The Penguins signed two players -- forward Brian Boyle and defenseman Matt Bartkowski -- to professional tryout contracts, Ron Hextall announced on Friday.
Professional tryout contracts, or PTOs, allow a player to participate in training camp and the preseason. A player must be signed to a standard contract to participate in the regular season.
Boyle, 36, last played professionally in the 2019-20 season with the Panthers, scoring six goals and nine assists in 39 games. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound forward reportedly had interest from several teams last season, but he didn't end up signing with any. He captained Team USA at the World Championship this past spring, scoring two goals and an assist in 10 games during the U.S. team's path to a bronze medal.
Boyle has played in 805 NHL games over 13 seasons with the Kings, Rangers, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Devils, Predators, and Panthers. He's appeared in 118 postseason games, including back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 with the Rangers and 2015 with the Lightning.
Bartkowski, 33, is a native of Pittsburgh and a product of Mt. Lebanon High School. He spent last season primarily in the AHL with the Wild organization, scoring one goal and seven assists in 23 games with the Wild's affiliate in Iowa. He played in one NHL game for Minnesota last season and was scoreless.
Bartkowski, 6 foot 1 and 196 pounds with a left-handed shot, has played in 256 NHL games in 11 seasons with the Bruins, Canucks, Flames, and Wild.
A full training camp schedule will be announced at a later date.
