The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have terminated the contract of veteran defenseman Will O'Neill after mutually agreeing to part ways.
The 30-year-old former Atlanta Thrashers draft pick had recorded eight assists and a minus-6 rating in 28 games with Wilkes-Barre this season.
He scored this goal for Pittsburgh during the preseason:
O'Neill's veteran status was a factor in his termination. AHL players can only dress five veterans (players with 260 games professional experience) per game. O'Neill was getting scratched in favor of veteran defensemen Zach Trotman, Kevin Czuczman, Tim Erixon, and Chris Summers.
This was O'Neill's second stint in Wilkes-Barre. He was previously with the Penguins in the 2015-16 season, during which he recorded eight goals and 42 assists in 74 games. After two years in the Flyers organization, he returned to Wilkes-Barre on an AHL contract this season.
“I had a great year when I was here the last time,” he told me at Pittsburgh's training camp. “It’s a welcoming organization, a lot of good people. I was just excited to get back here and get started.”
O'Neill becomes a free agent, free to sign with any team.
“Will has been a loyal player to the organization and an upstanding member of the community during his time with the Penguins,” Bill Guerin said in a team release. “We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
To continue reading, log into your account:
