metzer
Though the beginning of July is usually full of intrigue, excitement and more as part of the annual “free agent frenzy,” the middle and later parts of the month are used to make those less sexy depth signings.
The Penguins have made a handful of those over the past couple weeks in the form of bringing in defensemen Alexandre Picard, Boris Valabik and forward Steve MacIntyre and they made another this afternoon.
Goaltender Scott Monroe has been grafted onto the depth chart and will likely compete with Patrick Killeen for a spot backing up Brad Thiessen in Wilkes Barre-Scranton.
The 29-year-old inked a one-year two-way deal with the Penguins that will pay him $525,000 at the NHL level.
Monroe played the 2010-11 season with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. Before that, Munroe spent parts of five seasons playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Philadelphia Phantoms and Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound goaltender has appeared in 174 career AHL regular-season contests, going 83-64-11 with a 2.60 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and 13 shutouts. He has also appeared in 18 AHL postseason contests, where he has compiled a .900 save percentage and two shutouts.
It never hurts to bring a guy like this into the organization as he could fill in for an injury as a back-up at the NHL level and start for you at the AHL level. He could likely provide some leadership in the room and on the ice and is no stranger to playing for a successful AHL team.
Here is the official release from the team:
PENGUINS SIGN GOALTENDER SCOTT MUNROE
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed goaltender Scott Munroe to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Munroe’s contract is a two-way deal worth $525,000 at the NHL level.
Munroe, 29, played the 2010-11 season with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. Before that, Munroe spent parts of five seasons playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Philadelphia Phantoms and Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
A native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Munroe’s best season came with Philadelphia’s AHL squad in 2008-09, when he posted a 31-19-4 record, 2.46 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and four shutouts in 56 games with the Phantoms.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound goaltender has appeared in 174 career AHL regular-season contests, going 83-64-11 with a 2.60 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and 13 shutouts. He has also appeared in 18 AHL postseason contests, where he has compiled a .900 save percentage and two shutouts.
Munroe broke into the professional ranks late in the 2005-06 season after signing with the Philadelphia Flyers organization as an undrafted free agent on April 16, 2006.
Munroe played four collegiate seasons at the University of Alabama-Huntsville from 2002-06. In 99 career games for the Chargers, Munroe went 49-36-7 with a 2.76 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and four shutouts. Munroe’s .918 save percentage is a school record.
Munroe also established Chargers’ single-season records for wins (31, twice), minutes played (1,813), shots faced (1,084) and saves (993).
