Pittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Thimo Nickl has signed an American Hockey League contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the 2023-24 season.
Nickl, 21, recently attended the Pittsburgh Penguins’ development camp in Cranberry earlier this month.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired the NHL rights to Nickl on March 31 when they dealt the NHL rights to forward prospect Judd Caulfield to the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks selected Nickl in the fourth round (No. 104 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Nickl remains unsigned at the NHL level and the Pittsburgh Penguins will retain his rights until June 1, 2024.
Last season, the right-handed Nickl (6-foot-2, 176 pounds) played for AIK of the HockeyAllsvenken, the second-tier league in Sweden. Appearing in 47 games, he recorded eight assists.
Nickl is the first native of Austria to sign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in franchise history.
Note: An abritration hearing between the Pittsburgh Penguins and restricted free agent Drew O’Connor has been scheduled for Aug. 4.
