Penguins Ink Engelland to Three-Year Extension

[Mike Tython]

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Deryk Engelland to a three-year contract extension, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

The new contract goes into effect at the start of the 2011-12 season and will run through 2013-14. The average annual value of the deal is $566,700 over the term of the contract.

With the signing, the Penguins have locked up all seven defensemen on their current roster to contracts beyond this season: Alex Goligoski (2011-12); Ben Lovejoy (2012-13); Brooks Orpik (2013-14); Kris Letang (2013-14); Engelland (2013-14); Paul Martin (2014-15); and Zbynek Michalek (2014-15).

Engelland, 28, is in his first full season with Pittsburgh. He has posted five points (2G-3A) and a team-leading 76 penalty minutes in 32 games. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound blueliner made his NHL debut last year with Pittsburgh, playing in nine games and recording two assists and 17 penalty minutes.

Engelland, who originally signed with the Penguins organization as a free agent in the summer of 2007, played the previous three seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. In 231 career games with WBS, he posted 42 points (10G-32A), a plus-11 rating and 402 penalty minutes. Engelland appeared in 39 playoff games with WBS and helped the team earn a berth in the Calder Cup Final in 2008.

The Edmonton, Alberta native was originally drafted by New Jersey in the sixth round (194th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has played with WBS, Lowell and Hershey of the AHL, and Las Vegas, South Carolina and Reading of the ECHL during his career.

[JKidd]

Great for Deryk.

Watching him play a lot lately, his footwork isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was at the beginning of the year. Hell, he was playing man up against Ovaries in the Classic and not going bad at all.

Good to see he'll be sticking around for years to come.

[Sugden Flu]

Congrats Pen's fans, I'm jealous. Engelland is one tough customer. This might mean the end for Godard come seasons end though.

[thepolishkid88]

All 7 dmen locked up...what a job by Shero. Locked him up before he even came near the market. Now what happens with Godard is the bigger question. I think if the Pens bring back Rupp that would more or less be the writing on the wall.

Engellend has absolutly shattered my expectations, we all knew he could fight I just wasnt so sure about him playing defense. He has improved there dramatically. In a game against the Devils they had Engellend shadow Kovalchuk and he absolutlty shut him down. Held Kovy to 1 shot I believe. He has been phenomenol in a role other wise characterized by many Pens fans as a question mark at the start of the season.

[Philly Fan 27]

great move by the pens, keep this kid as long as possible.

who cares if this is the end of godard? engelland has shown he can handle the job, and he can play the game decently, too.

[bupz91]

Good news for D-Easy.
He's the only reason I go to Pens games pretty much so it's good they're keeping him.

[Wild_KO King]

Great news for everyone, as the Pens are creating a template of success that isn't mutually exclusive of tough guys (unlike like the Red Wings).

Engel has really stepped up, as both a tough guy and a defenseman, and it is good to see him rewarded.

Yes, this may signal the end of Godard in Pitt, but it isn't like he was exactly lighting the place up. He certainly has a few more years left in him, and I am sure someone will pick him up. I hope that Calgary wises up and brings him back, as Ivanans has proven himself to be quite worthless (one fight costing him the entire season thus far.) And if Calgary would do so, that would have a ripple effect in forcing Edmonton to dress Big Mac, Colorado to dress Koci (if he sticks around) and Minny to call up Matt Kassian.

So again, great news all around.

[EDDUBBS]

Pitt_sburgh is just that -the west Virginia of PA. I hope thy lose all their players and wait for the day Cindy Horseteeth gets one right across the face from anybody.

[Phillyfan11]

Nice move here. Certainly Engelland earned this. Hate it because it means the Flyers see him again for 3 years but love it b/c its a tough defensemen who can hopefully become the closest thing this generation has to a McSorley -or insert any other defensemen who played well and fought as well-and in the process hopefully with Carkner doing his thing, more teams start following the trend.

[Dick Cheney]

Great for both the Pens and Engelland. He has really worked hard to improve his defensive game, and it paid off.

I just ordered my Engelland jersey .

[hockeyfighter20]

good deal for the pens.. he could have got more on the open market

[leafs_fan77]

Good move by the Pens. Deryk deserves that ****. Looking forward to more Pens and Leafs games!!

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by hockeyfighter20

good deal for the pens.. he could have got more on the open market

Yeah, I was fearful that he was doing a good enough job to play himself out of Pittsburgh, but apparently he must be happy with his situation...I certainly am.

[Horatio]

Originally Posted by Sugden Flu

Congrats Pen's fans, I'm jealous. Engelland is one tough customer. This might mean the end for Godard come seasons end though.

I have to give him credit too; he is one tough player. He deserves that much recognition...

[Isles4life]

Good for Engelland. He's really impressed this year both with the gloves on and off. It's nice to see him get rewarded with an extension for doing his job so well.