If defenseman Sergei Gonchar can prove he still has it, he might anchor the Penguins defense again this fall.
The Penguins signed Gonchar, 41, to a pro tryout contract Friday morning with a promise to give him several preseason games to determine if he is a fit for the team.
Gonchar, who played for the Penguins from 2005-10, helped the team win a Stanley Cup championship in 2009 and appear in the final in 2008.
“I’m going to the camp to prove that I can play,” said Gonchar. “It’s special for me obviously. I was playing there for a while and still have a lot of friends on the team and a lot of friends in that town. It’s going to be something special.”
Gonchar met with general manager Jim Rutherford at the draft in Florida earlier this summer and discussed signing with the club again.
"I know this is a determined man that still wants to play and still feels he can contribute," said Rutherford. “He’s in very good shape, and we want to see how he plays and fits in.”
Gonchar played the past two seasons with Dallas and Montreal.
“We talked about different topics and, obviously, I expressed my interest to play,” said Gonchar. “We agreed to get back and talk after or during the summer and we’ve been in touch the last couple of months.”
Rutherford said the club will keep a close eye on whether or not Gonchar keeps up with the pace before the Penguins offer a regular contract.
Gonchar would add a veteran presence to what is expected to be a very young defense this season and he would be the oldest player on the team, eclipsing veteran Matt Cullen, who will be 39 in November.
“We’ll have to look at the pace of the games and his pace in those games,” said Rutherford. “If it works out, this is the type of player you’d have to manage his minutes, watch back-to-back games and things like that.”
Gonchar said he hopes to add some more memories in Pittsburgh.
“I have a lot of good memories there. My daughter was born there. I won a Stanley Cup,” said Gonchar. “There are a lot of things that I can remember. It’s why I’m trying to come back.”
Jenn Menendez: jmenendez@post-gazette and Twitter @JennMenendez.
First Published: August 14, 2015, 3:55 p.m.
