Penguins Re-Sign Ben Street to AHL Deal

Ben Street will be back for the Penguins in 2011-12.

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins have announced that they have re-signed forward Ben Street to a one-year AHL contract.  Street was the ECHL's Rookie of the Year last season, and was clearly a top priority of the organization's free agents.

After 51 points (24G-27A) in 38 games with the Wheeling Nailers, Street finished the year in Wilkes-Barre, tallying 23 points (12G-11A) in 36 games. He made quite a duo with Nick Petersen in the ECHL, and I'm excited to see if the two will be paired on the same line in the AHL in 2011-12.

After the jump, a look at the re-signed forwards and the remaining free agents up front for the Penguins to make decisions on before free agency begins on July 1st.

The forward core has definitely improved from what the team had at the end of the season. The Penguins have re-signed Zach Sill, Nick Johnson, Ryan Craig and now Ben Street so far in the off season.

Add those guys to the forwards who were already signed through next season, Joe Vitale, Keven Veilleux, Nick Petersen, Paul Thompson, Brian Gibbons and Tom Kuhnhackl and you have potentially 10 guys who can start the season in the AHL.

Of course guys like Nick Johnson, Ryan Craig and even Joe Vitale or Keven Veilleux could make the jump to the NHL next season depending on who the NHL Penguins sign during the offseason. It will be interesting to see if any other free agent forwards are retained before free agency starts.


NHL Free Agent Forwards - 10
Tyler Kennedy (RFA), Dustin Jeffrey (RFA), Pascal Dupuis, Mike Rupp, Maxime Talbot, Eric Godard, Arron Asham, Chris Conner, Brett Sterling, Tim Wallace


AHL Free Agent Forwards - 9
Chris Collins, Bryan Lerg, Geoff Walker, Andrew Orpik, Brandon DeFazio, Tyler Murovich, Jesse Boulerice, David Marshall, Ryan Schnell.

Who will be re-signed?