The Pittsburgh Penguins have added a new piece to their defensive corps, signing left-handed defenseman Declan Carlile to a two-year, $3 million contract on Wednesday afternoon.
The 26-year-old free agent split the recent season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
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Carlile, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 192 pounds, appeared in 42 games during the campaign, recording three points and 40 penalty minutes while playing an aggressive defensive style.
Journey to the NHL
Carlile entered professional hockey as an undrafted free agent out of Merrimack College. He made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay during the 2023-24 season.
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His performance in both the minors and majors earned him an invitation to represent Team USA at the World Championships.
Pittsburgh management targeted Carlile to fill a void on the left side of the blue line following the trade of Parker Wotherspoon earlier this offseason.
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With the current defensive lineup, Carlile becomes the first left-handed defenseman acquired by Pittsburgh this summer and could earn minutes alongside Erik Karlsson.
