Defense prospect Cam Lee, signed to an entry-level contract by the Penguins out of Western Michigan University in March, will make his professional debut this month.
It'll just be with a different team, and in a different country, than he might have originally anticipated.
The Penguins on Wednesday loaned Lee to HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga. The loan agreement allows Lee to play for Bratislava until NHL and AHL training camps start, at which time Lee will be able to return to North America and prepare for a season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
"He is a good skater, rather an offensive defender, who will fit into the style of the game we want to present ourselves," said Bratislava manager Maros Krajci in a team release. "With his arrival, we are also increasing the competition between defenders."
HC SLOVAN BRATISLAVA / TWITTER
Cam Lee.
When Lee, 23, was signed to his two-year entry-level contract, Jim Rutherford called him a "good-skating, offensive-minded defenseman that fits the current style of play in today's NHL."
He scored three goals and 18 assists in 26 games as a senior last season, leading all Western Michigan defensemen in scoring. He's 6-foot, 190 pounds and is a left-handed shot.
Lee joins a growing number of Penguins prospects who are playing in Europe this season, either as originally planned or as a result of the coronavirus delays:
F - Kasper Bjorkqvist - KooKoo (Liiga)
F - Jan Drozg - HK SZ Olimpija (Alps League)
F - Radim Zohorna - BK Mlada Boleslav (Czech)
F - Valtteri Puustinen - HPK (Liiga)
F - Raivis Ansons - Zemgale (Latvia)
D - Niclas Almari - Lahti Pelicans (Liiga)
D - Jesper Lindgren - MODO Hockey (Allsvenskan)
D - Antti Palojarvi - KooKoo (Liiga) / Hermes (Mestis)
D - Santeri Airola - Ilves (Liiga)
D - Cam Lee - HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
G - Calle Clang - Kristianstads IK (Allsvenskan)
G - Joel Blomqvist - Karpat (Liiga) / Hermes (Mestis)
