Penguins A to Z: There are few better at his role than Boko Imama

With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 56 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.

Starting with Noel Acciari and going on through to Philip Tomasino (regrettably, there is no Z on the payroll), every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.

This series is scheduled to be published Mondays through Saturdays leading up until June 24, four days before the start of the NHL Draft. In the event of a transaction, that schedule will be altered as necessary.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Puckpedia.)

Boko Imama

Position: Left winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 28

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 221 pounds

2024-25 NHL statistics: 16 games, one point (one goal, zero assists), 5:40 of average ice time per contest

2024-25 AHL statistics: 24 games, five points (three goals, two assists)

Contract: Signed to a one-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000. Pending unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, July 1, 2024

This season: For anyone sitting in the press box at PPG Paints Arena this past season, it was easy to tell when Boko Imama was on the ice.

On just about any occasion he did anything — be it throw a hit, make an offensive rush or challenge an opponent to a fight — the elation emanating from the management suite was highly audible.

The affable and intimidating Imama became a favorite of just about anyone in the front office, the bench or dressing room in his first season with the organization.

Signed to be an enforcer for the organization, Imama displayed his skillset for that role during the preseason when, in a 5-2 win, he fought Ottawa Senators forward Jan Jenik in a neutral site exhibition game in Sudbury, Ontario on Sept. 29.

Among the final cuts from training camp, Imama cleared waivers Oct. 7 and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and made a pretty immediate impact with that club. In his third game of the regular season, Imama got into a fight only 21 seconds into regulation and also scored a goal later in a 4-3 home win against the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Oct. 18.

Boko makes it 4! pic.twitter.com/cWAuga3cE1

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 18, 2024

After missing five games in late October and early November due to an undisclosed ailment, Imama’s season progressed as one might expect for a player in his role as a bottom-six forward. He contributed a handful of points and racked up a fistful of penalty minutes.

By Jan. 25, he was recalled to the NHL roster and stayed there.

In his third game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 3-2 overtime road win against the Utah Hockey Club, Imama fought a fellow heavyweight in forward Liam O’Brien.

Arguably, Imama’s most notable moment of the season came during a 5-4 home overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 27 when he injured forward Garnet Hathaway with a blindside hit that officials deemed worthy of a minor penalty for interference.

Torts is furious after Boko Imama is assessed a minor for interference on Garnet Hathaway, and Hathaway needed assistance off the ice pic.twitter.com/oXX10jvySl

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 28, 2025

Perhaps, the highlight of Imama’s season came during a 5-3 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 21 when he scored the game-winning goal (and only the second of his career).

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Bokondji Imama with 11:45 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Danton Heinen and Kevin Hayes.

Pittsburgh: 4
Columbus: 2#CBJvsPIT #LetsGoPens #CBJ pic.twitter.com/GvKSmn24f0

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 22, 2025

A little more than a week later, his season came to an end when he underwent surgery to repair his right bicep on March 29.

The future: Imama has specifically stated he would like to re-sign with the Penguins. And given the jubilation management seemed to have for him, a continuation of this union would seem to be an agreeable outcome to each party.

The main concern is his health, obviously. For a guy whose primary value as a player — only value, frankly — is in being physical and combative, it’s fair to be curious how he’ll rebound from his injury. At the time of his surgery, the team announced a timeframe of four to six months for recovery for Imama, who turns 29 on Aug. 3.

Once upon a time, every organization had at least one enforcer on the NHL roster. But today, those types of players aren’t nearly as important and if a franchise does employ one, they are usually stashed in the American Hockey League and recalled when needed.

Ideally, Imama is a regular on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s roster, assuming he re-signs. But should the need arise for the Pittsburgh Penguins to need a fourth-line enforcer, there are few better at that role than Imama.