Forward Michael Chaput, who spent the majority of last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, signed with Barys Astana of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Barys Astana announced the transaction Sunday.
Chaput, a 30-year-old native of Ile-Bizard, Quebec, signed a one-year two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2021 offseason. While he was recalled to the NHL roster twice last season, Chaput did not appear in any NHL games for the club.
He was one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top scorers in 2021-22. In 57 AHL games, Chaput had 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists), fifth-most on the team.
With Chaput off to Russia, three players who finished the season under an NHL contract with the Penguins remain unsigned with any league in North America or Europe:
Forwards — Justin Almeida, Brian Boyle, Jan Drozg
Defenseman — Will Reilly
