WBS Penguins Re-sign Lerg & Walker

Had to post the "Mustache Boy" picture!

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins announced this morning that the team has re-signed forwards Geoff Walker and Bryan Lerg to one-year AHL contracts. Glad to have these two guys back. The forward core got a giant boost today. Here's a look at who the AHL Penguins could have have up front to start 2011-12:

Eric Tangradi, Dustin Jeffrey, Ryan Craig, Nick Johnson, Joe Vitale, Keven Veilleux, Ben Street, Nick Petersen, Bryan Lerg, Geoff Walker, Zach Sill, Paul Thompson, Brian Gibbons.

That's a pretty solid forward core to have, especially in June. Of course, Tangradi and Jeffrey could be in the NHL full-time. Heck, even Ryan Craig, Nick Johnson or Joe Vitale could make the NHL club out of camp. But the fact is, the Penguins are realizing what last year's team did and have now brought back most of the core forwards in Sill, Johnson, Craig, Street and now Walker and Lerg.

Lerg will also return to the WBS Penguins in 2011-12.

The Penguins have made a qualifying offer of $550,000 for a two-way deal to Dustin Jeffrey, according to Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Qualifying offers to restricted free agents must be made by June 27th to retain their rights and prevent them from becoming an unrestricted free agent, open to explore other options with other NHL teams.

I would expect to see news of Brad Thiessen either receiving a qualifying offer or signing a new contract soon.  I would also hope to see Corey Potter get re-signed, although I believe at this point he is waiting to see if there is any interest from around the league before making his decision.

Either way, the WBS Penguins are clearly re-loading from last year's impressive squad.  Highland Park Hockey is definitely looking forward to the 2011-12 season and cannot wait to provide you (the reader) with all the news, inside information, game previews & recaps and Penguins practice updates all season long. Stick around.