Pierre-Olivier Joseph is coming home to Pittsburgh, just months after leaving.
The Penguins announced they’ve brought back the 25-year-old defenseman from St. Louis in a deal for future considerations. It’s a surprising twist for a player who spent five years in their system before departing last summer.
Joseph knows the Penguins well. He split his time between Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, typically serving as a backup option on the blue line.
Last season was actually his busiest in the NHL. He suited up for 52 games with the Pens, putting up 11 points while playing about 15 minutes each night.
But things got complicated in the summer. The Penguins faced a tough choice with Joseph’s contract situation. They chose not to give him a qualifying offer worth $935,000, mainly because that would’ve let him take them to arbitration for a potentially bigger payday.
Now he’s back where it all started. The move gives Pittsburgh some familiar defensive depth as they push for a playoff spot.
