Penguins sign D Alexandre Picard

I'm a few days late with this, but the Pens added some more depth to their defense by signing Alexandre Picard to a one-year, two-way contract worth $600 K if he plays in the NHL.

I've seen a few folks writing that this makes the Pens likely to deal Matt Niskanen, but I don't see it. Picard, while still young (he's 26), has never been an every day player in the NHL. He has averaged just under 50 games per year for the past three years, and this is the second straight year he signed a two-way contract.

Sounds like he'll be the first call-up if someone gets hurt and the Pens don't want to play Engelland every game.