Grizzlies Sign Colby Armstrong

[chilly666]

Anchorage, Alaska - Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Colley announced today that the team has signed NHL veteran Colby Armstrong.

Armstrong has joined the Grizzlies on their current road trip and will begin practicing and conditioning with the team immediately.

“Colby is another experienced veteran leader that we’ve been interested in," said Grizzlies Head Coach Kevin Colley. “You can’t explain how valuable a player like this is coming into our room at this level. We are very excited to have him. He’ll be another great example and leader to our team of talented prospects.”

A veteran of 439 NHL games, Armstrong has been in the NHL since 2005; where he has totaled 87 goals and 117 assists for 204 points in 364 points. He was selected in the first round and 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

The 30-year-old is currently under contract with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, whom he signed with on July 1 after playing the last two years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. From 2007-2010, he played for the Atlanta Thrashers where he served as an alternate captain during the 2009-2010 season. Armstrong made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh during the 2005-2006 season and had 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points in 48 games.

“Having the chance to add Colby Armstrong to our roster is a rare opportunity that is very exciting to our other players, the organization and our fans for however long he is with us,” said Grizzlies CEO Kevin Bruder.

From 2002-2005, he played for the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he played against the Grizzlies and totaled 46 goals and 83 assists for 129 points and 280 penalty minutes in 251 games.

He joins his brother Riley, who is currently the Grizzlies co-captain. Colby Armstrong is the third player on Utah’s roster with NHL experience as he joins Riley and the team’s other co-captain Brad Mills.